Crystal Springs of Napa Valley has been officially designated as an American Viticulture Area (AVA), a significant label that specifies the regional origin of wines produced in the United States. The initiative to create the Crystal Springs appellation was led by Steven Burgess, the previous owner of Burgess Cellars, who has had a complicated history with both residents and the current owners of his former winery.
This designation is noteworthy as it represents the first new Napa Valley appellation since the Coombsville AVA was recognized in 2011. However, some critics argue that this could contribute to ongoing confusion among consumers regarding California’s diverse wines and regions.
In recent years, California has seen the emergence of new AVAs aimed at addressing challenges stemming from existing AVAs, which may be either too small or too expansive in representing the wines of particular areas. This has resulted in the formation of sub-AVAs, like the West Sonoma Coast nested within the larger Sonoma Coast AVA, as well as larger AVAs, such as the San Luis Obispo Coast, designed to include a variety of smaller AVAs.
For consumers, these new labeling categories can create confusion and, at times, disagreements among wineries, as they now have a broader range of legal options for displaying appellation labels on their bottles.
The region surrounding Crystal Springs in Napa Valley lies beneath the established Howell Mountain appellation. Crystal Springs is not included in Howell Mountain due to its elevation restrictions, which require vineyards to be at least 1400ft (427m). A key difference between these areas is the presence of Napa’s fog; Howell Mountain rises above the fog line, whereas the new Crystal Springs appellation is influenced by and enveloped in the cooling maritime fog.
Burgess and the Napa Valley Vintners played a crucial role in the establishment of a new AVA on a landscape that features only 93ha of cultivated vineyards. Previously, wines from this area were labeled simply as Napa Valley.
Viader stands out as the largest wine brand within the newly designated Crystal Springs region. In a recent interview, owner Delia Viader expressed that her brand will maintain its existing labels despite the change in AVA.
Carlton McCoy, Jr., the CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates, shared his excitement about the new Crystal Springs AVA in an interview with Decanter: ‘We are thrilled about the new Crystal Springs AVA. The Sorenson Vineyard that we possess at Burgess Cellars has been an esteemed vineyard for nearly a century, serving as the exclusive source of fruit for Napa’s renowned historic label, Souverain. This area possesses a remarkable uniqueness that warrants its own AVA.’
Cabernet Sauvignon from this region shares many flavor profiles with those found in the neighboring Howell Mountain AVA. In a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle, Burgess noted that the wines produced here exhibit ‘extremely dark, complex flavours and rich aromatics’.