About Rutherford

South of St. Helena and north of the Oakville appellation, Rutherford is a top Napa Valley AVA. Located in the center of the Napa winemaking area, Rutherford was named after Thomas Rutherford, who married Elizabeth Yount, the granddaughter of George C. Yount, Napa Valley’s pioneering winemaker. The AVAs is Napa are distinguished by their terroir. More specifically, there are vineyards located on the hills and those that cover the valley floor. Rutherford is part of the latter. Its vineyards run from the Mayacama mountains to the Silverado Trail, which is at the base of the Vaca mountains. This area boasts some very famous vineyards, including Scarecrow, Inglenook, Caymus, and Grgich Hills.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the top grape grown in the Rutherford AVA. The warm climate helps produce wines with very organic, earthy flavors. It also results in fully ripened tannins that age well in the bottle, providing deeply complex structures. Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec are also seen in Rutherford. These are used as components of Bordeaux blends or varietal reds.

Rutherford Dust

When describing the flavor notes characteristic of wines from this AVA, the term “Rutherford dust” has become a distinction. This phrase refers to the dusty tannin flavor along with a powdery effect that can be found in the Cabernets. Some people even describe it as a coffee or cocoa flavor. There’s confusion over where this interesting term originated. However, there’s no denying that Rutherford dust exists due to climate conditions and the quality of soil in the valley. It’s become the defining characteristic of wines from Rutherford and something many drinkers have returned over and over to experience.

The Rutherford appellation gained designation in 1993. The next year, the Rutherford Dust Society was formed by growers in the area as a tribute to the progenitors of the area, who played a huge role in developing Napa into a world-class growing region. The society’s mission is to promote the very highest grape growing standards. They also work to help visitors and wine enthusiasts understand the full expression of Rutherford’s distinctive terroir.

Topography

North of Napa and San Pablo Bay, the summer days in Rutherford are complimented with cool fog from the south. This fog is able to balance out the hot sunshine which would otherwise overheat the grapes. In fact, without the fog, the wines made in Rutherford would lack both the acidity and complexity needed to be considered top wines. The soil in this region is a mix of sandstone, volcanic deposits, loam, and gravel. Because this type of soil drains so well, the vine roots must reach deeper, which means a long growing season. The resulting grapes have intense flavors and ripen evenly. These conditions are very noticeable in Cabernet Sauvignon wines, which have a perfect balance of flavor and acidity here. While this is a red wine AVA, with Cabernet being the top dog, a few whites are present. More specifically, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are grown in moderation. However, few of them evoke the esteem that Cabernet does.

Meta: Rutherford is a highly regarded Napa Valley AVA where Cabernet Sauvignon dominates. Learn more about the ideal winemaking conditions found in this region.