Sciandri Family Vineyards - Coombsville
Story: C. Weir Photography: Cathleen Francisco
Second generation American, Ron Sciandri keeps his Italian heritage alive and well and growing in his back yard. His four-acre, 6,000 vine vineyard in the Coombsville AVA is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot. In a much smaller block, set apart from the main vineyard, are thirty vines comprised of four different Italian varieties that Ron planted in celebration of his northern Tuscan ancestry. Ron personally tends this honored vigneto and in the fall, his grandchildren pick the fruit adding a cluster to each bin of grapes harvested from the main vineyard.
The largest section of the vineyard is draped across what would be most people’s front yard, while a smaller block is tucked back at the edge of the pond, nestled between slopes dotted with old oaks. To the east, the property borders Skyline Wilderness Park, a rugged and picturesque county park whose resident wild turkeys pose a constant threat to Ron’s vineyards and gardens. The hillside of oaks that meet the boundary of the park will always remain, serving as a permanent buffer against encroachment of anything other than those troublesome gobblers.
The largest section of the vineyard is draped across what would be most people’s front yard, while a smaller block is tucked back at the edge of the pond, nestled between slopes dotted with old oaks. To the east, the property borders Skyline Wilderness Park, a rugged and picturesque county park whose resident wild turkeys pose a constant threat to Ron’s vineyards and gardens. The hillside of oaks that meet the boundary of the park will always remain, serving as a permanent buffer against encroachment of anything other than those troublesome gobblers.
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As with most of the Napa Valley region, Coombsville enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Generally, the region is cooler than its neighbors to the north and suffers less threat of winters frost than their neighbors to the south.
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The Coombsville AVA was formed and shaped by volcanic activity and finessed by the ancient Napa River as it moved landslide debris from the area. The bowl shape of the region is a caldera, a collapsed volcano, and forms the basis of the topography. Moved and shaped again by the uplift of the Vaca Range, the area settled down forming a unique horseshoe shaped ridge and what is often referred to as the “cup and saucer” on maps of the Coombsville area. The elevations climb from near sea level at the Napa River to the highest point,1900 feet, on the ridge of the Vaca Range.
The dominant soil types are Hambright-Rock outcrop complex and Coombs gravelly loam. These stony soils are at their highest concentration in the Coombsville AVA, yet practically unaccounted for in other AVAs within Napa. This well-drained gravelly soil is particulary well suited for wine grape growing and for many of the farmers here, like Ron, the Bordeaux varieties are the cultivars of choice.
The dominant soil types are Hambright-Rock outcrop complex and Coombs gravelly loam. These stony soils are at their highest concentration in the Coombsville AVA, yet practically unaccounted for in other AVAs within Napa. This well-drained gravelly soil is particulary well suited for wine grape growing and for many of the farmers here, like Ron, the Bordeaux varieties are the cultivars of choice.
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Besides the vineyards, Ron grows every kind of fruit and nut tree possible for the climate. Vegetables and flower gardens are in abundance and as much a part of Ron’s passion for farming as the vineyards are. From orchids to olives to vineyards - he just loves to grow things. Ron’s vineyard and gardens are places of quiet and beauty, a life well deserved for a retired South San Francisco firefighter. |
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Owners: Ron and Roberta Sciandri
[email protected] Vineyard Manager: Javier Renteria Vineyard Management Wineries who source the fruit: Sciandri Family Vineyards with winemaker Donald Baker. |
Acreage and varieties grown:
20 acre estate with 4 acres planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot Root stock: 3309 and 110R Clone: Cabernet Sauvignon 337 |
Climate: The vineyard is unique in that it has a Western exposure and yet is cool due to influences of the San Pablo Bay. This results in long hang time for the grapes with harvests occurring in late October and early November.
Soils: Well drained rocky hillside, primarily Hambright-Rock outcrop complex and Coombs gravelly loam. |
The Sciandri family are truly committed to their community and viticulture. Their daughter Rebecca Sciandri Griffon is currently (2012) the president of the Coombsville AVA Vintners and Growers Association.
