Copyright The Mercury News
This article originally appeared on the Sonoma Magazine website. Rutherford Hill launched more than five decades ago, when Napa Valley’s fine wine scene was just getting off the ground. Now, after an outdoor makeover last year, the winery sports a multilevel terrace with multimillion-dollar views. (And yes, Miles, we are drinking some $!@*#-ing Merlot!) The story It all begins with Chateau Souverain. Winemaker Lee Stewart founded the winery on Howell Mountain in 1944, then sold it to the Pillsbury Company in 1970. Two years later, Pillsbury expanded Chateau Souverain, establishing Souverain of Rutherford. By 1976, the “poppin’ fresh dough” folks wanted out of the wine business, so they sold Souverain of Rutherford to Bill and Lila Jaeger as part of an investment group. They renamed it Rutherford Hill. RELATED: Escape to California’s largest wine country The new owners saw a bright future for Bordeaux-style reds in Napa Valley, so they chose Merlot as the winery’s focus. Rutherford Hill was among the first wineries in the region to bottle a varietally labeled Merlot, starting with the 1976 vintage, which positioned the winery for success during the variety’s heyday in the 1980s. Rutherford Hill began a new chapter in 1996. That year, the legendary Anthony Terlato — the head of a Chicago-based family of wine importers, marketers and distributors — purchased the winery. (This was their first venture into winery ownership; the family would go on to buy several more wineries around the world, including Chimney Rock in Napa Valley and Sanford in Santa Barbara County.) In the early 2000s, Terlato set about revitalizing Rutherford Hill. He invested millions to improve the producer’s winemaking facilities and equipment, and the efforts paid off. Terlato died in 2020, and his son Bill continues on as Terlato Wine Group’s CEO. Today, still specializing in Merlot, Rutherford Hill farms 110 acres of estate vineyards across Napa Valley. The vibe If you’ve ever dined at Auberge du Soleil, you’ve nearly made it to Rutherford Hill. Just keep driving past the resort and you’ll soon spot the original redwood winery building as you enter the winery gates. On your right is the gorgeous new multilevel terrace and visitor reception station — unveiled last fall. Tastings also take place inside Rutherford Hill’s mile-long cave, which now includes a cozy lounge. The extensive outdoor remodel is part of the winery’s efforts to elevate — literally and figuratively — its winemaking program and visitor experiences. On the palate Former Cakebread Cellars winemaker Stephanie Jacobs joined Rutherford Hill in March, taking over for Michael Coode. If you’ve forgotten how good well-made Merlot can be, the Legacy Tasting ($95) offers an array of lush reminders — with each representing a different Napa Valley district. The elegant 2021 Stags Leap Merlot ($70) has a dark fruit profile (think plums), with vanilla and toasty oak notes. The 2021 Carneros Merlot ($70) has an appealing brightness and notes of dark red fruits. If Merlot doesn’t ring your bell, the complex 2024 AJT Sauvignon Blanc ($35) is a juicy option with tropical fruit and apple hints. The winery also offers a View of the Valley tasting ($75) of five current releases, and cave tastings that range from a walk-and-taste experience ($95) to a deluxe ATV tour and sit-down tasting in the fancy cave lounge ($195). Beyond the bottle The views are incredible from just about every vantage point on the winery terrace, but they’re especially impressive on the private “Skyloft” decks that seem to float 400 feet above the valley floor. When Rutherford Hill launched its deluxe Skyloft Experience last year, it added a $250 per group “rental fee” to the cost of a tasting. The price has since come down — a sign of the economic times? — to $130 per guest, which includes a tasting with a cheese and charcuterie board. The loungey setting is intimate and the panoramas are spectacular. Rutherford Hill Winery, 200 Rutherford Hill Road, Rutherford. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. rutherfordhill.com Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel journalist who contributes to Sonoma magazine, SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, Northern California Public Media, KQED, and more. Follow her on Bluesky at @winebroad.bsky.social, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.
