American Viticultural Area · CA
St. Helena
St. Helena is a federally-designated American Viticultural Area in CA, established in 1995. The map below shows its official TTB boundary alongside nearby AVAs.
The St. Helena boundary is highlighted. Nearby AVAs are rendered in gray — click any of them to view that AVA's page.
At a glance
Established
1995
State
CA
Climate
Mediterranean
Signature varietals
Boundary recorded in 27 CFR Part 9 · Source: TTB
About the St. Helena AVA
St. Helena, designated 1995, is a valley-floor AVA in the heart of Napa Valley, surrounding the town of the same name. Here the valley narrows to its slimmest point, pinched between the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Range to the east. That narrowing traps heat and reflects it off the hillsides, making St. Helena one of the warmest valley-floor districts in Napa. Soils are a mix of gravelly, alluvial, and volcanic material washed down from both ranges. St. Helena sits within the Napa Valley AVA and within North Coast.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the signature grape, typically rich, ripe, and full-bodied, reflecting the district's warmth. Zinfandel, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and other Bordeaux varieties are also grown. St. Helena is one of Napa's most historic winegrowing centers, home to some of the valley's oldest continuously operating wineries.
Nearby AVAs
Other American Viticultural Areas closest to St. Helena — useful when a vineyard sits inside more than one AVA at once.