Napa's Chiles Valley Becomes California's 81st AVA

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MaryAnn Worobiec
Posted: March 6, 1999

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has approved Chiles Valley as California's 81st American Viticulture Area, effective April 19. At an elevation of 800 feet, Chiles Valley lies east of Rutherford and slightly higher than the Napa Valley floor. The 6,000-acre AVA is home to 1,000 acres of vineyards and four wineries, including Green & Red, Volker Eisele, Nichelini and RustRidge.

Currently, there are 11 different AVAs in Napa Valley. Having an exclusive sub-appellation, recognized for its distinct microclimate, can help distinguish wineries from others in the region.

Although Volker Eisele submitted the Chiles Valley AVA proposal, the winery will continue to include the Napa Valley designation, which has high consumer recognition, on its labels. "We're called Chiles Valley District, but we are in the Napa Valley," said owner Liesel Eisele. "We will never stop using the Napa Valley name."

For other recent California appellation news:

January 21, 1999
New California Appellation Created

January 13, 1999
California Coastal Appellation Rejected by BATF

April 10, 1998
Three New Viticultural Areas on Tap for Napa Valley

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