The TTB approved the Calistoga AVA yesterday. I’ve been following this issue for years, and I am very happy with this resolution.
As most of you probably know, the AVA application was held up by Calistoga Cellars and Calistoga Estates, two producers who do not use Calistoga grapes (and who, for that matter, failed to speak out against the AVA during the initial public comment period). The AVA approval does not grandfather these producers in, but does allow them to continue to use their names for 3 years. Of course they can continue to use their names beyond that if they start using Calistoga grapes.
What/where is the southern border line? Essentially Sterling Vineyard, or something further north? Is it a geographical or political line?
What winery or vineyard sits on the junction of Spring Mountain/Diamond Mountain/St Helena/ Calistoga AVAs, and will they change their name to Four Courners Vineyards?
Matthew, the southern border of the AVA is Bale Lane (at least as far as I can tell). Sterling has the Bear Flats vineyard on the north side of Bale, and Beringer has an SB vineyard used for Nightingale on the south side. There are many other vineyards along Bale, including Tristant, but I do not pretend to know them all.
Mike M, I’ve never made a wine from Calistoga fruit (though I hope to remedy that in '10), but I’d say a couple of things make Calistoga stand out. One, the mix of varieties is a bit different than further south. Sure, there are plenty of Bdx varieties, but there is also a great deal of Petite Sirah and Charbono, as well as Zinfandel and many more. The valley is pretty narrow in Calistoga, and the soils pretty rocky. So even valley floor fruit tends to have something of a “mountain” profile here, with big flavors and massive tannins.
Too many wineries to list, but some standout wines/wineries within the AVA are Araujo, Montelena, Tofanelli, Shypoke (very small, but a terrific producer), Carver-Sutro, Clos Pegase, Jericho Canyon, August Briggs, EMH (Black Cat), Storybook Mountain… This link shows wineries around Calistoga, although some are in the Diamond Mountain AVA. Napa Valley Wineries – Map, Itineraries & Trip Planner" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
One of my favorite wines from Calistoga fruit was the Rosenblum Pickett Road Petite Sirah. I don’t know if they still make it nor, if they do, how it is now under the new ownership, but that wine back in the day embodies the AVA for me.
I see Matt covered some of the growers affected by the line-drawing, but here was my quick list that I posted on eBob’s discussion of this yesterday:
“… in addition to my small ranch, my neighborhood (Pickett Road area) of growers includes Araujo, Hundred Acre, Kelly Fleming, Sterling, Frediani (close to 200 acres - all grapes sold to wineries, but those wineries certainly could make a “Calistoga” wine if the wine was produced from all Frediani grapes, or at least all Calistoga grapes), Luvisi (same situation as Frediani), Kenefick Ranch (large grower supplying many well known and newer wineries, in addition to their own label), Fisher (Lamb Vineyard - perhaps others without specific designation). Moving out and down Dunaweal Road you have Clos Pegase, Sterling, Tofanelli. Down Silverado Trail and still within Calistoga limits is Dutch Henry, Switchback Ridge, and I’m sure a host of others. I think the famed Three Palms probably falls within the limits as well. What distinguishes this area - generally - is soil type and weather. Calistoga gets both hotter and colder than St. Helena, and even more so than Yountville/Napa. There can easily be 5-7 degrees difference (and more) from Calistoga to St, Helena, and often 10 degrees and more from Napa. Over the growing season, these differences are in part responsible for the growth of the vine and how its fruit develops. No getting away from it.”
Montelena had already been listed, and then I later added Larkmead and Barlow. Roy Piper was arguing that a Pickett Road Area AVA made more sense than this diverse group lumped into a single Calistoga designation, and he received no argument from me.