Stags Leap wine tours… A single sip of the luscious, velvety Cabernets from the Stags Leap District, and it’s easy to see why this area has wine enthusiasts raving. And if you’re tasting the wine at one of the area’s esteemed wineries, drinking in the dramatic landscape, you may never want to leave..
Stags Leap is a stunning region, with miles of rolling vineyard hills punctuated with dramatic, craggy red rocks jutting upward.
Located on Napa Valley’s east side, the Stags Leap District curves along the winding Napa River and the Silverado Trail. Half of the AVA’s 2,700 acres are now planted with vineyards, 90% of which are covered in Bordeaux varietals.
The region was established in 1989, due to its unique soils. Millions of years ago, volcanic eruptions left behind layers of volcanic sediment in the rocky palisades. This volcanic soil, and the ancient river sediment along the District’s western edge, give the Stags Leap District its signature—coarse, well-drained soils that yield robust wines with a lush mouthfeel. The rocky, west-facing palisades absorb and radiate the sun’s heat onto the vineyards below. Evening breezes off San Pablo Bay to the south also bring cool nights, creating a wide temperature variation that is ideal for late-maturing varieties.
When most people think of Stags Leap, there is only one varietal that immediately pops into mind: Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1973 Cabernet from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars rocked the world when it won first place at the legendary Paris Tasting in 1976, beating out Bordeaux’s top chateaux in a blind tasting with French judges. With that kind of history, no trip to wine country is really complete without tasting the bold, powerful and fruit-forward Cab from the Stags Leap District. White wine lovers shouldn’t be discouraged either, because many delightful Sauvignon Blancs are also waiting to be discovered.
With its captivating beauty, rich history, and enduring, world-famous wines, the Stags Leap District is a must visit for anyone seeking that quintessential Napa Cabernet.