Calistoga AVA—the sun doesn’t just shine here, it stakes its claim, planting itself squarely on the valley. Of the 8 AVAs found on the valley floor of Napa Valley, Calistoga holds many superlatives. The most northern of the valley floor AVAs, it is also the hottest and the highest in elevation. It has the highest concentration of volcanic soils as well as the steepest slopes. Though the sun indiscriminately shines, cooling breezes move in, adding respite to the rugged character of the wines made here.
This balance of strength and respite reminds us of the writing of Mark Twain, who masterfully wields humor to beckon his readers into even the darkest of topics. A prolific writer, Twain is bold and complex, and his writing carries a distinctly American character. So too do the wines of Calistoga tell a story of grit and weight, carried by a bright acidity—something for the drinker to hold onto.
Wine with a backbone: Calistoga AVA wines
On the floor of the Napa Valley, the days are hotter than a stove lid in August, but just when the vines seem ready to relent, down rolls the evening breeze. These cooling breezes come down through the northwest corridor and into the viticultural area which is ringed by mountains on three sides. The grapes are relieved of the heat and develop an elegance alongside their power.
The extreme temperature swings from day to night offer respite as well, and the uniform soil types—primarily volcanic in origin—allow winemakers a steady foundation on which to work their magic. The volcanic soils also lend an intense minerality to the concentrated wines.
If Twain were to describe Cabernet Sauvignon from Calistoga, we think he would say that the fruit is as dark as a coal mine, laced with tobacco and a whiff of cedar, like a good porch at sundown. And its rowdy cousin, Zinfandel is ripe and brash, expressing raspberry and spice, with an old-vine-type wisdom just beneath the surface.
Calistoga Wines Across Time
Each vintage yields a wine with a unique personality. Like the characters of Twain’s novels, they’re cut from a similar stylistic cloth, yet stitched together with their own peculiar quirks.
Here are our vintages of Calistoga AVA wines paired with some of Twain’s most colorful personalities.
2012 – Huckleberry Finn
A sunny, steady growing season full of promise led to vibrant, expressive wines that were built to last, much like Huck himself. Effortlessly charming, the flavor profile meanders through blackberry, spice, and dusty earth.
2013 – The Duke
This vintage was powerful and structured with bold tannins and dark, concentrated fruit. These wines command your attention like the Duke, a scheming con artist who carries himself with grandeur.
2014 – Tom Sawyer
A warm, but not overpowering growing season in Calistoga yielded well-balanced wines with generous fruit and energy. Like Tom’s boyish enthusiasm, this vintage is fun and easy to love.
2015 – Pudd’nhead Wilson
The growing season had its challenges of heat and drought, which created intensely concentrated berries. Pudd’nhead is the underestimated intellectual, overlooked at first but like the 2015 Calistoga wines, is full of surprising depth.
2016 – Hank Morgan
Cool nights tempered warm days in 2016, creating a balance that was conducive to wines with both power and finesse. Hank, the quick-witted Yankee thrown into medieval chaos is like this wine—structured yet smooth, clever, and adaptive.
Calistoga is an American Classic
Like Twain’s, the world of Calistoga is grounded and full of wisdom. The vines are its stubborn storytellers, unafraid to approach the truth with bluntness and wit. Dig deep, endure, and you just might come out the other side with something worth the trouble.