Wild Horse Valley

The volcanic soil from nearby Atlas Peak made for wonderful planting areas for Pinot Noir. The elevation above the fogline made it the most sun-kissed area in all of Napa Valley. The proximity to San Pablo Bay combined with that elevation made it the coolest AVA in Napa Valley. What a perfect combination for Pinot Noir.

First planted for commercial purposes in 1980 and achieving AVA status in 1988, Wild Horse Valley, the smallest AVA in Napa Valley and actually extending into Solano County, was home to only one winery, but a number of vineyards. Ideal for Burgundian style Pinot Noir in California, the area supplied many high-end local wineries with their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes to give them both a Napa label and the desired complexity. 

During the very late spring and earliest part of summer 2020, Napa firefighters were dispatched both north and south to Humboldt County and Santa Cruz County to fight wildfires. And, then it happened. The Napa-Solano fire sturck a mere few days later. Understaffed with most of its fire crews elsewhere, Napa firefighters battled what started as brush fires along Wild Horse Valley Road and Twin Sisters Road. They never had a chance.

The one winery and to my knowledge, all of the vineyards of the tiny AVA were ravaged by the fire. While the vines can be replanted, one wonders if they will be. Is it worth the effort? Do the people of this area out to the east of the town of Napa have the wherewithal to do it?

If you're looking to try the wines of Wild Horse Valley AVA before they completely disappear, while I am not plugging any of these as, in fact, I have never tasted any, three wineries that sourced many of their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from Wild Horse Valley were Olivia Brion, Enfield, and Harrington.

Sadly, there is no good news here.

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