Farella

Farella

Fantastically Complex

Farella Vineyard is Realm’s Estate vineyard in the Coombsville AVA. A fantastically complex site in the foothills of the Vaca Mountain range, the vineyard lies in one of the cooler regions of the Napa Valley. The site features layers of volcanic tufa, red decomposed rock and ashy deposits from ancient landslides, vast geologic episodes that literally turned this vineyard on its head. The 25 acres of vines are divided into numerous blocks with elevations ranging between 300 and 500 feet. Varying slopes create distinct microclimates and soil compositions, and the vineyard’s diversity is suitable for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Realm has produced a Single Vineyard Cabernet from Farella since 2003. In 2018, we had the good fortune to partner with the Farella family on a plan to become long-term stewards of the estate.

The core of Realm’s Farella Cabernet comes from a high point in the vineyard, a block referred to as “rockpile” because of the preponderance of stone and gravel in the soil. This block is bathed in afternoon sunlight during the growing season and the wine - concentrated and beautifully-structured - consistently shows a mix of red and black fruits with spice and mineral overtones. Farella has been historically 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, comprising Clones 4 and 8, but we began working with Merlot in the 2019 vintage.

Behind the Label: Farella Estate

Appellation
Coombsville

Vineyard/Blocks
25+ acres shared between Realm and Farella

Dominant Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon

Sense of Place

Western-facing hillside in cooler climate area; volcanic soils; varying slopes and elevations

Distinguishing Characteristics
Combination of fruit and earth; savory notes; good acid structure; firmer tannins; flirting with minerality

Production Volume
6,000 bottes; will increase over time as vineyard is replanted

First Vintage
2003

Leonard Cohen, Live in London, July 17, 2008. Sony.

Frank Farella in the kitchen. December 2020.

Frank Farella and Scott Becker, December 2020.

Heart of Dance a work by artist Wosene Worke Kosrof was completed in 2021 and hangs in the Whiskey Hotel.

Aspect Map for Farella Vineyard.

Moonracer wine label
Moonracer
Houyi Vineyard Label
Houyi
Farella
Hartwell XX Label
Hartwell XX