About Rutherford Ranch Winery
Rutherford Ranch Winery occupies the site where Ernie and Virginia Van Asperen, along with business partner Charlie Abela, founded Round Hill Winery in 1977 and 1978. The Van Asperens built a dedicated winery on the Silverado Trail in 1988, which now operates under the Rutherford Ranch name, complete with a 100-year-old olive grove that survives from the property's earlier history. When the Van Asperens retired in 2000, longtime family shareholders Marko and Theo Zaninovich acquired the winery, replanting the estate vineyards and renovating the tasting room while keeping the property's unpretentious character - including a 100-year-old olive grove that visitors can stroll by appointment. The family farms sustainably and has for three generations - down to spreading the winery's own grape skins and seeds as mulch around the property's plants and trees.
When the Van Asperens retired in 2000, longtime shareholders Marko and Theo Zaninovich, a Croatian-American farming family from California's Central Valley, took over the winery. Rutherford Ranch now anchors the Zaninovich family's broader Rutherford Wine Company portfolio, which also includes Round Hill, Torcia, and Scott Family Estate.
The Van Asperen family's 1988 Silverado Trail winery, now the flagship of the Zaninovich family's Rutherford Wine Company.
What Wino Notion Loved
Visited by Wino Notion - July 2026
✓
A century-old olive grove still standing,the estate's 100-year-old olive trees predate the modern winery and remain part of the property's grounds today.
✓
Built by a World War II pilot's family,the Van Asperens, who also founded Round Hill Winery, built this Silverado Trail facility in 1988 after nearly two decades of winemaking on the site.
✓
A Croatian-American farming family took over,Marko and Theo Zaninovich, multi-generational Central Valley farmers, acquired the winery from the Van Asperens in 2000 and still run it today.
✓
A cork oak on the groundsA cork oak tree planted in the fall of 1987 grows on the property, complete with a display of harvested cork - the bark can be stripped every nine years without harming a tree that lives 150 to 200 years. Spotted on our July 2026 visit.
"The Van Asperen family's 1988 Silverado Trail winery, now the flagship of the Zaninovich family's Rutherford Wine Company."
Educational
Score Breakdown
Ratings will appear after verified reviews
Wine Quality
Not yet rated
Tasting Experience
Not yet rated
Value for Money
Not yet rated
Family Friendly
Not yet rated
Dog Friendly
Not yet rated
Reviews Across the Web
loading...
WN
Wino Notion
Not yet rated Awaiting reviews
G
Google Live
Fetching...
↗
Scores from Google Maps via its official API · Updated every 24 hours · Click any row to view full reviews
Featured Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon · Flagship
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley · Current release 2022
The heritage flagship, a full-bodied Cabernet blended with Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Petite Sirah, aged 14-18 months in French and American oak. Black cherry, dark plum, and toasty caramel with silky, well-integrated tannins. The 2021 earned 91 points from Wine Spectator.
~$50
Cabernet Sauvignon · Reserve
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley · Current release 2021
A tiny-production reserve, just 199 cases of the 2021, with cassis and jellied blackberry aromatics and cocoa-fine tannins. The 2019 vintage scored 93 points in Wine Enthusiast. Several reserve bottlings are winery-only releases.
Winery release
White Wine
Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley · Current release 2023
Night-harvested from eastern Napa Valley vineyards and cold-fermented in stainless steel, bright citrus, pineapple, and guava aromatics with crisp yuzu and white peach flavors. The 2024 took 90 points from Wine Enthusiast.
White flagship
Chardonnay
Chardonnay and Reserve Chardonnay
Napa Valley
Two tiers of Napa Valley Chardonnay round out the whites, alongside a Reserve Rose and a 2023 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. The reserve flight also pours a 2022 Reserve Merlot and a single-vineyard 2018 Franklin Vineyard Cabernet grown beside the Napa River. The wider portfolio also includes Zinfandel and Rhiannon, the family's proprietary red blend. Winery-only releases include the Proprietor's Selection Cabernet and Red Blend and the Private Collection reserve Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet.
Tasting room
Tasting Experiences
Visit Website →Daily Tasting
Daily tastings on the Silverado Trail pouring the Rutherford Ranch and Scott Family Estate portfolios, with by-the-glass service available. Walk-ins welcome, reservations recommended through the hospitality team, and large groups accepted. Priority Wine Pass holders taste two-for-one. Fee verified July 2026.
$55
Reserve Tasting Flight
Four reserve-tier pours: 2023 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Reserve Merlot, the single-vineyard 2018 Franklin Vineyard Cabernet from the Napa River two miles north of the winery, and the 2017 TORCIA Spring Mountain Cabernet. One tasting fee is waived with a wine purchase of $150 or more. No outside food. From our July 2026 visit.
Photo Gallery
Community Photo Coming Soon
Photos submitted by winery visitors will appear here after review.
Share details from your visit →Recent Reviews from Our Community
No Community Reviews Yet
This winery does not have any published Wino Notion community reviews yet. Be the first to share a recent visit and help other wine travelers know what to expect.
Share Your Experience at Rutherford Ranch Winery
★★★★★
🔎 Practical Info
🚗 Parking
👶 Good for Kids
🐾 Dogs
💰 Value for Money
🔁 Would You Return?
✨ Vibe & Occasion
💑 Good For (pick all that apply)
🔊 Atmosphere
👗 Dress Code
🪑 Seating (pick all that apply)
🌱 Dietary Options (pick all that apply)
👟 Getting Around (pick all that apply)
More Napa Valley Wineries
All Napa Valley →
Not Yet Reviewed
Ru Vango Winery
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
Rudd Estate
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
Rutherford Hill Winery
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
RuVango Winery
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
S. R. Tonella Cellars
California · Napa Valley
Not Yet Reviewed
Sabina Vineyards
California · Napa Valley