In 1880 the St. Helena Star contended that Howell Mountain "would be to California what Medoc is to France." In 1983, Howell Mountain was approved as a viticulture appellation, confirming what the turn-of-the-century growers already knew about the uniqueness of the region. The elevation creates a weather pattern that is often an inversion of the valley floor. As a result of cooler spring temperatures, bud break is delayed. The summer temperatures are warm at night, and as a result, the fruit demo...