Yountville - Heart of the Napa Valley
In 1831, George Calvert Yount saw the Napa Valley and declared, "In such a place I should love to clear the land and make my home. In such a place I should love to live and die." George Yount planted the first grape vine cutting into the fertile soil of the Valley, and in 1855 he commissioned a surveyor to lay out the township that would become Yountville, named after him in 1867 two years after his death. Gottleib Groezinger established a massive brick winery, wine cellar and distillery in 1870, and the surrounding area was soon planted with grapes. In 1884, the Grand Army of the Republic established a Veteran's Home to honor and care for those injured in service to their country. The Home was given to the State of California in 1897. Gradually Yountville became a quiet residential town that was incorporated as an official California city in 1965. Shortly thereafter, the old Groezinger property was revitalized as Vintage 1870, a complex of shops, galleries and restaurants that began transforming Yountville into a charming visitor attraction. Through the years until the present day, Yountville has retained its rural charm and residential character while encouraging the commercial centers to retain a tasteful atmosphere that has become synonymous with the town. Today, visitors will find a variety of gourmet restaurants, top quality lodgings, retail shops, antiques and art galleries, in addition to a wide variety of wine tasting opportunities. Sunrise hot air balloon rides, an afternoon of golf, a historical walking tour, a set of tennis or a bicycle ride among the vineyards are just a sampling of the various attractions Yountville has to offer. With its convenient location and accessibility, residents of Yountville are also able to enjoy a plethora of activities that make the Bay Area one of the most desirable places to live. San Francisco is barely an hour away, and Lake Tahoe is an easy 2.5-3 hour drive. Listed below are web sites containing additional information about Yountville and the Napa Valley. Click on the address to visit any of these sites.
Yountville Chamber of Commerce
Napa County
Napa County Map
http://www.napavalley.com/maps/index.html
Napa Valley Vintners Association
The Culinary Institute of America
http://www.ciachef.edu/visitors/gs/
Mustard Festival
http://www.mustardfestival.org
Barbara Lai Allen
Pacific Union Real Estate Group, Ltd.
1508 Main Street
St. Helena, California 94574
(707) 967-1355 Phone
(707) 967-0404 Fax
(707) 337-0088 Cellular
blaiallen@sbcglobal.net
