Napa Valley: We all must be better guardians of growth

(NVR) - For nearly a quarter-century, the Winery Definition Ordinance has anchored the Napa Valley’s slow-growth ideals by supporting the agricultural preserve through its stringent regulatory controls.

Yet today, a fragile balance exists. The proliferation of Napa’s hospitality industry has both bolstered and stressed the limits of the wine industry on whose back it was built.

Meanwhile, winery expansion applications continue to crowd planning agendas, punctuated by two massive proposals last summer. One of those has since been withdrawn. But the other, Raymond Vineyards’ request to double its production by increasing its permit by 750,000 gallons, remains in the planning pipeline with an application likely to be filed with the county in the next few months.

Debate over grape sourcing and interpretation of the winery ordinance’s grandfather clause tested industry relationships last year throughout stakeholder meetings tasked with addressing the legislation’s modern viability.

In February, the Planning Commission rightly decided to leave the ordinance unchanged.

That has not ended the fight for grapegrower Andy Beckstoffer, however. Beckstoffer, whose land abuts Raymond, wants greater discussion of the impact of new production permits and the application of the winery ordinance’s grandfather clause.

The wine production of more than 200 wineries that existed before the ordinance’s adoption in 1990 is exempt from its regulations, including the mandate that wine made in the county be produced from 75 percent Napa County grapes. If a grandfathered winery expands production, it can shift the use of Napa grapes from its pre-WDO permit to new production in order to adhere to the 75 percent rule for that new production.