Rutherford Hill Winery sits on a knoll above the Rutherford bench with panoramic views across the Napa Valley floor, and below it lies one of the most extensive cave systems in the region: a half-mile of tunnels carved into the hillside that serve as aging cellars for estate Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. The caves and the view make Rutherford Hill one of the valley’s most scenic tasting destinations.

History of Rutherford Hill Winery

Rutherford Hill Winery was established in 1976 by a partnership that included some of the same investors behind Freemark Abbey. The founding group recognized the potential of the Rutherford hilltop site for both viticulture and the tourist experience that was beginning to develop in Napa Valley. The cave system was carved in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The winery was acquired by the Terlato family in 1996, which has maintained the estate focus on Merlot and Cabernet while expanding the cave facilities and visitor programs. The half-mile of tunnels now includes dedicated aging areas, a barrel room for seated tastings, and a special events space that hosts dinners within the hillside.

Rutherford Hill was among the first Napa Valley estates to commit seriously to Merlot in the 1970s, building a cave system to age it properly before caves were a standard feature of Napa winery design. The half-mile of tunnels were designed for the humidity and temperature stability that Merlot needs to age gracefully.

The cave system and hillside terroir

The Rutherford Hill caves extend half a mile into the volcanic hillside above the Rutherford bench, carved from the soft volcanic tuff that underlies much of the eastern Napa Valley ridge. The caves maintain a natural temperature of 58 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity above 80 percent year-round, ideal conditions for slow, even barrel aging without the evaporative loss that affects above-ground cellars.

The estate vineyards on the hillside and benchland below the winery building produce Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay from soils that range from volcanic tuff on the upper slopes to the alluvial loam of the Rutherford bench. The variation across elevations gives the winemaking team multiple expressions of Rutherford terroir to work with.

The wines of Rutherford Hill Winery

Merlot is the variety that defines Rutherford Hill, produced in multiple tiers from estate vineyards. The Reserve Merlot from the best estate blocks ages in the cave system and represents the serious expression of the program, with dark cherry fruit, soft tannins, and the mineral quality of Rutherford benchland soil.

Cabernet Sauvignon at estate and reserve tiers is the second major program. The estate Chardonnay from cooler hilltop blocks adds a white wine to the portfolio with the texture and complexity that cave aging in French oak supports. The cave barrel tastings, conducted in the tunnels, are among the more memorable tasting room experiences in Napa Valley.

Food pairings with Rutherford Hill wines

Rutherford Hill Merlot, with its Rutherford benchland character and soft tannins, is a genuinely versatile food wine. Roasted duck with cherry and thyme reduction is the natural match for the Reserve Merlot: the dark cherry fruit of the wine mirrors the sauce, the acidity cuts the duck fat, and the subtle mineral finish adds complexity. Braised lamb shank with white beans, mushroom and leek tart, and aged hard cheeses all pair beautifully with the softer tiers.

The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon wants richer food: dry-aged ribeye, rack of lamb with herb crust, or prime rib with au jus. The Chardonnay from the estate suits Dungeness crab, roasted halibut, or a classic chicken breast in cream sauce where the wine’s oak-influenced texture matches the richness of the preparation.

Rutherford Hill Winery: common questions