Chiles Valley AVA

Chiles Valley AVA
Wine region
Official nameChiles Valley[1]
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1999[2]
Years of wine industry154[1][3]
CountryUnited States
Part ofNapa County appellation, Napa Valley AVA
Other regions in Napa County appellation, Napa Valley AVAAtlas Peak AVA, Calistoga AVA, Diamond Mountain District AVA, Howell Mountain AVA, Los Carneros AVA, Coombsville AVA, Mt. Veeder AVA, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA, Oakville AVA, Rutherford AVA, Spring Mountain District AVA, St. Helena AVA, Stags Leap District AVA, Wild Horse Valley AVA, Yountville AVA
Climate regionRegion II[1]
Precipitation (annual average)30 inches (762 mm)
Soil conditionsTehama Series, silt loams; decomposed chert & green serpentine on elevated slopes[1]
Total area6,000 acres (9 sq mi)[4]
Size of planted vineyards1,000 acres (405 ha)[4]
No. of vineyards7[5]
Varietals producedCabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Muscadelle, Primitivo, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Zinfandel[4][6]
No. of wineries9[4]

The Chiles Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Napa County, California and a sub-region within Napa Valley AVA. It was established as California's 81st AVA by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) on April 19, 1999 after the ATF received the petition from Mr. Volker Eisele, owner of the Volker Eisele Vineyard and Winery proposing a new viticultural area in Napa County to be known as "Chiles Valley District".[1][7]

The Chiles Valley is nestled in the Vaca Mountains above the northeast side of the Napa Valley between and on the same latitude as St. Helena and Rutherford. The appellation has a cooler climate than the main Napa Valley floor due to elevations of 600–1,200 feet (183–366 m) as well as a cooling breeze from the Pacific Ocean. The area expands approximately 6,000 acres (9 sq mi) with 1,000 acres (405 ha) being cultivated in 1996. The remaining plantable area does not exceed 500 acres (202 ha). The most planted grapes in Chiles Valley are Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

The term "District" was requested as part of the viticultural area name in the original petition. ATF noticed the proposed area as "Chiles Valley" because ATF did not find that the petitioner submitted sufficient evidence to support the use of the term "District" with Chiles Valley. Six comments in the petition favored the addition of "District" to the name, but no additional evidence was submitted to support it. The comments only reiterated the petitioner's original argument that the use of the term "District" was important to distinguish the Chiles Valley from the larger Napa Valley. None of the comments added any data or historical evidence for the use of the term "District" in conjunction with Chiles Valley.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Chiles Valley Viticultural Area (96F-111)" (27 CFR Part 9 [TD ATF-408; Re: Notice No. 858] RIN 1512-AA07 Final rule). Federal Register. 64 (31). Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau, Treasury Department: 7785–7788. February 17, 1999.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "§ 9.154 Chiles Valley" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. Retrieved October 30, 2007.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference CalWines was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d "Chiles Valley ~ Napa Valley (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  5. ^ "Wineries in Chiles Valley". CalWineries. 2007. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference History was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Worobiec, MaryAnn (March 6, 1999). "Napa's Chiles Valley Becomes California's 81st AVA". Wine Spectator. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020.