The first time that I drove up to the Charbay distillery on a foggy Napa morning I realized that the region was rich in much more than just wine.

The distillery lies at the top a fog-bound hill hovering above the Napa Valley town of St. Helena and I promise you that it is worth the trip for the blood orange vodka and double-aged rum.

This distillery and the family behind it date back to 1751, and have been active in California for more than three decades. "It is a great time to be in the distilling business. Americans are always searching out new, and better, products," says 13th-generation distiller Marko Karakasevic. Consumers' continued interest in small-batch spirits gives him the drive to "keep on creating new, and small, batches of spirits".

Charbay's main distillery is in Mendocino County, a region an hour north that is also known for its wines. Being based in wine country, according to Karakasevic, has its benefits in terms of sourcing local ingredients. For instance his lemons, for the Meyer Lemon Vodka, are locally sourced.

The overlapping fonts of artisanal, local product combined with a local passion for craft drinks have undoubtedly contributed to many distillers setting up shop in various wine regions throughout the United States. Karakasevic estimates that there are 40 in the state of California alone.