Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Majestic Mt. Veeder Is One of Napa’s Highest Sub-Appellations

When you think of American wine, you likely think of Napa. But did you know California’s most famous winegrowing valley is home to sixteen sub-appellations, all a bit different thanks to unique climates, soil types, and more?

Well, it’s true, and if our nation’s wine scene and love of terroir continues to grow, you’ll only see more appellations like these, in Northern California and beyond. These unique geographical sectors offer one-of-a-kind conditions that tend to rub of on resident grapes. In turn, those unique qualities are expressed through wines after the requisite cellar work.

Mt Veeder Winery vineyard view
Mt.. Veeder Winery / Mt. Veeder

One particular part of Napa Valley has the tendency to turn out really distinctive juice. Mt. Veeder, a southern slice of the Mayacamas Mountains just northwest of Napa proper, is that place. It touts some of the highest vineyards sites at 2,600 feet, heights only a few other appellations reach (Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak, and Spring Mountain District). Many of the sites are set above a pretty typical fog line, meaning they enjoy cooler days and milder nights compared to their neighbors below.

Recommended Videos

As the mountain in the name suggests, the terrain is pretty dramatic. As such, much of the viticultural work is done by hand as heavier equipment can’t handle the aspects. The vineyard slopes generally check in at anywhere from 10-30 degrees. The area enjoys an extraordinarily long growing season — so much so that some labels don’t even harvest until November — and a nice, cooling effect courtesy of nearby San Pablo Bay. The mountain itself is an uplifted mass of ancient seabed in the form of shale and sandstone.

German farmers took a liking to the spot in the mid-18th century. Grapes were ultimately planted, including the valley’s first rows of Petit Verdot. By 1993, these slopes of forest and vines gained official AVA credentials. Mt. Veeder continues to be lauded for its ability to produce both great classic varieties (Cab, Merlot, Chard) with a certain intensity. The elevation and climate lead to smaller, more concentrated berries, not unlike — but thanks to terroir not fully alike either — fellow appellations like The Rocks District of Walla Walla or Willamette Valley’s forthcoming Mt. Pisgah AVA.

Mt Veeder Winery vineyard view
Mt.. Veeder Winery

Mt. Veeder is home to some popular names like Hess and Chandon, but also a great many more lesser-known producers. And it remains quite small, accounting for only about 1% of the valley’s overall wine production. Mount Veeder Winery is situated in the core of the appellation. A former prune orchard, the site turned to vines by chance in the 1960s, when a farm worker planted some cuttings and hoped they’d last. Not long later, it became Napa’s first site to house all five classic Bordeaux varieties in one spot. 

The label launched in 1973 and has been honing in on the density of flavor at hand since. There’s a robust wildness to Mount Veeder’s Cabernets, which show more bramble and earth than most from the valley. Like a baby animal first learning to walk, these wines like to stretch out in the glass and eventually march to their own rhythm. In this part of the Napa Valley, they call them mountain wines and the name is an appropriate one.

Sure, there’s consistency in the Napa Valley but sometimes you covet off-the-beaten-path flavors amid well-known varietals. Mt. Veeder’s mountainous build shapes its fruit and resulting wines just so.

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Kentucky Owl’s new Batch #13 is the final masterpiece from a bourbon legend
Kentucky Owl

Popular whiskey brand Kentucky Owl recently announced the launch of its newest bourbon, Batch #13. It was blended and crafted by former Master Blender John Rhea. What makes the whiskey more unique is that it was the last bourbon blend created by the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member before his retirement.
Kentucky Owl Batch #13

Batch #13 consists of a blend of five different bourbons. There’s a mix of younger and wheated whiskeys and more mature and higher rye whiskeys. The blend is roughly between eight and nine years old.

Read more
This underrated Dunkin’ coffee is smooth, strong, and totally worth the hunt
Don't overlook this coffee staple order
Dunkin nitro cold brew

Nitro cold brew is one of my go-to, anytime coffee orders, and it never disappoints, no matter where you order it. Even though nitro cold brew has grown in popularity, I still find it a "harder to find" coffee shop order when I'm on the go. I crave something about this drink's velvety smoothness—something you don't get from a regular cold brew order.

But why isn't everyone ordering the Dunkin' Nitro cold brew? Maybe Dunkin' just missed the mark on marketing this exceptional drink, but everyone I've talked to seems to have no idea that Dunkin' even has nitro cold brew. Or maybe it's just that this drink is not available at every Dunkin' location. Everyone seems to associate nitro cold brew with Starbucks, yet this drink is available beyond just Starbucks locations. Here's why I'll keep ordering Dunkin's nitro cold brew (and telling everyone I know about this order).
Where to find the Dunkin' nitro cold brew

Read more
When it comes to Champagne, what does the word “Brut” actually mean?
Get to know your bubbly
Champagne flutes

There’s just something about champagne that makes my heart flutter. Maybe it’s the sparkle, maybe it’s that famous cork pop that signals the start of a glamorous time, or maybe it’s the way it makes any cocktail feel special. I love champagne in all its forms, whether it’s bone-dry and bracing or sweet and indulgent. But not all bubbly is created equal, and if you’ve ever been confused by the difference between “brut” and “demi-sec,” you’re not alone. Let’s break down the different types of champagne so you can sip exactly what you love.
Understanding Champagne sweetness levels isn’t just wine snob trivia — it’s the key to choosing a bottle you’ll actually enjoy. Whether you’re a brut loyalist or prefer your Champagne to be softer and sweeter, knowing the differences between brut, extra dry, sec, demi-sec, and doux puts you one step closer to popping the perfect bottle. Let’s break it down, starting with the term you’re most likely to see: Brut.

What is Brut Champagne?

Read more