Napa County Color is Aging Like a Fine Wine

15-30% — Napa Valley.  Vineyards in the Napa Valley are turning by grape variety.  Some plots are deep aubergine, others a mix of crimson, orange, yellow, and lime-green.  Most of the valley is still green.  The boulevard of elms at the Beringer winery is glowing yellow.  Given that weather does not otherwise damage the leaves, the vineyards should continue to be colorful for two to three weeks.

30-50% — CA-128.  Sage Canyon Road from the Napa Valley has pockets of bigleaf maple and cottonwoods in moist canyon areas that have turned yellow with orange touches.  A spectacular bright yellow alder glows at the Nichelini Winery.  Between Lake Hennessy and Lake Berryessa, bright yellow ash and bigleaf maple and some orange-red poison oak are seen near the Somerston Vineyards which are just begining to show color.

Photo Credit: © 2009, John Poimiroo