It starts as it often does in Napa Valley, with a big, beautiful idea that brings together a community. A big idea that can seem daunting and undoable, until it isn’t.
Picture a 47-mile bike trail winding its way through some of the most scenic settings in California. Imagine locals hopping on their bikes as they cruise to work, children riding to school, parents strolling with carriages, vets in wheelchairs, all walks of life breathing in fresh air while taking in the inviting vistas of the place they call home.
Imagine visiting Napa Valley, breathing in this treasure of natural beauty and vineyard views, slowing time to truly appreciate how precious this protected agricultural land is, cycling or walking at a terroir level while connecting with Napa Valley in a uniquely safe, healthy way.
Imagine the Vine Trail.
Growing the Dream
When vintners Chuck and Anne McMinn of Vineyard 29 moved to Napa Valley, they were surprised that this special place, with stunning scenery and near-perfect weather, didn’t offer an option for those wishing to travel by bike or on foot.
McMinn set to work with a dedicated group of Napa Valley vintners, including the late Tom Shelton of Joseph Phelps Vineyards, who originally seeded the idea of a biking and walking trail through Napa Valley. The goal: to create a 47-mile Class 1 paved trail system through the entirety of Napa County for both locals and visitors.
“What started as a dream became a labor of love as we dug into the hard work of making the Vine Trail a reality,” notes McMinn.
Cruising Through Napa Valley's Agriculture
The 8.2-mile stretch of the Vine Trail between St. Helena and Calistoga, slated to open in early summer 2024, is a unique immersion into vineyard lands and Napa Valley’s rich agricultural ethos and history.
This section marks an inspiring model of 15 vineyard owners creating easements to share their property, offering new insights into the season-to-season intricacies that make Napa Valley a world-class winegrowing region.
“The Vine Trail access through our vineyards creates a cool dynamic of residents and visitors being able to get closer to what we’re out doing every day as we strive to create a great bottle of wine,” says David Duncan, proprietor, chairman and CEO of Silver Oak and Twomey wineries.
Much of the Vine Trail is nestled within the Napa Valley Ag Preserve, inspiring the Ag Respect program (see sidebar). This program enagages visitors, through signage, in the nature of vineyards being farmed on private property, while offering insights into grape varieties planted, Napa’s unique set of climatic and geographical elements and the highly trained skills involved in caring for the land.
“The Vine Trail encourages people to get out of their cars to appreciate, up close, the rich agricultural nature of Napa Valley,” remarks Ann Baker of Larkmead Vineyards. Baker, who has an MS in Landscape Architecture, has brought back pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds by planting native species throughout the estate.
“We have a lot of vibrant wildlife that we look forward to sharing with people who are passing through on the Vine Trail,” says Baker.
A big, beautiful idea indeed, now waiting for your next Wine Country adventure.
