Name dispute stalls new Napa AVA

Coombsville or Tulocay? Feds don’t like either one

By BILL KISLIUK
Register Editor

Federal regulators have rejected a request to designate east Napa as the Tulocay viticultural area, saying the name does not have enough general recognition or support among local vintners.

Thursday’s decision ices one local request for a new AVA, while vintners in Calistoga await a different decision from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, known as TTB, of a bitterly-fought proposal for a Calistoga AVA.

TTB’s written decision noted that several vintners in the area preferred the name Coombsville or Coombsville District for any AVA describing the rugged east Napa grapegrowing region.

Aaron Pott, a winery consultant and former winemaker at Quintessa, is the one who sought the Tulocay designation. He said the name Tulocay recognizes the Native American heritage of the area and is a more distinguished-sounding name than Coombsville. He said he was “a little depressed” after hearing of TTB’s decision.

“Tulocay doesn’t sound as redneck as the name Coombsville,” said Pott. “Someone will have to resubmit an (AVA) application now, and if Coombsville goes through, people will know we’re redneck.”

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