Tucked into the southeastern corner of Napa Valley lies Coombsville—one of Napa’s best-kept secrets. Now officially recognized as an appellation, this quiet region has been a hidden gem for decades, providing exceptional fruit for some of Napa’s most iconic wineries. Wines from Coombsville all share a distinct thread of old-world elegance combined with excellent structure, distinct minerality, and smooth tannins. In short, they are balanced and beautiful. The region’s unique caldera shape, combined with late-morning fog burn-off and cooling Bay breezes, keeps Coombsville significantly cooler than other Napa Valley AVAs.

Blue Oak Vineyard is located at the heart of Coombsville, atop a knoll formed millennia ago when part of Mount George collapsed. This unique site—500 feet above the valley floor—is defined by its volcanic soils, cool marine influence, and rugged hillside terrain. While Coombsville is best known for its Bordeaux varietals, Blue Oak focuses on growing exceptional Merlot that echoes the elegance and longevity of Bordeaux’s finest.

Planted in the mid-1990s and acquired by Kelly Gorman and Steve Carnevale in 1999, Blue Oak Vineyard has been thoughtfully farmed with one goal: to produce wines that speak to the soul of this land. Today, winemaker Grant Long Jr.—a Napa native and the talent behind Aonair and Reverie—brings that vision to life. With just three acres under vine, his hands-on approach yields small-lot wines of depth, character, and refinement.