Napa's Vida Valiente winery denial appealed to Board of Supervisors

Applicant Hayes Drumwright filed a notice with the county saying he intends to appeal the Planning Commission's denial of the project. That means the Board of Supervisors is likely to make the final call.

The notice filed by Drumwright on Monday is one page and contains no details. Drumwright has until the end of the month to file papers explaining the basis of the appeal.

Vida Valiente is a proposed 30,000-gallon-a-year winery at 407 Crystal Springs Road north of St. Helena. It would have up to 120 tasting room visitors weekly and 29 marketing events annually, the largest being two with 125 guests each.

On May 1, the Napa County Planning Commission denied the application on a 2-1 vote. Commissioners Megan Dameron and Kara Brunzell expressed wildfire safety concerns, given the narrowness of Crystal Springs Road.

Several neighbors told the commission about their harrowing escapes from the Glass Fire that burned through the area in September 2020. Another said the narrow road is used by parents walking with children and cyclists.

The commission received written public comments totaling a few hundred pages, mostly from opponents.

County staff recommended project approval, including fire and public works officials.

Attorney Rob Anglin, speaking on behalf of the applicant, told the commission no visitors would be allowed during red-flag fire danger weather when wind speeds are high and conditions dry. The project meets the road and street standards adopted last year by the county Board of Supervisors, he said.

Michelle Benvenuto, executive director of Winegrowers of Napa County, said the Planning Commission seemed to be setting policy, instead of following county policies that have been publicly vetted and adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

All of this makes Vida Valiente one of the higher-profile winery cases of recent years. All of those issues and more will likely continue to be in play.

Appeals can take months before being heard by the Board of Supervisors. Some are settled ahead of time by the proponents and opponents.