| The Napa Valley is world renowned for producing | | | | between the western mountains and the valley floor. |
| award winning wines. Because of its unique | | | | This area is affectionately known as the Rutherford |
| geography, Napa County is split up into specific | | | | Bench, and vineyards in this area produce grapes with |
| regions, denoted by the term AVA (American | | | | unmatched flavor and intensity. |
| Viticulture Area). | | | | The intensity of Rutherford's grapes provides a |
| These individual regions are separated based on the | | | | challenge to even the most skilled winemakers. But |
| inherent characteristics of the land and climate. There | | | | Caymus Vineyards has mastered the equation for |
| are numerous subtleties which can make one AVA | | | | producing award winning Cabs. As one of the |
| best suited for Cab and another Chardonnay. | | | | prominent wineries in Rutherford, Caymus Vineyards |
| In 1850, Thomas Rutherford recognized the | | | | leads the way in Cabernet production. Caymus' 1990 |
| subtleties of an unproven plot of land that resembled | | | | Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon was voted |
| Bordeaux. He subsequently planted the first vines in | | | | "Wine of the Year" in 1994 by Wine Spectator. This |
| what was destined to become the Rutherford AVA. | | | | was just one of many awards and accolades that |
| Rutherford's storied history has laid the foundations | | | | this Rutherford winery has enjoyed over the years, |
| for the Napa Valley to become a world leader in wine | | | | making Caymus Vineyard's wine some of the most |
| production. | | | | sought after in the Napa Valley. |
| When Phylloxera infested the Napa Valley in the late | | | | It is more than just Rutherford's "dust" that makes |
| nineteenth century, Frenchman Georges de Latour | | | | this region perfect for producing world class Cabs. |
| was on the front lines in the battle for the survival of | | | | The warm day-time temperature dries and heats the |
| Napa's vineyards. de Latour became the first person | | | | soil, leading to grapes with more concentrated flavors |
| to import Phylloxera resistant root stocks for his | | | | and more developed tannins. This contributes to the |
| Rutherford vineyard. This was a crucial event in Napa | | | | complexity of the Rutherford Cab, but may be |
| Valley's history, and laid the foundation for a | | | | overpowering if consumed to young. The young, |
| prosperous viticulture future. | | | | tannic Rutherford Cab can be softened over time, |
| Pronounced (Phil - Ox -Erra), this Aphid like insect lives | | | | unveiling the true nature the winemakers intended. |
| its parasitic lifecycle on vine root stocks. Its | | | | Wine embodies the heart and soul of the winemaker. |
| introduction marked the largest whole-sale | | | | Consequently, it takes more than perfect growing |
| destruction of vineyards in California's history. De | | | | conditions to produce premium quality wines, the |
| Latour's import of root stocks that were not | | | | experience and expertise of the winemaker is just as |
| susceptible to Phylloxera effectively saved the Napa | | | | important. Because of the fruit that Rutherford |
| Valley, and propelled De Latour into the annals of | | | | Vineyards produce, many of the world's premier |
| history. | | | | winemakers are drawn to this historic region. Many |
| In addition, De Latour founded Inglenook winery, | | | | vintners come to Rutherford to follow in the |
| which helped the Napa Valley gain world wide | | | | footsteps of Napa Valley legend Andre Tchelistcheff. |
| recognition. Inglenook was the first winery to | | | | The effects of Tchelistcheff are still being felt |
| consistently win gold medals for their Rutherford | | | | through the techniques he implemented at Beaulieu |
| Cabernet Sauvignon. Many experts still think the 1941 | | | | Vineyards. As Rutherford's flagship winery, BV |
| Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine ever | | | | continues to build on its storied history by producing |
| produced in the Napa Valley. But even more | | | | award winning Reserve Cabs. Their latest Reserve |
| important, De Latour brought over a young | | | | Cab received 92 points from Wine Spectator. Along |
| Frenchman named Andre Tchelistcheff. As De | | | | with producing premium quality wines, BV boasts one |
| Latour's protégé, Tchelistcheff | | | | of the best tasting rooms in the Napa Valley. This |
| became a legend himself, elevating Rutherford into | | | | makes the experience of tasting their opulent wines |
| uncharted territory. | | | | even better. |
| Tchelistcheff brought new world viticulture and | | | | The Rutherford AVA has more to offer than historic |
| winemaking techniques that revolutionized Napa | | | | vineyards and wineries. The smaller wineries provide a |
| Valley wine. It was Tchelistcheff who coined the | | | | more personal, intimate experience than their larger, |
| term "Rutherford Dust," and to many this "dust" | | | | more commercial counterparts. Along with this, some |
| represents the manifestation of excellence. Before his | | | | of the small, family owned wineries produce some of |
| untimely passing, Tchelistcheff said "It takes | | | | the best wine from Rutherford. Rutherford Grove |
| Rutherford dust to grow great Cabernet." Although | | | | Winery and Sullivan Vineyards were voted in the "top |
| other AVAs successfully grow Cab, Rutherford is by | | | | five small wineries to visit in the Napa Valley" by the |
| far the premier Cab producing region of the Napa | | | | Wall Street Journal. |
| Valley. | | | | The combination of vibrant wines and beautiful |
| The most important aspect of the Rutherford AVA | | | | tasting rooms, make Rutherford one of the premier |
| is their "dust." Synonymous with soil, Rutherford's | | | | destinations among wine connoisseurs. Although it is |
| "dust" is as unique as the wine produced from this | | | | just one of the many AVAs in the Napa Valley, you |
| AVA. The crème de la crème of | | | | could spend your entire trip in this historic region. For |
| Rutherford wine comes from a narrow strip of land | | | | anymore visiting Napa, visiting Rutherford is a must. |