Rutherford AVA

Rutherford
Wine region
	Napa Valley AVAs
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	1993
Years of wine industry	146
Country	United States
Part of	California, North Coast AVA, Napa County, Napa Valley AVA
Other regions in California, North Coast AVA, Napa County, Napa Valley AVA	Atlas Peak AVA, Calistoga AVA, Chiles Valley AVA, Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA, Diamond Mountain District AVA, Howell Mountain AVA, Los Carneros AVA, Mt. Veeder AVA, Coombsville AVA, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA, Oakville AVA, Spring Mountain District AVA, St. Helena AVA, Stags Leap District AVA, Wild Horse Valley AVA, Yountville AVA
Growing season	277 days
Climate region	Region III
Heat units	3,389 GDD units
Precipitation (annual average)	20 to 50 inches (508–1,270 mm)
Soil conditions	Poorly drained loams, silt loams, and clay loams on floodplains, alluvial fans, and terraces
Total area	6,650 acres (10.4 sq mi)
Size of planted vineyards	4,371 acres (1,769 ha)
No. of vineyards	31+
Varietals produced	Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Zinfandel
No. of wineries	34+

Rutherford is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Napa County, California within the Napa Valley landform centered around the town of Rutherford. The wine appellation was established as the nation's 122^nd, the state's 71^st and county's ninth AVA on July 2, 1993 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by the Rutherford and Oakville Appellation Committee, on behalf of local vintners and growers, proposing a viticultural area in Napa County to be known as "Rutherford."

The Rutherford and Oakville Appellation Committee was composed of seven wineries and seven grape growers in the adjacent areas petitioned both to be established which ATF ruled on the same day. Rutherford, the seventh sub-appellation designated within Napa Valley AVA, is known for its unique terroir particularly with its Cabernet Sauvignon. The well-drained soil of this area is composition of gravel, loam and sand with volcanic deposits and marine sediments from the Franciscan Assemblage. The appellation accounts for only 6,650 acres (10.4 sq mi) in the center the valley, but has been home to some of the regions most historic wineries such as Beaulieu Vineyards, Rutherford Hill, Raymond Vineyards, and Inglenook Winery.

Because the village of Rutherford is not an incorporated township, there are no municipal boundaries on which to rely in delimiting this area. Consequently, the petitioners to a great extent utilized commercial and public sector uses of the community name in establishing the boundaries of the Rutherford viticultural area. The Rutherford Crossroads and the Rutherford Post Office are the most notable examples of the name's use within the area. At the outset, there were three wineries whose brand names refer directly to Rutherford-Rutherford Hill, Rutherford Vintners and Round Hill Winery's Rutherford Ranch Brand. All three wineries are located in the Rutherford viticultural area. Postal and telephone service areas are less relevant in terms of precise boundaries for the area but do attest to consumer recognition of Rutherford as s distinct and separate community.