Growing Conditions
Tucked up against the southern Vaca Mountain range in Napa’s Coombsville AVA, Farella Vineyard features layers of volcanic tufa, red decomposed rock and ashy deposits from ancient landslides, vast geologic episodes that literally turned this vineyard on its head. Oddly enough, we discovered the site in 2003 when the owners, Frank and Tom Farella, placed an ad in Wine Country Classifieds announcing the availability of Cabernet Sauvignon that had previously gone to Opus One. We were knocking on the Farella’s door the same day and immediately fell in love with the site, and Farella has been part of our portfolio ever since. The fruit for Farella comes from a high point in the vineyard, a block that Tom Farella refers to as “rockpile” because of the preponderance of stone and gravel in the soil. This block is bathed in afternoon sunlight during the growing season, and the wine – concentrated and beautifully-structured --consistently shows a mix of red and black fruits with spice and mineral overtones. Farella is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, comprising Clones 4 and 8.
Farella Vineyard is a fantastically complex site in the foothills of the Vaca Mountain range in the cool, southeastern corner of Napa Valley. The vineyard is divided into numerous blocks with elevations ranging between 300 and 500 feet. Varying slopes create distinct microclimates and soil compositions, and the vineyard’s diversity is suitable to growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Thirty acres of untouched oak woodland adds to the biodiversity and breathtaking beauty of this special site.
