Adagio Inn

St. Helena Area from the Air

by atufft

In 1990, a friend invited me to fly with him over the Napa Valley area, which provided me an excellent opportunity to add to my collection of slides used in the California Wine Appreciation course I taught at the time. Note in the sparse vegetation along the Silverado Trail and around Conn Dam Reservoir, which are on the east side of the Napa Valley near St. Helena. In contrast, the west side has dense forests, except where vineyards have been planted, such as at Spring Mountain Vineyards. Greystone, which is just north of St. Helena also has dense forest of redwoods behind it and alongside Hwy 29. Just north of the Greystone Building is Booth State Park, a good place for bargain accomodations (see tip).

St. Helena

by Agraichen

"Wine Country Tour"

St. Helena is in the heart of Napa Wine Country in California. It's home to many wineries and restaurants as well as unique shops. The main "highway" from Napa to Calistoga (CA-29) slows to 25 mph going through town.

The "other" road a few miles to the east is the Silverado Trail where you can find some of the more "boutique" wineries in the region.

"Rombauer winery"

One of the better wineries in the area which is a bit out of the way is Rombauer. Their Zinfandels are incredible although I'm partial to the Chardonay usually only found at the winery.

Rick_Green's Saint Helena Page

by Rick_Green

Area code: 707 population: 6,216

St. Helena was incorporated on May 24, 1876 on land originally granted to Dr. Edward Bale by the Mexican General Vallejo in 1834. Curiously, the visit of Princess Helena de Gagarin in 1841 seems to have lent the town its Russian name, a rarity in California. Although Charles Krug began wine production in 1858, Napa was prune country into the late 1800s.

Today, St. Helena is the center of wine country. It is sophisticated on the one hand, with renowned wineries, restaurants, and lodgings, yet predominantly rural on the other, resistant to outside encroachments and development.