The St. Helena Appellation's unique position within the Napa Valley makes it a great place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon and many other red varietals (Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel).
As the map at the right shows, Napa Valley is at its widest (about 5 miles) at its Southern end. Moving North, the valley gradually narrows to about ½ mile in the St. Helena Appellation, and then widens slightly again at Calistoga.
The St. Helena Appellation's location at the narrowest point of Napa Valley has significant implications for winegrape growing:
- The warm climate, with its wide difference in temperature between day and night, is idea for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and other warmth-loving red varietals.
- The fact that most of the St. Helena Appellation's growing areas are near the surrounding hills means that the soils are favorable for fine wine grape growing.