Yountville Added to List of Napa Valley Appellations

James Laube
Posted: March 26, 1999

Yountville has become Napa Valley's newest winegrowing district after receiving final approval on March 25 from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Home to six wineries, Yountville is also the name of a small town on Highway 29 in the middle of the southern half of Napa Valley. The Yountville appellation covers 3,500 acres, including 2,200 in vines.

The region's best-known estate is Dominus, admired for its rich, earthy, complex Bordeaux-style red, made by Christian Moueix of France's Chateau Petrus. Domaine Chandon, a major California sparkling wine house, is also located in the appellation.

"I'm a happy man today. It's been a long time, and finally the BATF has approved this," said Jean-Marie Maureze, operations manager at Dominus and chairman of the Yountville American Viticultural Area committee, which petitioned BATF for the appellation. A subappellation, recognized for its distinct microclimate, helps wineries distinguish themselves from others in the region.

Maureze said there are 43 growers in the new appellation, and Cabernet and Chardonnay are the predominant grapes. Yountville's boundaries are the Oakville AVA to the north, the Stags Leap District to the east and Mount Veeder to the west. To the south is a pending appellation, Oak Knoll District.

According to the Wine Institute, there are 12 subappellations within Napa Valley including Yountville. The others are Atlas Peak, Carneros, Chiles Valley, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Spring Mountain District, Stags Leap District and Wild Horse Valley.

For more on California appellations:

March 6, 1999
Napa's Chiles Valley Becomes California's 81st AVA

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