About Covert Estate
Covert Estate was founded in 2012 when winemaker Julien Fayard partnered with Cal and Pam Nicholson and Dave and Laura Nestor to acquire a 12-acre hillside property in Coombsville, about 4.5 acres of which were already planted. A 12,000-square-foot cave was completed in 2015, the same year the estate poured its first harvest.
Fayard, who grew up in a winemaking family in Saint-Étienne, France and trained in Provence, the Loire Valley and Bordeaux (including a stint at Château Lafite Rothschild), moved to Napa Valley in 2006 and spent seven years working alongside noted consulting winemaker Philippe Melka before starting his own practice. The estate is certified biodynamic and farmed around an oak grove estimated at 115 years old that overlooks the caves.
Covert Estate's 12-acre Coombsville vineyard is certified biodynamic and farmed beneath a 115-year-old oak grove.
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Founded 2012Julien Fayard partnered with the Nicholson and Nestor families to acquire the 12-acre Coombsville property.
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Biodynamic farmingThe estate is certified biodynamic and uses solar energy across its Coombsville vineyard.
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Coombsville AVAA cool, fog-influenced sub-appellation known for longer hang time and less extreme heat spikes than warmer parts of the valley.
"A boutique, biodynamically farmed Coombsville estate led by winemaker Julien Fayard, a former longtime collaborator of Philippe Melka."
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Featured Wines
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Covert Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
2024 · Coombsville, Napa Valley
Estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon from the winery's biodynamically farmed Coombsville vineyard.
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CABERNET FRANC
Covert Estate Cabernet Franc
2021 · Coombsville, Napa Valley
A vineyard-designate Cabernet Franc from the estate's cool, fog-influenced Coombsville site.
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SYRAH
Covert Estate Syrah
Current release · Coombsville, Napa Valley
Estate Syrah reflecting Coombsville's cooler climate and longer hang time.
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Wine names confirmed via covertestate.com and retailer/auction listings (Premiere Napa Valley, Vintner's Collective); not all current vintages publicly listed, July 2026.
Tasting Experiences
Visit Website →Estate Tasting
Hillside tastings of current releases at the Coombsville estate and caves, by appointment.
By appointment
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