In 2013, after owning a veterinary hospital in Santa Cruz for over 40 years, Dave Carroll attempted to retire in Napa with his wife, Betsy. A fortuitous showing of a run-down property in Napa began what would become Carroll Family Vineyard. However, their new home needed a lot of work. The farm gate had fallen, the roads were dirt, and many of the buildings on the property, some of which dated back to 1925, were succumbing to the ravages of time. 

Dave and Betsy worked to restore and rebuild the two residences, barns, and water tower, utilizing reclaimed wood accents to ensure part of the original property would live on. But the renovation wasn’t the only thing on their mind. “It was an ultimate dream to have my own vineyard,” says Betsy.

After settling into Napa, a former vet clinic became available and was renovated into Napa River Pet Hospital. What might be deemed the opposite of retirement, Dave opened a second location, Napa West Pet Hospital, consistent with his love and passion for practicing high-quality Veterinary Medicine. 

Having found their dream property on the northern border of the Coombsville AVA, the Carrolls set out to plant their family’s legacy. The two-acre vineyard was designed by Erik, their son, who studied viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, and Brain Rahn of Coastal Viticulture Consultants. 

They separated the land into two blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon. The northern clone is 169 on 101-14 rootstock; the southern clone is 412 on 3309 rootstock. Due to the region’s water-deficient classification, despite several large vineyards in the area, their particular property was not zoned for a vineyard. With the support of 72 neighbors, the Carrolls successfully petitioned the county for a zone change to keep their small vineyard.

Today, the vines historically exceed five tons per acre due to the unusually deep topsoil and hallmark Coombsville loam, paired with aggressive quad cane pruning. The Carrolls reserve one ton of odd-year harvests, allowing the family to dabble in home winemaking and showcase the vineyard's terroir. "The goal is to keep the fruit sold," says Betsy, but hopefully, a winemaker will realize the potential for a single-vineyard wine. 

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^{Photography by Elan Villamor.}