Wines
Sequoia Grove Winery
Rutherford first won worldwide recognition in 1939 when Georges de Latour won a gold medal at the Golden Gate International Exposition for his 1936 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Since that time, BV's private reserves have set a standard for many of the appellation's wineries.
While several other varietals—such as Sauvignon Blanc—grow well here, Cabernet Sauvignon performs best in the vineyards of Rutherford.
"It takes Rutherford dust to grow great Cabernet," claimed legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff. And indeed, Rutherford wines consistently win high praise from wine critics around the world.
James Laube's Napa Valley Cabernet Hall of Fame
Five Rutherford wines were included in Wine Spectator's "fantasy list of all-star Cabernets," written by James Laube and published February 29, 2000. Descriptions of three of those wines are included below:
Inglenook 1941. Score: 100.
John Daniel's perfection embodied in a wine. This great Napa Valley estate helped set the high standards for Cabernet, and time and again this immense wine has shown a magnificent ability to preserve its rich flavors for decades.
Beaulieu Vineyard 1958. Score: 96.
Compelling evidence of Andre Tchelistcheff's mastery of winemaking. Tremendous concentration and finesse that seems timeless.
Caymus Special Selection 1985. Score: 99.
Captured a broad range of enormously complex flavors in a tremendous year. Showed the vineyard's signature style as well as its consistency.
Varietals
In recent history, the Rutherford AVA has most often been associated with Cabernet Sauvignon, but in fact many other varietals are grown and produced here. The following listing has been compiled in order to provide an appreciation for the wide variety of grapes and wines produced by Rutherford growers and vintners.
To be associated with this list, a company must either grow the cited varietal within the Rutherford AVA or produce a varietal wine that includes at least 85% Rutherford grapes (keeping in mind also that any varietal wine must contain at least 75% of the named grape).
A separate section has been created for Meritage wine producers -- wines that are patently Rutherford wines but may not conform to the minimum percentage necessary to be designated as a varietal wine.
Cabernet Franc
| Growers | Wineries |
| Adamson-Cole Farm Chavez + Leeds Vineyards Frank Family Vineyards Frank Wood & Sons Komes Ranch Star Vineyards Tonella Vineyards |
Beaulieu Vineyard Flora Springs Wine Company Hall Martin Estate Peju Province Pine Ridge Winery Quintessa Rubicon Estate Sawyer Cellars Sequoia Grove Slaughterhouse Cellars Staglin Family Vineyard William Harrison Vineyards & Winery |
Cabernet Sauvignon
| Growers | Wineries |
| A & D Cummings Adamson-Cole Farm Aetna Springs Cellar Allias Vineyards Annaghill Vineyard Avenali Vineyard Baritelle Vineyards Beckstoffer Vineyards Bella Oaks Vineyard Borges/Morisoli Bunny Run Vineyard Chaix Ranches Chavez + Leeds Vineyards Galleron Family Vineyards Garvey Family Vineyard Frank Family Vineyards Frank Wood & Sons Harris Ranch Heitz Wine Cellars Hornberger Vineyard Hozhoni Vineyard Komes Ranch McGah Family Vineyards Monticello Vineyards Mueller-Scheppler Pina Vineyard Managment Pine Ridge Winery Riboli Family Estates> Round Pond Rutherford Group Rutherford River Ranch Rutherford Vista Vineyards Slaughterhouse Cellars St. Clement Star Vineyards Tonella Vineyards Wal-Dun Vineyards Wheaton Palm Vineyards Wilsey Vineyard Winston Hill Vineyard |
12C Wines
Alpha Omega Beaulieu Vineyard Bell Wine Cellars Cakebread Cellars Caymus Elyse Fleury Winery Flora Springs Fountainhead Cellars Freemark Abbey Winery Frog's Leap Winery Galleron Signature Wines Hall Honig Vineyard & Winery Martin Estate MCG Cellars Merryvale Vineyards Neal Family Vineyards Peju Province Provenance Vineyards Quintessa Raymond Vineyard and Cellars Rubicon Estate Rutherford Grove Winery Rutherford Hill Winery Rutherford Ranch Sawyer Cellars Sequoia Grove St. Michelle Wine Estates St. Supery Staglin Family Vineyard Sullivan Vineyards Tres Sabores Trinchero Family Estates Whitehall Lane Winery William Harrison Vineyards Zahtila Vineyards |
Carménère
| Growers | Wineries |
| Quintessa |
Chardonnay
| Growers | Wineries |
| Beckstoffer Vineyards Frank Wood & Sons Heitz Wine Cellars Hoatzin/Aetna Springs Rutherford River Ranch Star Vineyards Tonella Vineyards |
Fleury Winery Raymond Vineyard and Cellars Rubicon Estate Staglin Family Vineyard |
Malbec
| Growers | Wineries |
| Komes Ranch Pine Ridge Winery |
Flora Springs Wine Company Sawyer Cellars Sequoia Grove |
Marsanne
| Growers | Wineries |
| Rubicon Estate |
Merlot
| Growers | Wineries |
| Adamson-Cole Farm Aetna Springs Cellar Avenali Vineyard Beckstoffer Vineyards Frank Family Vineyards Frank Wood & Sons Freemark Abbey Winery Heitz Wine Cellars Hoatzin/Aetna Springs Cellars Komes Ranch Round Pond Rutherford River Ranch Rutherford Vista Vineyards Star Vineyards Tonella Vineyards Wheaton Palm Vineyards |
Beaulieu Vineyard Cakebread Cellars Fleury Winery Flora Springs Wine Company Frog's Leap Winery Hall Martin Estate Peju Province Pine Ridge Winery Provenance Vineyards Quintessa Raymond Vineyard & Cellars Rubicon Estate Rutherford Grove Winery Rutherford Hill Winery Sawyer Cellars Sequoia Grove St. Supery Sullivan Vineyards Trinchero Family Estates Whitehall Lane Winery |
Petite Sirah
| Growers | Wineries |
| Chavez + Leeds Vineyards Frank Wood & Sons Freemark Abbey Winery McGah Family Vineyards Outcalt Family Vineyard |
Elyse Winery Frog's Leap Winery Neal Family Vineyards Tres Sabores |
Petit Verdot
| Growers | Wineries |
| Allias Vineyards Frank Wood & Sons Komes Ranch McGah Family Vineyards Riboli Family Wine Estates Round Pond |
Flora Springs Wine Company Martin Estate Pine Ridge Winery Quintessa Rubicon Estate Sawyer Cellars Sequoia Grove St. Supery Staglin Family Vineyard Tres Sabores |
Pinot Noir
| Growers | Wineries |
| Star Vineyards |
Roussanne
| Growers | Wineries |
| Rubicon Estate |
Sangiovese
| Growers | Wineries |
| Frank Family Vineyards Round Pond |
Rutherford Grove Winery Staglin Family Vineyard |
Sauvignon Blanc
| Growers | Wineries |
| Allias Vineyards Avenali Vineyard Beckstoffer Vineyards Chavez + Leeds Vineyards McGah Family Vineyards Wheaton Palm Vineyards |
Alpha Omega
Beaulieu Vineyard Cakebread Cellars Frog's Leap Winery Honig Vineyard & Winery Long Meadow Ranch MCG Cellars Provenance Vineyard & Cellar
Rutherford Grove Winery Rutherford Hill Winery Sawyer Cellars Whitehall Lane Winery |
Sauvignon Gris
| Growers | Wineries |
| Rutherford Hill Winery |
Sauvignon Musqué
| Growers | Wineries |
| Cakebread Cellars Sawyer Cellars |
Sémillon
| Growers | Wineries |
| McGah Family Vineyards | Alpha Omega Cakebread Cellars Whitehall Lane Winery |
Syrah
| Growers | Wineries |
| Hozhoni Vineyard | Rubicon Estate |
Tennat
| Growers | Wineries |
| Pine Ridge Winery |
Viognier
| Growers | Wineries |
| Rubicon Estate |
Zinfandel
| Growers | Wineries |
| Frank Wood & Sons McGah Family Vineyards |
Bealieu Vineyards Elyse Neal Family Vineyards Rubicon Estate Tres Sabores |
Meritage Wines
| Winery | Label | Varietals |
| Beaulieu Vineyard | Tapestry | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec |
| Flora Springs | Trilogy | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec |
| Pine Ridge | Andrus Reserve | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec |
| Quintessa | Quintessa | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc |
| Rubicon Estate | Rubicon | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc |
| Sawyer Cellars | Brad Ford | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot |
| Sullivan Vineyards | Coeur de Vigne | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot |
| William Harrison Vineyards | Rutherford Red | Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc |