It would be wrong to say there’s a piece of land in Napa Valley that isn’t coveted. But if we had a choice, a few acres on Howell Mountain would be at the top of our wish list.

Halfway up the Napa Valley, in the mountains rising east of St. Helena, lies a very special appellation that produces exceptional wines called Howell Mountain (map). As the name suggests, what makes this appellation special is its altitude. The western-facing slopes begin at a height of 1,400 feet, which is just above the fog line. This leads to more days of sun, but it also means warmer evenings and cooler temperatures during the day—the perfect recipe for evenly-ripened fruit (watch this beautiful video about why the mountain is so special).

But be careful, it’s bear country up there—as they like the fruit just as much as we do. Hence the name “Dancing Bear” Merlot, Cakebread Cellars' limited-production release from Howell Mountain. Inspired by a group of bears that continued to “dance” (and chow-down on grapes) even when the Cakebread team brought out a boom box to scare them away (this was actually caught on camera). The Dancing Bear Merlot is filled with layers of full, smooth, rich, fruit flavors and is one of our Howell-Mountain favorites.

Look for the words Howell Mountain on a label, from Cakebread Cellars and beyond, and you’ll likely find the wine as breathtaking as the view.