The winery is located on Napa Valley’s scenic Silverado Trail within the Rutherford District. Of Napa’s sixteen designated AVAs (American Viticultural Area), Rutherford is renowned for producing unsurpassed Cabernet Sauvignon along with other premium grape varietals. We welcome guests to visit and experience our award-winning wines that we craft with care and tremendous pride.
We are family-owned and managed, and for three generations our family has been committed to earth-friendly winegrowing. “Sustainable” viticulture is not only good for the environment, it results in higher quality fruit, a prerequisite for crafting world-class wines.
Rutherford Ranch Winery is on the site of the original Round Hill Winery that was founded in 1978 by Ernie Van Asperen, Virginia Van Asperen and Charlie Abela. When the Van Asperens retired in 2000, Marko and Theo Zaninovich, long-time shareholders with the Van Asperen family, acquired the winery. The estate vineyards were replanted with superior vines and the winery and tasting room have since undergone significant renovations.
Yet, the estate’s 100-year-old olive grove and unpretentious charm remain essentially unchanged.
Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich and vibrant with classic Rutherford Cabernet tannins, dark cherry mingled with toasty oak, sweet oak and sweet sage lingering on the palate.
The base for our Reserve Cabernet is from the world-renowned Rutherford appellation, which is home to our Abela and Franklin estate vineyards. Perfect climatic conditions and the region’s deep, loamy, well-drained soils produce dark, intensely flavored Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Our rich soil sets the foundation for an exquisite, cellar-ready wine that will evolve in character and quality for years to come.
This Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful complement to ribeye steak, rack of lamb or mushroom risotto.
Review:
A flint and gunpowder nose leads to bold graphite, blueberry and tobacco flavors in this full-bodied wine that is laced with a high level of fine-grained tannins. This wine is meant for aging, being so tightly packed with fruits and minerals and having the structure to keep it fresh while more complex flavors develop over time. Best from 2028–2038.
-Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec.
A classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with inviting violet, dark fruit, tobacco, subtle baking spice and earthy dried herb aromatics. The palate is filled with expressive black cherry, blackberry and dark plum, hints of spice box and sweet vanilla bean. A focused, concentrated wine with youthful energy and freshness nimbly balanced by supple tannin structure and finesse.
Review:
This wine is lovely in juicy red fruit, dried herb and hints of allspice, the tannin structure firm and giving. Offering refinement and structure, it shows nuances of black currant, cherry and toasted oak. This will do well in the cellar.
Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection 94 Points
Mt Monster Shiraz is 100 percent Shiraz
Deep purple in color. Ripe cassis and black plum fruits on the nose with violets. Varietal fruit-driven palate, with cassis and dark berryfruit and spice flavors. Soft tannins compliment the fruit with mouth-filling generous finish.
French & American oak has been used sparingly to ensure maximum fruit expression is retained in the final wine.
Our Shiraz is fermented in static fermenters at controlled temperatures to retain the varietal aromatics. Once complete the wine is left for 7–10 days on skins to aide in the extraction of soft fleshy tannins and build wine structure.