Wineries in Rutherford

Located in the northern half of Napa Valley, Rutherford lies between Oakville and St. Helena. Rutherford is slightly warmer than Oakville and Stags Leap because it’s located further away from San Pablo Bay. The wineries in Rutherford are some of the most historic and world-renowned wineries in the world. Red wines are Rutherford’s specialty and are typically rich, medium to full bodied, elegant, with black current, cedar, cases, black licorice, spice box, cherry and earth flavors. There are several wineries in Rutherford and we’ve selected our favorites for the list below.

Napa  |  Yountville  |  Oakville  |  Rutherford  |  St. Helena  |  Angwin  |  Calistoga

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The area west of Highway 29, at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains is commonly known as the “Rutherford Bench” and is a vital part of Rutherford’s reputation as a spectacular grape growing region. “Rutherford Dust” is another widely-used term that’s used to describe the dusty, earthy flavors present in Rutherford wines. Some also claim the wine has a chocolate or coffee taste, while others say it has more of a texture that creates a full mouthfeel with smooth and big tannins. The soil in Rutherford is well-drained and composed of gravel, loam, and sand with volcanic deposits and marine sediments. The terrior is especially known for its Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and the best wineries in Rutherford feature this wine.

There is a total of 66 vineyards that call Rutherford home in Napa Valley. In addition to their rich and full-flavored wines, some of the best wineries in Rutherford offer a variety of “extras” including Napa wine tasting, gift shops, wine caves, and picnic facilities.