Rutherford

Rutherford gained AVA status in 1993, and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 6,650 acres and centered on the town of Rutherford, the region is one of the most famous Cabernet Sauvignon growing regions in California. The well-drained soil of this area is composition of gravel, loam and sand with volcanic deposits. Warm summer days give way to cool evenings. An average day has a diurnal cycle of as much as 12 degrees. This fluctuation allows the fruit to ripen at a steady pace and develop good balance. The vast majority of the grapes grown here are Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are also productions of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.