Contact

Napa Valley Wine Authority serves as a structured reference resource covering the Napa Valley American Viticultural Area, its sub-appellations, grape varieties, winemaking regulations, and the broader industry ecosystem. This contact page describes how inquiries are routed, what response timelines apply to different request categories, and which geographic scope falls within the remit of this reference property.

Response expectations

Inquiries directed to this reference property are categorized by subject matter before routing, which affects handling time. Three distinct categories apply:

1. Reference and research inquiries — Questions about Napa Valley AVA boundaries, sub-appellation classifications, regulatory frameworks under the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), or historical and viticultural data. These inquiries typically receive a substantive response within 3 to 5 business days, depending on specificity.

2. Correction and accuracy submissions — Reports of factual errors, outdated regulatory citations, or disputed characterizations of named estates, producers, or appellations. These receive priority handling within 2 business days, as accuracy across published content is the core operating standard of this property.

3. Licensing, permitting, or legal referrals — This property does not issue TTB appellation approvals, California ABC licenses, or any form of trade or commercial certification. Inquiries of this nature are redirected to the appropriate authority: the TTB Beverage Alcohol Manual for federal appellation matters, or the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for in-state licensing questions.

A response to a general inquiry is not a regulatory determination. Reference content published on this property reflects public-domain regulatory and geographic data and does not substitute for formal consultation with the TTB or California ABC.

Additional contact options

For matters related to specific appellation geography, the Napa Valley Vintners trade association maintains direct contact channels for members and researchers. The Napa Valley Vintners represents over 550 member wineries and functions as the primary advocacy and information body for the region's wine industry.

For AVA boundary petitions or formal comments on proposed viticultural area designations, the TTB maintains a Federal Register docket process; current and proposed rulemaking can be accessed at regulations.gov by searching "TTB wine appellation."

For questions about Napa County land use, winery use permits, and the Winery Definition Ordinance — which governs production volumes, marketing events, and visitor access at permitted winery sites — the Napa County Planning, Building and Environmental Services office holds jurisdiction.

How to reach this office

Primary contact method: Submit written inquiries via the contact form associated with this domain. Include a subject line that identifies the content section or page in question (e.g., "Rutherford AVA boundary" or "Stags Leap District soil classification").

Accuracy submissions: Flag the specific URL of the page containing the disputed content. Include the passage in question, the proposed correction, and — where available — a citation from a named public source such as a TTB final rule, a peer-reviewed viticulture study, or a California regulatory document.

Response format: All substantive responses are delivered in writing. No telephone support is provided for general reference inquiries.

Volume and prioritization: During the Napa Valley harvest period, which typically runs from August through October, response times for non-priority inquiries may extend to 7 business days due to elevated research demand from journalists, trade buyers, and educators engaging with vintage-specific content.

Service area covered

This reference property covers the Napa Valley AVA and all 16 sub-appellations formally recognized by the TTB within Napa County, California. The primary geographic boundary runs approximately 30 miles north-to-south from Calistoga to Carneros, and the appellation spans portions of Napa County at elevations ranging from near sea level in the Carneros district to above 2,600 feet on Howell Mountain.

Content scope includes:

• The 16 nested Napa Valley sub-appellations, including Stags Leap District, Rutherford, Oakville, Mount Veeder, Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain District, Atlas Peak, and Carneros (Napa portion)
• Varietal coverage with primary emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for approximately 60 percent of Napa Valley's total vineyard acreage according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Grape Crush Report
• Regulatory and labeling standards governed by 27 CFR Part 9 (TTB appellation of origin rules)
• Viticulture, climate, and soil reference data specific to Napa County

Content does not extend to Sonoma County, the broader North Coast AVA, or California wine regions outside Napa County unless comparative context is required for a specific appellation or regulatory explanation. Questions about Sonoma appellations or other California wine regions fall outside the scope of this property's reference coverage.