Promise Winery

The Promise Winery project, located at 2000 Sage Canyon Road in St. Helena, California, involves a comprehensive request for a Use Permit, a Variance, and an Exception to Napa County Road and Street Standards. The development is structured in two distinct phases on a 62.56-acre parcel. Phase I focuses on establishing winery operations by converting and expanding an existing barn into a 2,794 sq. ft. production space and repurposing an accessory dwelling unit into a tasting room, with an initial production capacity of 5,000 gallons per year and a staff of five. Phase II expands the facility's capabilities to 30,000 gallons of annual production through the construction of a 5,000 sq. ft. production cave, a 1,235 sq. ft. covered crush pad, a 1,040 sq. ft. mechanical enclosure, and a 900 sq. ft. parking structure with an ADA restroom. Operational activities include daily tours and tastings limited to 15 visitors per day, as well as specific private marketing events. The project requires significant site improvements and mitigation strategies to address environmental and safety concerns. Infrastructure plans include widening the driveway, installing intervisible turnouts for emergency vehicle access, and implementing vegetation management to maintain sightlines. To address environmental impacts, the project includes a Mitigated Negative Declaration addressing biological and tribal cultural resources, alongside a plan to mitigate vegetation loss through a 3:1 acreage ratio. Water and wastewater management are critical components, with studies confirming groundwater availability and a plan for wastewater reuse in vineyard irrigation to comply with state discharge requirements. The development is subject to oversight by various agencies, including Napa County, Caltrans, and the Water Quality Control Board, with public hearings scheduled to address the proposed variances and environmental mitigations.