Oakville
Napa Valley
Home to some of Napa's most celebrated Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville sits in the heart of the valley where the benchland soils are perfectly suited to growing structured, complex reds. Estates like Screaming Eagle, Opus One, and Harlan call this appellation home.
The wines of Oakville are made primarily from Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other Napa Valley varieties.
Vineyard Map
Climate
Oakville experiences warm days with significant diurnal temperature variation due to its central valley position, receiving morning fog that burns off by mid-morning and cooling afternoon breezes from San Pablo Bay. The appellation is slightly warmer than northern Napa appellations but cooler than southern ones, creating ideal conditions for extended Cabernet Sauvignon ripening.
Terroir
Oakville sits on deep alluvial fans deposited by Conn Creek, with well-draining gravelly soils over clay substrata that force vine roots deep while preventing waterlogging. The underlying geology consists of Sonoma Volcanics and Franciscan Complex sedimentary rocks, with the gravel deposits providing excellent drainage while the clay layers beneath retain moisture for sustained vine access during dry periods.
Notable producers
Estates that shape how this region tastes.
Opus One
Mondavi-Rothschild, iconic Oakville blend
Screaming Eagle
Cult Cabernet, tiny allocation
Robert Mondavi (To Kalon)
Historic To Kalon vineyard
What it tastes like
Body
Big
Acidity
Fresh
Tannin
Grippy
Oak
Oaky
Ripeness
Rich
Concentration
Dense
Big, dense and fresh with grippy tannin and a fair bit of oak; cassis, blackberry and graphite with cedar and dark chocolate, plush, polished and very long.
black fruit · graphite · plush · polished · built to age
Similar styles
Lands in the same glass.
Grapes of Napa Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes grow in Oakville?▼
What soils are found in Oakville?▼
Map data: TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) · Imagery: Sentinel-2 cloudless by EOX IT Services GmbH (CC BY 4.0)