The Faust Estate Vineyard in Coombsville is located at the southern most point in the Valley, making it unique for several reasons. To start, it is hewn from a caldera, a bowl-shaped depression borne from a cratered volcano, perfectly positioning it to collect and hold cool air and fog that’s funneled up from the San Pablo Bay. On average, it’s about 10 degrees cooler in Coombsville during the growing season compared to up-Valley appellations.
The wide diurnal temperature swings in Coombsville help slow grape maturation, allowing for a more balanced and complete ripening process. Grapes develop not only sugars but also polyphenols and other compounds that contribute to aromatic depth and textural complexity. Cooler growing conditions also help preserve higher levels of natural acidity, lending freshness and structure to the wines.
Our winemaking team—Estate Director Jen Beloz and Winemaker David Jelinek—navigates these challenges each year, each vintage, establishing a level of taste and excellence that extends to everything we do. It’s what sets Faust apart, allowing us to evolve beyond the bottle. Our wine—the product of rigorous attention to detail, and taxing work—is core to who we are, and its quality is what drives us and inspires us.
As Jen Beloz explains, “I believe Coombsville, as a Napa Valley appellation, has the tightest DNA fingerprint of all Cabernets made. There’s purity and intensity, graphite and minerality, and then that freshness and acidity—I think that is a thread that runs through absolutely all of our Cabernets. That duality of richness and freshness speaks to the vibrancy of this place.”
Our winemaking team—Estate Director Jen Beloz and Winemaker David Jelinek—navigates these challenges each year, each vintage, establishing a level of taste and excellence that extends to everything we do. It’s what sets Faust apart, allowing us to evolve beyond the bottle. Our wine—the product of rigorous attention to detail, and taxing work—is core to who we are, and its quality is what drives us and inspires us.
As Jen Beloz explains, “I believe Coombsville, as a Napa Valley appellation, has the tightest DNA fingerprint of all Cabernets made. There’s purity and intensity, graphite and minerality, and then that freshness and acidity—I think that is a thread that runs through absolutely all of our Cabernets. That duality of richness and freshness speaks to the vibrancy of this place.”
