The Walt Ranch project will add 209 acres of vineyards within a 316-acre property in the Atlas Peak appellation of eastern Napa County. A total of 65 vineyard blocks are proposed. The project site is located on the west side of Monticello Road, approximately one mile southwest of its intersection with Highway 128 and about one‐half mile north of its intersection with Waters Road within the Atlas Peak area of Napa County, California. Craig and Kathryn Hall of HALL Wines bought the property for vineyards for $8 million in 2005.
As early as 2009, the California Oak Foundation expressed concern about the proposed loss of trees at Walt Ranch to make room for vineyards. By 2014, dozens of people were showing up at county hearings saying the project shouldn’t be allowed in the county’s watersheds. The Board of Supervisors approved the vineyards in 2016, and opponents sued. So here we are today after many hours of hearings and lawyers and paperwork.
About two weeks ago, members of the public revealed that Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza’s in-laws purchased real estate directly adjacent to the Walt Ranch project. His in-laws purchased the property in November 2021, and now a lot of back and forth has been going on with proponents of the project about a conflict of interest based on possible financial gains. The state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) has gotten involved.
I am putting links to different blogs and news articles. The Soda Canyon blog has attachments to documents concerning the sale and purchase of the real estate. I have included statements from Supervisor Pedroza as well. We will continue to hear more about this topic, so the more you read, the more you can understand the situation and learn a few things.
Resources:
- Napa Register Article: Napa Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza talks about conflict-of-interest allegations.
- Napa Register Letter: Pedroza should resign
- Napa Register County Article: Napa County’s next steps on Walt Ranch look hazy.
- Napa Register Development Article: Napa County backs Walt Ranch mitigation plan.
- Additional website concerning documents and timelines: napacountycash.com.