How an AVA is Born: Above the Fog on Howell Mountain

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. ~H. L. Mencken 

Have you ever "loved" a place so much that you went out of your way to help have it legally defined? A group of winemakers from Howell Mountain did and this video is their story. I hope you'll stick around long enough to see how it all unfolded and why Howell Mountain wines are so distinctively different from those just a few miles away on the valley floor. 

Have you ever wondered how does an AVA come into being and what does that mean anyhow? And what difference does it make to the wines you drink? Can anyone simply apply for a new one, just because they want to? 

These are all good questions; many of which are addressed indirectly in this great video about the birth of an AVA. One, which just happens to be among the top AVA's in the Napa Valley. The video is just a little over 10 minutes long and I'm pretty sure this blog is one of the few places where you can still view it. 

One thing I'm sure of; after having watched it, the next time you find yourself in the Napa Valley you'll be wondering what is going on above the fog. Until next folk, remember life is short so sip long and prosper cheers!