Oakville

Formally declared a Napa appellation in 1993, Oakville started life as a water stop for the steam train that once chugged up the Napa valley. Named for the dense groves of dark green canyon oaks of the area, beautiful Oakville has always been positioned to become a very special viticultural district. It was H.W. Crabb who turned Oakville from wild country to wine country after his 1868 purchase of 240 acres close to the Napa river. On this land he built his Napa winery, To Kalon, and by 1877 had 130 acres of the finest wine grapes around and was producing 50,000 gallons of Napa wine per year. By 1880, vineyard acreage had increased to 430 acres and Oakville's reputation as a premium California wine-producing region was well established.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture experimental vineyard is located in Oakville. Currently operated by the University of California, Davis, "Oakville Station" is one of the most important vineyard research facilities in the world.

Located between Rutherford to the north and Yountville to the south, Oakville is unique primarily because of its mid-valley location. Oakville is southerly enough to be cooled by morning fog from the San Pablo Bay, but northerly enough to enjoy warm afternoon sunshine - the perfect combination for Oakville's world famous Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.