Without a doubt, Napa Valley is most famous for producing some of the finest wines available in the world. More than 200 wineries can be found in this region of Northern California, which is about an hour's drive from San Francisco.

While wine making is certainly the most important driver of the economy in the Napa Valley, wine tourism is equally as influential. In fact, it has been said that the Napa Valley ranks just behind Disneyland in annual visitor numbers! A visitor's paradise could be an apt description of the valley. There are miles of beautiful vineyards, especially around harvest time in the fall; scenic mountain views; and the chance to experience a birds-eye vision of the land many mornings via a hot-air balloon ride. Winery tours are not complete without visiting the historical towns of Yountville, Rutherford, Oakville, St. Helena and Calistoga. All have unique offerings geared toward the wine spectator and those interested in California history itself. At the entrance of the valley is its namesake, the city of Napa -- a nice place to visit and a better place to live. About 76,000 now call Napa home. No, make that 76,001. Maybe I no longer live in Napa, but no matter where I reside in my lifetime, Napa will always be "home." It's the place where I was born and grew up.

Disney fans have some reasons to check out the Napa Valley. Film-wise, 1960's Pollyanna utilized several exterior locations in and around St. Helena. Co-star Jane Wyman later played matriarch Angela Channing in the 1981-90 CBS drama Falcon Crest in which some filming was done in the various communities that served as the fictitious Tuscany Valley. Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap starring Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson and (in her film debut) Lindsay Lohan, was partially set in the Napa Valley. The Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford was used for the sequences seen in the movie's Parker-Knoll Vineyard. Disney animator and People and Places/True-Life Adventures producer Ben Sharpsteen and his wife Bernice retired to a ranch near Calistoga. In 1978, the couple founded The Sharpsteen Museum, which primarily explores the rich history of the town. There is also a section devoted to Sharpsteen's life and award-winning career with the Walt Disney Studios. The museum is located at 1311 Washington Street in Calistoga and interested visitors can access more information by visiting www.sharpsteen-museum.org or calling the museum at (707) 942-5911.

Silverado Vineyards

It may come as a surprise to some that there is a more personal connection between the Disney family and the Napa Valley. Diane Disney Miller and Ron Miller saw something special in the valley's wines on their vacations to the area in the 1970s. Starting in 1976, they acquired two vineyards and eventually purchased five more, which now total more than 400 acres. Initially, they sold their grapes to other winemakers. In 1981, the Millers established Silverado Vineyards on a hilltop east of Yountville along Silverado Trail, which winds through the entire valley, starting in Napa and ending in Calistoga. The winery was named after an old mine on nearby Mount St. Helena and that in turn served in the title of a famous Robert Louis Stevenson novel published in 1883 called "The Silverado Squatters."

Quality rather than quantity is the basis for Silverado Vineyard's production of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel wines. Some of the most coveted Silverado Vineyards wines are the Limited Reserves, which are only produced during exceptional harvests. To best learn how Silverado Vineyards operates is to take a tour of the Mediterranean-style facilities themselves, which I had the opportunity to do during a visit to Napa in the summer of 2004 and seen in these pictures. It is interesting to note that throughout the years, some locals have referred to it as "the Disney winery." On the tour, you will see the production lines, wine cellar and elegant dining hall with some unique paintings purchased by the Millers. Perhaps the closest connections to Disney are two circular stained glass windows made in Lillian Disney's honor: one of a lily and the other of her favorite flower, the California poppy. Tours are by appointment only and take place between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. They begin and end at the Visitor's Center, which includes a cobblestone terrace that offers expansive views of the surrounding vineyards and the upper valley region. Tasting of the latest wines can be had for a nominal fee and if you like what you try, purchases can be made here too. You may even see Diane and Ron. Unfortunately, the day of my visit, I did not. However, I was the only one signed up for the 10:30 tour so it was almost like my own private showing with a very informative and lovely guide named Jen.

Further information on Silverado Vineyards can be obtained by visiting www.silveradovineyards.com or by calling (707) 257-1770. This is definitely one stop to make during a visit to my hometown of Napa and the Napa Valley.

Entrance to Silverado Vineyards

Silverado Vineyards entrance and main driveway

Silverado Vineyards grapevines

Silverado Vineyards Winery in the Napa Valley (view from Silverado Trail) - September 3, 2004

Vineyards and Silverado Trail looking northeast from the Silverado Vineyards Visitor's Center

View of the Napa Valley looking northwest from the Silverado Vineyards Visitor's Center. In the distance is Mount St. Helena

Silverado Vineyards main production line (bottling line)

Silverado Vineyards wine cellar

Stained glass window of a lily (installed in honor of Lillian Disney)

California poppy stained glass window (Lillian Disney's favorite flower)

- Story and Photos by Bill Griffiths
Posted March 11, 2005

E-mail Bill at bill@startedbyamouse.com, discuss this story in the StartedByAMouse.com Disney Discussion Forums or use the Talkback feature below.

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