Early Bird Ends
January 31, 2025
Judging
Date
May 19, 2025
Winners Announcement
June 10, 2025
(Header image credit: Facebook/Rutherford Wine Company)
Rutherford Wine Company is a Californian wine producer situated in the heart of Napa Valley's wine-growing region. The Rutherford-based estate devotes the majority of its wine portfolio to the AVA's most widely planted grape variety – Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Rutherford Ranch winery can trace its history back to 1978 when Ernie and Virginia Van Asperen and Charlie Abela established the Round Hill winery on the same site. Today Marko and Theo Zaninovich are the proprietors of the estate after having acquired the winery from its original founders in 2000.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines, the flagship Rutherford Ranch portfolio also encompasses red wines based on grape varieties such as Zinfandel, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, as well as white wines of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
The iconic Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon wine is produced from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon grapes cultivated primarily from vineyards in the Oak Knoll District, with lower proportions of grapes sourced from the estate's Franklin and Abela vineyards in Rutherford. Once fermented, this wine sees more than two years in French oak.
Today the Rutherford Wine Company's range of brands also comprises Scott Family Estate, Predator Wines, Lander-Jenkins Wines, Rhiannon, Silver Buckle, and Round Hill.
Award-Winning Wines
Rutherford wine company have won many awards for their delightful wines including the Sommeliers Choice Awards 2020. This winning two Gold medal: with 94 points is 2017 Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and 2017 Rutherford Ranch Merlot with 91 points. View their other winning wines here.
2017 Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
2017 Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and vibrant with classic Rutherford Cabernet tannins, dark cherry mingled with toasty oak, sweet oak and sweet sage lingering on the palate.
2017 Rutherford Ranch Merlot
Luscious aromatic notes of cherry, sage, and plum. Layered with earthy flavors of leather, black pepper, toasted oak and dark stone fruit. Bright acidity and fine tannins leave a velvety mouthfeel.
Online Order: Distributors or wine buyers can click here or reach out to the team on (707) 968-3200.
2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards submissions is now open for domestic and international wines. Enter your Wines now to get the early bird pricing.