They’re fluffy and cute, loaded with personality, and pretty smart. And yes, they do spit now and then, but mostly at each other. Alpacas, which originated in the Andes Mountains of South America, can now be found all over the globe. You’ll even find them among the vineyards in the wine country, if you visit Alpacas of Napa Valley.

Owner Susan Pacey and her husband Wes Walker, a retired Court of Appeals judge, grow several hillside acres of Cabernet grapes for Silver Oak Winery. The rest of the property surrounding their home is devoted to 17 alpacas, which they own together with her mother Merle and Merle’s husband, Bob. Together they raise alpacas for breeding stock, fiber and for fun.

Pacey and her mother first encountered an alpaca when they attended the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon. It was love at first sight with the exotic, doe-eyed creatures. They purchased their first alpaca in August of that year. They have continued to work as partners in the farm, sharing the daily chores and a mutual love for their animals. They also share a love for spinning and weaving alpaca wool, and create some of their own pieces using a loom.

The alpaca belongs to the camel family. They are considerably smaller than their most familiar relative, the llama, and possess a fiber that is prized for its superior quality and warmth (alpaca fiber is five times warmer than lamb’s wool). The fiber, which comes in 22 natural colors (from very white to very black, with all kinds of browns and grays in between), produces a fine weave that is both supremely soft and durable.

Their proud bearing and steady gaze make one pause to consider just “who” these creatures are beneath all that soft wool. “Alpacas are very calming animals,” says Pacey, who leads a busy life on and off the farm. “When you’re around them, you forget to be stressed.”

Pacey refers to her alpacas as “huggable investments.” Many breeders make a living selling alpacas, in addition to benefiting from the tax advantages of raising and selling commercial livestock. The lifestyle, though, seems to be the biggest draw. Alpacas are more pet than product, and most alpaca owners are pretty passionate about the breed.

“Alpacas are clean, intelligent, safe, quiet and disease-resistant,” says Pacey. “They have soft-padded feet and are gentle on the land. They make wonderful companions and great 4-H projects, and can easily be transported in the family van. They adapt to almost all climates and do not require large acreage. You can raise 10 to 20 alpacas per acre.”

Pacey’s alpacas are a big hit among the locals, appearing frequently at the St. Helena Farmers Market held from May through October. The public is also invited to visit the farm (by appointment), where you can get up close and personal with alpaca pals like Rubicon, Fava Bean or Pinot Blanc. Each alpaca is as unique as its name, different the same way people are different from each other. Some are overtly friendly and inquisitive, while others may simply prefer to be left alone.

Alpacas are sheared once a year, yielding four to eight pounds of fiber each. The fiber is then sold to a cooperative and woven into various items that are shipped back to the United States for sale. Some of those items make it back to the farm showroom, an appealing display of wearable art and other products made from alpaca fiber, including sweaters, vests, caps, socks, handbags, scarves, shawls, lap throws, and even teddy bears, hand-made baby items, finger puppets, and jewelry in alpaca motifs. All the wearables are incredibly soft, and tempting to touch and try on.

Alpacas of Napa Valley offers farm tours by appointment. For more information, visit www.alpacasofnapavalley.com or call (707) 257-2226.