Silverado Trail: Napa

       The Mayor and deputy did an inspection of the upper reaches of the Napa River over the weekend.  It was a beautiful, sunny, spring day.   Despite an event at the Sonoma Raceway, traffic was manageable on Highways 121 and 37.
      We took the northern route, 101 to Santa Rosa then over the hill on the Calistoga Road.   This  road twists and turns over the hills and trough the little valleys as one approaches the napa Valley's northern border.   Calistoga(pop. 5000) is the town north of St. Helena, it's much larger neighbor 10 miles south.
     We had lunch on Lincoln Blvd at a locals place, burgers and sweet potato fries.  We looked around town, people watched the visitors who joined the small groups ambling about the shops and restaurants.   We then headed south along the Silverado Trail which borders the east side of the valley.  This route is a 2 laned road used more by locals than tourists.   It is the sunny side of the napa Valley, basking in the hot afternoon sun as the valley floor cooks.  Yes, it cooks here, especially during the long summer months when vintners watch their vines absorb the moisture in the ground and the "terroir" aspects of locale.
      Zinfandel Lane is one of many cross roads than afford access from east to west.   This name alone says it all.
     Heading south to the city of Napa, one can see morros, those volcanic remnants that dot the landscape of various locations in California.  here they are small, seldom higher than 300'.  They are prominent features, usually covered in trees with occasional house peeking from the forest.  And of course, the entire landscape is covered in grapevines.  Those vines, like cherished children, have brought fame and fortune to all who live nearby.   Realtors marvel at prices which now approach the stratosphere at $350K/acre.  Who can build on ground that is made of gold.  Not many.
      Geographers make great hay when they examine the politics and economics of wine; the maps produced are inherently story tellers with treasured AVA's delineated and place names recognized as international favorites.   And it's all relatively close to the bay Area and its famous child, Silicon Valley.