Comment 37: Holman, Jason (Holman Cellars)

I would like to express my support for the establishment of the Coombsville Viticultural Area, as a distinct viticultural area within the greater Napa Valley. My family has been growing grapes and making wine from the Coombsville wine grape region for over 30 years. The wines made from coombsville fruit is distinctly different from other AVAs in the from other wines and grapes in the rest of Napa Valley. The proposed region itself is largely bounded by prominent landforms that are easily observed and that have significant influence of the meso-climates of the region. The general climate of the region is significantly different than the adjacent regions. Coombsville experiences a temperature-moderating effect due to its proximity to the San Pablo Bay, which effect tends to keep growing season temperatures cooler than other parts of the Napa Valley (Los Carneros excepted). The soils of Coombsville tend to have a large percentage of volcanic influence, which again sets the region apart from the surrounding and adjacent viticultural areas. As a result of the unique climate and soils of the Coombsville area, the wines of this area exhibit a structure, aromatic expression, and palate that sets them apart from other Napa Valley wines, as has been demonstrated by recent tastings put on by the Coombsville Vintners and Growers Association. Historic, published references establish Coombsville as a name for this area as far back as the late 1800’s, and, today, Coombsville has become part of the common parlance of the Napa Valley, generally understood to refer to the area designated by the application in question. Finally, the establishment of this viticutural area will serve to further educate the consumer, as well as to protect and to promote the uniqueness of the various areas of the Napa Valley and of California’s North Coast wine growing regions and our common agricultural heritage