Rutherford Bench

A California growing area with a reputation for producing some of the best cabernet sauvignon grapes in the world. At this writing, the Rutherford Bench is not an official american viticultural area (ava), and the area it covers isn't fully defined. However, the term generally refers to about a 6-mile stretch of land in the napa valley that runs along the west side of Highway 29 from just north of Yountville to north of Rutherford and includes a small section east of the freeway between Oakville and Rutherford. Some argue, however, that the term Rutherford Bench should also include the land between Highway 29 and the Napa River, a mile or so to the east. Whatever the final resolution (if there is one) for a designated Ruth­erford Bench AVA, the bottom line is that this area contains deep, alluvial soils that drain well and are capable of producing remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (some chardonnay grapes also grow here).