St. Helena
The refined commercial heart of central Napa Valley, ringed by benchmark Cabernet estates.
About St. Helena
St. Helena is the polished commercial center of Napa Valley, sitting midway up the valley floor along Highway 29. Settlement grew from the 1850s and the town was formally established in 1876, then re-incorporated in 1889; today about 5,430 residents live among its well-preserved Victorian and stone buildings. Its Main Street is a walkable strip of boutiques, tasting rooms and acclaimed restaurants, and the nearby Culinary Institute of America at Greystone underscores the town's food credentials. The surrounding benchland is Cabernet Sauvignon country of the first order — Heitz Cellar and a roll call of historic estates draw serious collectors. With its concentration of top wineries, refined lodging and central location, St. Helena is often the default base for a classic Napa Valley wine trip.
Practical details
Wine tourism notes
St. Helena is the genteel commercial center of central Napa Valley, its Victorian Main Street lined with boutiques and restaurants and surrounded by some of the appellation's most storied Cabernet estates, including Heitz Cellar.
Regional cuisine
Upscale Napa Valley dining — market-driven bistros, a landmark culinary campus, and refined restaurants built around local produce, olive oil and cheese, poured alongside the town's benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon.
Canonical attractions
- Main Street (Highway 29) historic downtown
- The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
- Heitz Cellar and other benchmark estates
- Beringer and historic wineries nearby
Editorial notes
Central and well-appointed — a convenient base for touring the whole valley; expect premium lodging and by-appointment tastings at the top Cabernet estates.