Napa Valley’s Newest Appellation: Crystal Springs

Napa Valley has a new appellation. Thirteen years after Coombsville was created by the federal government as an American Viticultural Area (AVA), the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has approved Crystal Springs of Napa Valley. Wineries that wish to bottle their wine with the new AVA on the label got the thumbs-up on Nov. 15. 

Crystal Springs is located on the western face of the Vaca Mountains bordering the Howell Mountain, St. Helena and Calistoga appellations. The region encompasses more than 4,000 acres of land, with 230 acres currently planted to grapevines. Every vineyard in the AVA is planted on hillside slopes. The steep landscape is one reason for the small amount of planted vines. The terrain is rugged. Elevations range between 400 and 1,400 feet, just below Howell Mountain AVA to the east and north. At that position on the slopes, breezes flowing downward prevent frost and mildew. At 400 feet and lower, the foothills give way to valley floor and vineyards are more susceptible to these pressures.

Steven Burgess, former owner of Burgess Cellars, authored the petition for Crystal Springs of Napa Valley to become an official AVA. While his efforts started almost two decades ago, he submitted his formal petition in 2020. The boundaries were mapped out by the Napa Valley Vintners association, with efforts to ensure no overlap with existing AVAs would occur. Originally the boundaries overlapped with the Calistoga AVA at Dana Estates’ Crystal Springs Vineyard. The Calistoga AVA boundary was modified so that all of the Crystal Springs Vineyard is in the new AVA.

There are 30 commercial vineyards in Crystal Springs of Napa Valley. Wineries that have vineyards or winemaking facilities in the AVA include Burgess Cellars, Dana Estates and Viader Vineyards. Most are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon.—Chris Cardoso

Graeme MacDonald Becomes Winemaker at Brand

Brand winery has a new winemaker—Graeme MacDonald, fourth-generation Napa Valley winegrower and winemaker for MacDonald in Oakville.

MacDonald has been farming his family’s historic 15 acres of what is part of To Kalon Vineyard full-time since 2012 and making the wines since 2010. It’s a dream gig, including a short commute—MacDonald lives on the property. But the 500-case production he and his brother make doesn’t exactly equate to a full-time job.

“I want to work with people who truly love their property,” he explains. “My goal is to help a few clients connect their farming and winemaking practices to develop a unique wine style.” MacDonald also values working with different vineyard sites, and Brand has a unique convergence of geologies. It was virgin land when Ed Fitts established the winery in 2005, with the purchase of 110 acres located at 1,200 feet elevation in the eastern hills above Oakville known as Pritchard Hill.

It’s a coveted growing area with noteworthy producers including Colgin, Continuum and Ovid. Fitts and winemaker Philippe Melka developed 15 acres of vines across three distinct sites. In 2019, former Apple executives Jim Bean and Christine O’Sullivan purchased the winery from Fitts.—Aaron Romano

Shafer’s New Hillside Experience Focuses on Their Iconic Cabernet

Over the past four decades, Shafer Vineyards’ Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon has been one of the most treasured collectibles in Napa Valley. Now, for the first time, guests can get their boots dusty in the vineyard and sample library vintages of the flagship wine.

“Often, guests would come and just want to try Hillside; this tasting is for those people,” explains Andy Demsky, communications director. The new Shafer Hillside Experience, priced at $500 per guest, is a two-hour tour and tasting. After a welcome sparkling wine pour and small bites, guests tour the estate on a Polaris Ranger, including a stop at the tranquil Landers Point, which offers a 360-degree view of the Stags Leap District estate. Here, the current vintage of Hillside Select is poured while the host gives an overview. “What we really wanted was to have Hillside on the hillside,” says Demsky. The view helps explain Hillside’s profile.

Returning to the winery, guests can sample several library vintages of varying ages. The experience can be personalized based on the individual’s interest, from the weather of a vintage to the clones used. Some vintages, including large-format bottles, are available for purchase.—Aaron Romano