In the United States there are 187 vineyard appellations, or AVAs. (American Viticultural Areas).  Many appellations contain sub-appellations. Each appellation (or sub-appellation) is governed under strict regulations such as; irrigation allowances, grape vine yields, percentages of varietals in blends, etc.  Napa currently has thirteen appellations and Rutherford is one of them.  Rutherford is located in the heart of the Napa Valley and is very small, about 6700 acres, with 60 wineries and a population of 525 people.  Although, Rutherford was officially designated its AVA in 1993, the region was the birth place of many award winning Cabernet Sauvignons, beginning as early as the 1940’s.  Rutherford is known for it's soil, which is referred to as “Rutherford Dust”. This term has come to represent the commitment to and connection with the soil of Rutherford. This soil (together with the climate) creates ideal growing conditions for both Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc wine grape varietals. 

In 2007, a number of Rutherford wineries formed a group called “Rutherford Appellation Wineries” (R.A.W.) The mission of this group is “to educate consumers on the significance of the Rutherford appellation as Napa Valley's pre-eminent grape growing area.  This consumer-focused organization was created to promote the uniqueness of the area and encourage visitors to experience personally the quality of the wines produced in this special place."

Charter members included: Alpha Omega, Beaulieu Vineyards, Grgich Hills, Honig Vineyard & Winery, Peju Winery, Pina Cellars, Provenance, Rubicon, Rutherford Grove, Slaughterhouse Cellars, Sawyer Cellars, St. Supery and Sullivan Winery. The group plans to double its members in 2008.

On December 1^st and 2^nd, 2007, the Rutherford Appellation Wineries held the first “Rutherford Passport Weekend”. For $50 per person, consumers were able to purchase a “passport”, granting them access to each of the 13 participating Rutherford wineries, including appointment only wineries. Each winery offered passport holders complimentary tastings, along with specials such as food pairings, barrel tastings, tours, and discounts. Tickets were available online and 150 tickets were sold prior to the weekend.  Due to the overwhelming positive feedback, the group will be scheduling the next “Rutherford Passport Weekend” for Spring 2008.  For more information, please visit www.rutherford-appellation-wineries.com or email regina@honigwine.com.

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