Farella Vineyard

Winery Information

Location: Coombsville AVA, Napa Valley

Winemaker: Tom Farella

Properties: 10.5 ha east of the city of Napa at a height of 100-150 meters
12 ha of forest and owned land surrounding the entire vineyard.

Production: 12,000 bottles per year

Web: https://www.farella.com/

Farella Vineyard is located in the heart of the Coombsville AVA, 4 miles from downtown Napa. It is situated against the Vaca Mountains east of Napa City with vineyard elevations ranging from 330-500 feet.

Frank Farella founded Farella Vineyards in 1985 in a small 400 square foot winery next to his home in Napa. His long-held goal of growing fine wine grapes from modest surroundings was a story that developed slowly and steadily. Beginning with his Italian grandparents at home, many homemade wines from the Napa and Alexander Valleys, and finally a trial vintage in 1982 from young Farella Vineyard grapes, the business venture began in 1985 as a barrel-aged Chardonnay, a stainless steel fermented Sauvignon Blanc, and a field blend of Merlot/Cabernet.

Today their grounds include 27 acres of vines originally planted in 1979 to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The soil on top is a stony loam that is interlaced with volcanic ash and gravelly loam at the base of the vineyard. There are also 30 acres set aside as intact oak forest on the property surrounding the winery.

In 2009, Tom set out to write a petition to the Federal Government for the designation of the Coombsville American Viticultural Area (AVA). It would become Napa Valley's 16th sub-AVA in November 2011.