Napa Valley, California
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East Napa CountyEast of the Napa Valley, but still in Napa County, lies a region that only a small percentage of visitors to the better known valley area even know about. Its beauty rivals that of the Valley. Plus there's wine, recreation and a variety of places to stay. Take the time to visit. You'll be pleased that you did. |
To get here, go east on Deer Park Road (just north of St. Helena) to Angwin and then continue down Howell Mountain Road. Or take Highway 128 (Sage Canyon) off the Silverado Trail at Rutherford Cross Road or Highway 121 from Napa (east on Trancas Street, continue on to Monticello which will eventually lead you to the south end of the area, where you can turn left onto Highway 128 or continue on to the south end of Lake Berryessa.
For great information and photos on roads in this area, we recommend Pashnit.com. You'll find articles on Pope-Chiles Valley Road, Highway 121 (Monticello Road), Highway 128 (Sage Canyon Road), Berryessa-Knoxville Road, and Howell Mountain Road. The site's for bikers, but it's invaluable for everyone visiting the area.
Nestled at the top of Howell Mountain overlooking the Napa Valley is the quiet college community of Angwin.
Right across from the college is a shopping center with a post office and a vegetarian grocery store with a huge selection of bulk, natural foods. Both are closed Saturdays (but open Sundays).
Angwin Airport
One Angwin Avenue
Angwin CA 94508
707.965.6219 Fax 707.965.6685
Angwin Airport on Howell Mountain. (Photo courtesy of Pacific Union College.)
Angwin Airport (Virgil O. Parrett Field) is owned by Pacific Union College. The college operates the airport, and a small fleet of aircraft, to train new pilots for missionary work in isolated parts of the globe. The runway length is 3,200 feet. Tie down, gasoline, oil and mechanical services are available.
Angwin (203) 1848' 1E. 38° 34.71'N 122° 26.12'W.
Att 8 am-5pm Sun-Fri; other on req 707.815.6868. Deer. Noise Abate. Keep E. Avoid flight over town. TRCV for night use only. PCL 123.0 - Rwy, TRCV (tx)
Largest aircraft permitted: King Air or Citation
TPA MSL:2698 CTAF U-123.0
FSS: Oakland 122.35
| VOR | FREQ | RAD | NM |
| STS | 113.0 | 0611/4 | 18 |
| SGD | 112.1 | 3361/4 | 24 |
Burgess Cellars
1108 Deer Park Road PO Box 282
St. Helena CA 94574
800.752.9463 Fax 707.963.8774
Open daily by appointment only, Burgess is located just a few minutes down the hill from Angwin. You'll see the sign on the left side of the road as you drive up Deer Park Road from the Silverado Trail.
The winery and adjacent vineyards were originally started in the 1880's, and owner Tom Burgess has been operating here for 30 years. He makes excellent wines, and the view from the winery is spectacular. Bring your camera. Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Elmshaven
125 Glass Mountain Lane
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.9039
Elmshaven is a Victorian home built in 1885, and now registered as a National Historic Landmark. From 1900 to 1915 it was the home of Ellen G. White, author and spiritual leader of the Seventh-Day Adventists. It is open for visitors Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Pacific Union College
Angwin CA 94508
800.862.7080. Fax: 707.965.6390
With a student body of 1,500 and a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, this Seventh Day Adventist college is rated one of the top liberal arts colleges in the West. PUC's 200-acre campus is surrounded by 1,800 acres of agricultural and forested land—a great hiking area.
The Chiles Valley District is a separate wine appellation, located in the hills east of Napa Valley at an average of 1,000 feet above sea level.
Brown Estate Vineyards
707.963.2435
Family-owned winery producing Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasting by appointment only.
Catacula Lake Winery
4105 Chiles Pope Valley Road
St. Helena CA 94574
707.965.1104
Owned by the Keith family. Tours and tasting by appointment. Produces Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Over 1,000 acres, all deeded to the Napa Valley Land Trust.
Chiles Mill - State Historical Landmark No. 547
Joseph Ballinger Chiles, who first came to California in 1841, erected the mill on Rancho Catacula 1845-56. The first American flour mill in Northern California, it was still in use in the 1880s. Chiles served as a vice president of the Society of California Pioneers, 1850-53.
Location: SW corner on hillside, Chiles and Pope Rd and Lower Chiles Valley Rd, 3.6 mi N on Hwy 128, Chiles Valley
Nichelini Winery
2950 Sage Canyon Road
St. Helena
707.963.0717
The Nichelini family has been growing grapes since the 1890's, and their winery in Sage Canyon is the oldest family-owned continuously operating winery in the county. They produce Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Vert and Petite Sirah. Open daily for sales and complimentary tasting. Picnic area and bocce ball court.
RustRidge Bed & Breakfast Inn
2910 Lower Chiles Valley Road
St. Helena 94574
800.788.0263 707.965.9353 707.965.9263
3 rooms - $165-$225
Tennis, hiking. On the grounds of RustRidge Ranch & Winery
RustRidge Winery
2910 Lower Chiles Valley Road
St. Helena, CA 94574
707.965.9353
Family-owned winery on 450 acres, also offering a bed and breakfast inn. By appointment. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Late Harvest Riesling, Late Harvest Zinfandel.
Volker Eisele Family Estate
3080 Lower Chiles Valley Road
St. Helena CA 94574
707.965.2260
Family-owned winery producing highly-acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, all made from organically grown grapes. By appointment.
Bureau of Reclamation Lake Berryessa Field Office
5520 Knoxville Road
Napa, CA 94558
707.966.2111
www.usbr.gov/mp/berryessa/facts.html
Lake Berryessa in springtime. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.)
Lake Berryessa is less than 45 minutes from the Napa Valley in the eastern part of Napa County.
Prior to 1957, the lake was Monticello Valley and the town of Monticello. When Monticello Dam was completed, the lake started filling. Today it is one of the largest man-made lakes in California, 25 miles long, 3 miles wide and 275 feet deep at its deepest point, with 168 miles of shoreline.
Berryessa Trails and Conservation
Includes trail and paddle guide, scheduled hikes, conservation projects.
Monticello Dam, creator of Lake Berryessa, and destroyer of the town of Monticello. (Photo courtesy of Bureau of Reclamation.)
A wide variety of fish can be found in the lake, including bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, crappie and catfish. Campgrounds and picnic areas are abundant.
Cucina Italiana
4310 Knoxville Rd
Lake Berryessa, CA 94558
707.966.2433
www.lakeberryessanews.com/cucinaitaliana.html
Italian comfort food.
Lake Berryessa Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 6123
Napa, CA 94581
Lake Berryessa Marina Resort
5800 Knoxville Road
Napa CA 94558
707.966.2161 Fax: 707.966.0761
15 cabins $75 - $150
All lake-view cabins (non-housekeeping), 45 RV sites, 70 primitive tent camping sites. Convenience store with food, clothing and camping supplies.
A variety of facilities and services including four-lane launch ramp, tackle shop, volleyball, restaurant, picnic areas with BBQ and tables, convenience store, fuel dock and courtesy dock. Houseboat rentals, along with other watercraft including jetskis, ski boats, runabouts, pontoon boats and fishing boats.
Lake Berryessa News
Local newspaper published twice a month.
Markley Cove Boat Rentals
PO Box 987
Winters CA 95694
707.966.2134 800.242.6287
Houseboat and fishing boat rentals. Annual berth rental. Rental houseboats include dinette, gas oven and range, bathroom with tub/shower, bunks, refrigerator, gas BBQ, air conditioner, 110-volt generator, microwave, and 140 hp I/O engine. More deluxe models include such things as wet bars, second full bath, second refrigerator and/or trash compactor.
Oak Shores Park
Knoxville Road
707.966.2111
A recreation development operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Eight different areas with a total of 100 picnic sites with tables and barbecue grills, swimming beaches, cartop boat facility for non-powered boats, and shore fishing. $4.00 per car fee for day use.
Putah Creek Resort
7600 Knoxville Road
Napa CA 94558
707.966.2116
Full marina, tackle shop, 200 campsites, 55 RV sites, 26 air-conditioned motel kitchenettes, grocery, delicatessen, snack bar, restaurant with cocktail lounge and dancing to live music.
Quail Ridge Reserve
530.758.1387
Overlooks Lake Berryessa. Operated by the non-profit Quail Ridge Conservancy, it is 2,000 acres of black oak, blue oak, interior live oak, oracle oak, scrub oak and valley oak—one of the new nearly untouched natural areas remaining in the California Coast Ranges. The reserve is home to a wide variety of native plants and animals including as many as 15 different native California grasses.
Quail Ridge is primarily a research site. However, with advance reservations the public can participate in monthly interpretive walks as well as four-hour and day-long boat ecotours. The boat tours offer bird watching and information on the history, plants and animals of the area.
Rancho Monticello Resort
6590 Knoxville Road
Napa CA 94558
707.966.2188
www.ranchomonticelloresort.com
Cabins - $75/night
Located on Lake Berryessa, the resort offers picnicking, boat launching, fishing from shore or boats, and fifty campsites for tents or RVs. All campsites have picnic tables and barbecues, with water faucet access, restrooms and showers nearby. Trailer sites have full hookup with electrical, water and sewer. Long-term sites based on annual leases are also available for mobile homes, travel trailers and RVs.
Spanish Flat Resort
4290 Knoxville Road
Napa CA 94558
707.966.7700 Fax: 707.966.7704
12 cabins $75 - $100
An RV/campground on Lake Berryessa. Camping is $22 per night and RV camping is $26. Or you can stay in a yurt for $60.
Complete marina facilities. Power boats, boat ramp, jet ski rental, open and covered berths, secure boat garages, gas, fishing boats and supplies. Less than one mile from grocery store, deli, sporting goods, beautiful shops, post office, service station, restaurant and bar. A popular launching point for fishermen (fisherpersons?). Spanish Flat Resort also provides an online fishing report.
Steele Park Resort
1605 Steele Canyon Road
Napa CA 94558
707.966.2123 800.522.2123 Fax: 707.255.2727
Motel rooms and cottages with swimming pool and championship tennis courts, restaurant, bar, store, full service marina, launch ramp, campsites and RV park.
Willi's Water Ski Center
1434 Grayson Avenue
St. Helena CA 94574
707.963.4409
Willi Ellermeier operates a water ski school at Lake Berryessa with instruction for students ranging from beginner to tournament level.
A gorgeous area that 95% of our visitors don't even know exists, let alone take time to visit it. Yet it offers beautiful drives and a number of excellent wineries and other attractions. Since visits to most of the wineries in this area are by appointment only, we recommend that you call first.
Aetna Springs Cellars
7227 Pope Valley Road
Pope Valley CA 94574
707.965.2675
A family-owned winery producing small amounts of ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. By appointment.
Aetna Springs Golf Course
1600 Aetna Springs Road
Pope Valley CA 94574
707.965.2115
[Reportedly currently closed and likely to re-open as a private course] A nine-hole, 2,691-yard public course built in the late 1800s. Set in a beautiful location.
Eagle and Rose Winery
1844 Pope Canyon Road
Pope Valley, CA 94567
707.965.9463
Family owned winery producing Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc. By appointment. Winery grounds include a 3,700-foot paved lighted private airstrip. Call in advance for landing permission.
Litto's Hubcap Ranch
State Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic) No. 939
This is one of California's exceptional Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments. Over a period of 30 years, Emanuele "Litto" Damonte (1896-1985), with the help of his neighbors, collected more than 2,000 hubcaps. All around Hubcap Ranch are constructions and arrangements of hubcaps, bottles, and pulltops that proclaim that "Litto, the Pope Valley Hubcap King," was here.
Location: 6654 Pope Valley Rd (P.M. 14.3), 2.1 mi NW of Pope Valley
Pope Valley Winery
6613 Pope Valley Road
Pope Valley CA 94574
707.965.1246
Originally built 100 years ago. Historic blacksmith shop. Picnicking. Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Chenin Blanc, Late Harvest Chenin Blanc.
