Central Napa Valley

The golden mile of American wine. Oakville and Rutherford produce the most celebrated and collected Cabernet Sauvignons in the New World, from Opus One to Rubicon to To Kalon.

9Wineries

🍇

Best Varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon

📍

Sub-AVAs

Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena

⭐

Known For

Rutherford Dust, To Kalon

💰

Avg Tasting Fee

$55-$150

🚗

From SF

1.5 hrs N

🍷

🤓 Did You Know?

Oakville and Rutherford, the heart of central Napa Valley, produce what many consider the greatest Cabernet Sauvignon in the Americas, the famous 'Rutherford Dust' character is attributed to the valley's ancient alluvial soils.

Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc Sauvignon Blanc Petit Verdot

Why This Region Matters

🍷
The Golden Mile
Oakville and Rutherford together produce more 95-100 point Cabernets than any other stretch of land in the New World.

🏛
To Kalon Vineyard
Planted in 1868 by Hamilton Crabb, the most celebrated vineyard site in American wine history, home to Robert Mondavi and Opus One.

🌿
'Rutherford Dust'
A real and identifiable quality in Rutherford Cabernet, a subtle dusty, mineral earthiness described since the 1940s by winemaker André Tchelistcheff.

🏆
Cult Wine Central
Harlan Estate, Scarecrow, Screaming Eagle, and other ultra-premium producers source from Oakville and Rutherford.

Climate & Terroir

Warm days moderated by afternoon breezes funneled up from San Pablo Bay. Deep, well-drained loam soils. The classic conditions for producing rich, structured Cabernet Sauvignon with exceptional aging potential.

Towns to Explore

🏘 Oakville

Home to To Kalon, Opus One, Far Niente, Silver Oak, and the legendary Oakville Grocery

Explore →

🏘 Rutherford

Famous for 'Rutherford dust' Cabernet, Inglenook, Caymus, Frog's Leap, Cakebread, Grgich Hills

Explore →

Wineries in This Region

Not Yet Reviewed

Robert Mondavi Winery

📍 Oakville AVA

Not Yet Reviewed

Opus One

📍 Oakville AVA

Not Yet Reviewed

Inglenook

📍 Oakville AVA

Not Yet Reviewed

Far Niente

📍 Oakville AVA

Not Yet Reviewed

Silver Oak Cellars

📍 Oakville AVA

Not Yet Reviewed

Caymus Vineyards

📍 Oakville AVA

Not Yet Reviewed

Frog's Leap Winery

📍 Oakville AVA

Not Yet Reviewed

Cakebread Cellars

📍 Oakville AVA

Not Yet Reviewed

Grgich Hills Estate

📍 Oakville AVA

🗺 Wino Notion Visitor Tip

Book at least 2 weeks ahead for most estates here, these are highly sought-after reservations. Consider visiting Oakville Grocery for a picnic lunch between tastings. The Oakville-Rutherford stretch of Highway 29 is one of the most historically rich drives in American wine country.

← All Napa Valley Wineries Browse All Wineries

Central Napa Valley

Why This Region Matters

Climate & Terroir

Towns to Explore

Wineries in This Region

The Napa Central Wineries