Everything we tasted was so good.The staff at the winery are more than willing to talk with you about the history of the wine and the grounds. It is THE place to go for lavender lovers - especially in the Summer when they have their lavender festival.
Ruston Family Vineyards is a vineyard and winemaking company situated in the Napa Valley. The family has been cultivating the west St. Helena hillside since 1941. Originally an old prune orchard, the land now supports grapevines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The vineyard produces artisanal wines from both their own grapes and purchased fruit, designed to be enjoyed with food, family, and friends.
The story of Ruston Family Vineyards begins with Fred Carpenter, who moved to California from North Dakota around 1907 with his family. They settled in the San Joaquin Valley. At the age of 17, Fred relocated to Oakland, where he studied engineering through a correspondence course. He later became one of the inventors of the jet pump, with his company based in Berkeley, CA. In 1941, seeking to escape the summer fog of the Bay Area, Fred and his wife Lana purchased a 40-acre orchard in St. Helena, which was the maximum distance they could travel on a weekly gasoline ration. They built a house and spent weekends and summers there until the 1970s, after which they lived there permanently until the early 1980s. A photograph of Fred and Lana working in the orchard appears on the back label of their wines.
While the prune business eventually paid off the property loan, it eventually declined. In 1975, the more level eastern section of the orchard was sold. In the mid-1980s, Fred and Lana’s daughter, Lorraine Ruston, moved to the ranch and planted Merlot vines on the remaining western slopes. Lorraine managed the vineyard herself, selling the grapes to local wineries.
In the mid-1990s, Lorraine’s son, John Ruston, and his wife, Janet Sapadin, were residing in New York City and working in the environmental field. Janet, a New York native from Washington Heights, Manhattan, and John shared a mutual interest in wine and cooking, which led them to recognize the winemaking potential of the vineyard. In 1996, John, Lorraine, and Janet decided to expand the vineyard and enter the wine business. The 1997 Merlot was the first wine produced under the Ruston Family Vineyards label. John and Janet left New York in 1999 to live in the old farmhouse. Their two daughters, born in New York and raised in Napa Valley, pursued higher education at UCLA and UC Riverside before branching out, leaving behind cuvées named in their honor.
In 1994, Cheryl Emmolo founded Emmolo Wine Company for two key goals: to fulfill a lifelong ambition to make her own wine and to extend her family’s legacy to her three children, Charlie, Joey and Jenny Wagner. It is no surprise that Cheryl was able to secure from her father the crème de la crème of his Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot grapes for her small production. On the first day of harvest for Emmolo's first vintage, in 1994, Cheryl and her three children celebrated their new family enterprise by picking grapes and trucking them to the crush pad together. Starting with just 400 cases of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and 90 cases of Merlot, Cheryl has carefully expanded Emmolo’s production with the help of her sons and winemakers, Charlie and Joey Wagner. With the 2000 harvest, she seized the opportunity to acquire Sauvignon Blanc from Caymus Vineyards’ program, allowing her to extend her distribution in selected national markets.
Like all great wines, Richard Perry’s story begins with the soil. In 1988, Richard and Sheila Perry planted the first block of what would become 15 acres of hillside vineyards on their ranch in Coombsville, located in the southeastern corner of Napa Valley. The Perry Vineyards were a product of pure passion and an unyielding work ethic. Richard personally carved terraces into the panoramic hillsides of their estate, planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and a touch of Merlot. They began by selling their fruit to Napa winemakers.
Vines
In those early days, Richard was among a select group of growers who began to recognize the full potential of Coombsville’s soils and climate. To showcase the superior qualities of his fruit and vineyard’s terroir, Richard decided to produce his own wines under the Richard Perry label. Their first commercial vintage was released in 1997.
Wines
Ever curious and committed to improvement, Richard partnered with another Coombsville pioneer, Ken Bernards, who became the winemaker starting with the 1998 vintage. Together, they refined both viticulture and winemaking techniques, ultimately creating wines renowned for their beautiful expression of Coombsville terroir.
Michael and David Phillips represent the fifth generation of growers in Lodi, and things are changing. With 650 acres of premium wine grapes, there is plenty of room for experimentation and innovation.
The Phillips Family and Lodi have a long history together. They have been farming the soil since the 1860s and cultivating wine grapes since the early 20th century. The founders, brothers Michael and David Phillips, are 5th generation grape growers who raised their families in the vineyard. Now, the 6th generation has joined the team with Mike’s daughter, Melissa. The Phillips Family, more than most, understands the importance of leaving the land better than they found it for future generations. Their family legacy and love of Lodi drive their focus on sustainability.
This was also a fabulous winery to taste at. They let us picnic in their beautiful courtyard, complete with bocce court, and supplied us with complementary glasses of wine to enjoy while we ate. The employees were chatty, knowledgeable, and not at all pushy.
Tarrica Wine Cellars is a small, family owned winery started in 2000 in the Paso Robles Wine Country. The focus of Tarrica winery is to produce value priced wines that are a clear expression of viticultural origin and varietal flavor.
2006 marks the first vintage of Cinquain Cellars, one of the newest wineries in the Paso Robles appellation. Cinquain Cellars is focused on estate grown reds, including Bordeaux, Rhône, and Port varieties, as well as, sourcing fruit from select vineyards for white varieties. It is run by David and Beth Nagengast, with David tending to the vineyard and winemaking while Beth manages the sales and marketing.
At Silverstone, our winemaker has selected 2-year old American Oak barrels with just a hint of toasty oak influence to enhance the flavors of the wines and highlight the delicate character. Our winemaking regime is attentive with top quality always in mind, starting with vineyard selection, gentle fermentation technique and just the right amount of barrel and bottle aging. Each individual lot of wine is tasted throughout its maturation in the barrel to determine what will be the best blend for the final wine.
At R&B Cellars, wine-making is viewed as an art form with the power and influence of music. It’s meant to inspire, brim with passion, and unite people in celebrating life, happiness, and community.
Situated in the East Bay of San Francisco, owners Kevin and Barbara invite visitors to Riggers Loft, their scenic winery, tasting room, and wine bar in the Port of Richmond, Point Richmond. Here, guests can enjoy a blend of delicious wines and vibrant music in one of the most welcoming communities in the area.
As lifelong musicians, Kevin and Barbara recognize that, much like music, wine is crafted to be shared—whether with old friends, new acquaintances, or the world at large. To suit a variety of tastes and personalities, they offer several varietals at different price points. Riggers Loft is their dream: a place where music and wine harmonize beautifully. The experience is made even more memorable with a sweeping 270-degree view of the San Francisco Bay.
