Napa Valley adds its 16th Sub-American Viticulture Area: Coombsville

            In December, Napa Valley’s 16^th sub-AVA (American Viticulture Area) was approved by the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau). Coombsville is located in the southeastern part of the Valley- approximately ten minutes from downtown Napa.

            American Viticulture Areas are defined as “delimited grape growing regions distinguished by geographical features, the boundaries of which have been recognized and defined” by the TTB. An AVA can be displayed on a wine label if at least 85 percent of the wine is made from grapes grown inside of that AVA and the wine is fully finished in the state in which the AVA is located.

            In 1978, the TTB set up a procedure to establish AVAs. Any interested party may petition the TTB to establish and AVA if the application contains the following information:     

1.     Evidence that the name of the viticulture area is local and/or nationally known as referring to the proposed area;

2.     Historical or current evidence in support of the boundaries of the viticultural area;

3.     Evidence relating to the geographical features, such as climate, soil, and topography, which distinguish the viticultural area from surrounding areas; and

4.     The specific boundaries of the area based on features found on the topographic maps of the U.S. Geological Survey. (27 C.F.R. § 9.3(b) (2010))

Napa Valley is an example of a larger viticulture area that has been divided into smaller “sub-AVAs.” This division of the larger AVA reflects the desire of vintners and growers to express the differences in growing conditions and wine characteristics within the larger AVA (Richard Mendelson, Wine In America). The Napa Valley American Viticulture Area includes the sub-AVAs of Atlas Peak, Calistoga, Chiles Valley, Diamond Mountain, Howell Mountain, Los Carneros, Mount Veeder, Oak Knoll, Oakville, Rutherford, Spring Mountain, St. Helena, Stag’s Leap, Wild Horse, Yountville, and now Coombsville. 

On December 14^th, the TTB approved the Coombsville sub-AVA, and it became effective on January 13^th. One article reports that the petition for the sub-AVA was made by Tom Farella and Bradford Kitson. They had previously petitioned for a sub-AVA called Tuolcay, which was slightly larger and crossed into Solano County, but the TTB denied the application because the name did not have sufficiently broad acceptance. The area has officially been referred to as “Coombsville” on maps since 1870. It was named after Nathan Coombs, who was one of the founders of the city of Napa and one-time owner of 2,525 acres east of the Napa River.

The Coombsville sub-AVA is characterized by its temperate climate (moderated by its proximity to the San Francisco bay) and its soil, which is primarily composed of weathered volcanic rock (from nearby Mount George) and alluvial deposits (loose unconsolidated soil which has eroded, been re-shaped by water, and re-deposited in a non-marine setting). The area bordered by the Napa River on the west, the Vaca Range on the east, Monticello Road on the north and Imola Avenue on the south. The principal variety grown in Coombsville is Cabernet Sauvignon, which grows on the hillsides, but the sub-AVA also features Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Pinot Noir in the lower, cooler sites.

According to another recent article, the wines produced from grapes grown in the Coombsville district, especially the Cabernets, are characterized by moderate ripeness, fine tannins, and savory notes such as anise, black olive, and cedar.

Coombsville is home to a couple dozen wineries- mostly small and family owned. There are about 1,300 acres of vineyards, and due to a water shortage and subsequent ban on new plantings, the area will likely remain characterized by small vineyards, with residential neighborhoods and horse ranches in between.