About the Participating Wineries

Alpha Omega

Alpha Omega is located in legendary Rutherford in the heart of Napa Valley and is one of Napa’s newest boutique wineries. Surrounded by vineyards and mountains, the beauty of its rustic, farm-style winery is as captivating as its wine.

Alpha Omegas extraordinary winemakers, along with historic vineyards, combine to create wines that express the essence of this famous wine region. Talented young winemaker Jean Hoefliger has teamed up with one of the worlds finest palates, Michel Rolland, to create wines that express their passion for excellence as well as the unique terroir that is Napa Valley. By sourcing prized grapes from the many appellations of Napa Valley, our winemakers blend the essence of exceptional terroir ranging from valley floor, hillside, mountain and coast. Using natural techniques, they handcraft finesse-driven, complex and balanced wines which express the aromatic profile of the best Napa Valley has to offer.

Enjoy your tasting along with views of the fountain, vineyards, and the Mayacamas from the tasting room, while lounging on the Loggia sofas, or while picnicking around the fire pits on the Terrace. Also inquire about our new Private Tasting rooms to enjoy a Reserve or Vertical tasting, Wine and Cheese Pairing or a Wine Blending session.

From Barrel to Bottle. Be the first to experience two of Alpha Omega’s not yet released signature reds. Your experience will take place in Alpha Omega’s new elegant private reserve rooms with hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Natalie Felice Niksa. Chef Natalie’s Mini Lamb Burgers and Roasted Beets w/Goat Cheese on Crispy Won Tons are a perfect pairing to these new release wines.

This offering also includes a tasting of all current release wines, a 20% discount on case purchase, and 30% discount by joining the wine club.

BEAULIEU VINEYARD

Please join us a Beaulieu Vineyard for an exciting tour through the famous Rutherford Bench Appellation. With its rich and historic presence in the Rutherford area, a stop at Beaulieu Vineyard is a must for true Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot lovers!

For over 100 years, our philosophy has always been to honor the exceptional fruit of our estate vineyards with the kind of meticulous, hands-on winemaking that brings out their finest expression.  During the December '09 Passport Weekend, BV will be sampling our unreleased 2007 Tapestry Reserve from the barrel along with pouring some of our current Reserve and Wine Club only wines.  A stop at Beaulieu Vineyard is a must for true Cabernet Sauvignon lovers!

Elizabeth Spencer

Elizabeth Spencer, located in the heart of Napa Valley in Rutherford, is an artisan producer of varietal wines from some of the best wine regions in Northern California.

Elizabeth Spencer will be pouring the newly released 2006 Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder in addition to a selection of other new and current release wines at the Alpha Omega Tasting Room. We look forward to sharing our wines with you.

Franciscan Estates

Franciscan has its roots deeply embedded in the soil of Napa Valley. Founded over three decades ago, wine industry revolutionaries Raymond Duncan and Justin Meyer shaped the winery’s beginnings. In 1985, renowned vintner Agustin Huneeus took over the reins, leading the winery to greatness through innovation and a commitment to small-lot winemaking.

Today, Director of Winemaking Janet Myers is preserving the winery’s legacy while leading it into the future. “We inherited a craftsman’s ethic here: work with nature, work in small lots, innovate. Our uniqueness depends on the details,” she says.

All of Franciscan’s winemakers have left their individual marks, but all have remained true to Franciscan’s signature: bold wines with the rare combination of rich, vibrant flavors yet fine, supple texture.

Franciscan Estates is proud to offer passport holders an awesome Winter Bruschetta paired with our Limited Edition Fountain Court & Small Production Syrah

HONIG VINEYARD & WINERY

Veer off the beaten path and join the Honig family at our eco-friendly winery for an unforgettable Passport Weekend experience. Meet our winemaker and learn about our solar-powered winery and sustainable farming practices while tasting barrel samples of our Rutherford appellation Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon blanc.

Enjoy barrel samples of our 2008 single-vineyard Cabernet from the Campbell Vineyard (only 200 cases produced), along with a pre-release of our 2008 Rutherford Sauvignon blanc. Honig welcomes guest winery Round Pond. The Round Pond chef will be preparing savory offerings designed to pair perfectly with both the Honig and Round Pond wines. Honig is offering Passport holders a 15% discount off all purchases.

Martin Estate

What do a Ferrari, a Renoir painting, a Chocolate Sundae and a bottle of MARTIN ESTATE Cabernet have in common? All are great classics, and  A Classic is forever!   MARTIN  ESTATE wines encapsulate their classic Rutherford heritage – Estate grown  Cabernet Sauvignon from eight acres in the heart of the appellation, produced exclusively at the Estate by winemaker Frederic Delivert, and bottled on site at the historic 1887 chateau.

During the December 2009 Passport Weekend, MARTIN  ESTATE will be pouring 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon barrel samples as well as its current release.  We thank Rubicon Estate for being our gracious host for this event.

Special : Ten percent discount on all current release MARTIN  ESTATE wine purchases at the RAW event, as well as special pricing for 2007 futures.

Peju Province Winery

It was the love of farming and a passion for wine that brought Tony and Herta Peju to the Napa Valley more than 25 years ago. Their humble winemaking efforts began inside the garage, then a makeshift tasting room, and have since grown into one of Napa Valley’s most notable landmarks and a celebrated winery operation. Lisa and Ariana Peju have also joined the family business and have contributed to the greening of the winery. Farming organically and sustainably, Peju’s goal is to achieve organic certification for all of its vineyards in the next few years. In addition, Peju is one of only 18 wineries to earn certification as a Napa Green Winery and Bay Area Green Business. Still focused on its early commitment to produce high-quality wines for a wide range of palates, Peju prides itself on offering the majority of its wines directly to guests in its tasting room and through the Peju Wine Club.

Passport holders, open a window into our past as well as our future with a vertical tasting of our award-winning, current release 2005 Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, our future 2006 release in bottle and 2007 vintage still aging in barrel. Meet our winemaking team and enjoy small bites from the Peju kitchen paired with our Rutherford Cabs. Passport holders will also receive a special weekend 15% discount on current release (Napa Valley tier) wine purchases, a 15% discount on the 2005 Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and a 30% discount on a pre-paid one-year wine club membership. Weekend guests who are Peju Wine Club members and Napa Neighbors will be offered a 30% discount on ALL current releases. 

Piña Napa Valley

The Piñas are one of only a handful of eighth generation Napa Valley farming families. Their great-grandfather, Lafayette Stice, was one of the leading winemakers in the Napa Valley at the turn of the twentieth century. Piña Vineyard Management, in
Rutherford since 1957, is one of the Napa Valley's most respected vineyard management companies.

Come celebrate the Rutherford appellation and our family history in Rutherford.

Pina is proud to offer the following during the passport weekend
2006 D’Adamo Vineyard (Napa)
2007 Cahoots  (New Release)
2007 Firehouse Vineyard (Rutherford)
2007 Stone Corral vineyard (Eastern hills above Oakville)
2008 Firehouse (Rutherford) Barrel Sample

On Saturday we will be serving Rustic breads with artisan cheeses and on Sunday we're proud to serve Tapas with our award winning wines

Provenance Vineyards

Provenance focuses on Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as producing smaller amounts of Napa Valley Merlot and Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc. We also offer a limited production of vineyard-designated wines from some of Napa's most prestigious vineyards.

Provenance Vineyards creates hand crafted wines from some of the best fruit grown in the Rutherford appellation. Guests of Passport weekend will enjoy a special tasting of our wines paired with scrumptious nibbles and a barrel sampling of our 2008 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon.

Round Pond

At Round Pond, nothing gives us greater pleasure than sharing our handcrafted artisan creations and our hospitality.  Located in the spectacular Rutherford region of the Napa Valley, a visit to our family owned and operated estate is an exquisite opportunity to explore the rich abundance of one of California's most famed wine growing areas.  From our intimate and acclaimed olive tours to some of the best wine tasting in the Napa Valley from our terrace, a day spent at Round Pond offers a warm, gracious and informative escape from the everyday.
 
Our 2003 Round Pond Estate Cabernet is comprised of a blend of 95% Cabernet and 5% Petit Verdot.  Round Pond's estate vineyards are sustainably farmed using Old World traditions and New World innovations to insure that our cabernet is an impeccable expression of its Rutherford Pedigree.  Aromas of ripe, sweet fruit and dusty sage present an inviting introduction to this well balanced wine.  Layers of dark fruit flavor and earthy mineral notes infuse the wine's rich structure and provide a smooth, clean finish. 1,500 cases produced.
 
Special offers:
5 Bottle Vertical 02, 03, 04, 05 and 06 Cabernet Sauvignon                 $250.00 /RT Value  $350.00  
3 Bottle Vertical 03, 04 and 05 Cabernet Sauvignon in a Gift Box         $150.00 /RT Value  $220.00

Rubicon Estate

We invite you to experience the legacy of the historic Inglenook Chateau, where generations of famous Rutherford wines have been made. Francis and Eleanor Coppola's 1995 reunification of the Estate provided insipiration to create a Cabernet Sauvignon that would pay tribute to the wines of John Daniel, Jr, who successfully ran Inglenook Winery from 1934 to 1964, creating wines judged by critics to be among the best Cabernets ever produced.

Rutherford Hill Winery

Founded in 1972, Rutherford Hill is a pioneer in the development of California Merlot. The grape growers that founded Rutherford Hill carefully studied and capitalized on climate and soil conditions that resembled those of Bordeaux.  Today, Merlot remains the flagship wine of the company, with 75% of production dedicated to this varietal, one of the leading Merlot's of the Napa Valley.

Rutherford Hill Winery will pour the following wines in our Reserve cellar:  Barrel Tasting of the 2008  Reserve Merlot, 2007 Chardonnay, 2005 Merlot, 2005  Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2001 Zinfandel Port.  Along with the wines we will pair select cheeses. Passport attendees will receive a 20% discount, as well as 30% off on selected Magnums.

St. Supery Vineyards & Winery

St. Supery is a family-owned estate winery in the heart of Napa Valley, specializing in Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Élu & Virtú blends.

Tres Sabores Winery

Our small, family-owned ranch on the western Rutherford Benchland of California’s Napa Valley grows Organically Certified Zinfandel, Cabernet, Petite Syrah, and Petit Verdot grapes, olives, Meyer lemons, and exotic pomegranate cultivars. Tres Sabores: the “Three Tastes” in any glass of wine: those of the Terroir, the Artisan, and the Varietal. We’ve made single-vineyard wines since 1999.

We offer personalized tours and tastings in our century-old olive grove, winery immersion packages and several special celebrations each year in association with RAW, the Napa Valley Vintners, Napa Zinfandel Trail and our Wine Club: “SABOR”   Children and Pets are welcome by special appointment (we have lots of kids, dogs, cats, sheep, and guinea hens, ourselves!)     Visit us soon!   ¿Por qué no?

Tres Sabores is proud to offer a delicious pot of chowder to welcome in the winter---just the perfect way to introduce people to our new vintage of Sauvignon blanc.  The 2008 Tres Sabores Sauvignon blanc from the extraordinary Farina Vineyard will make its official debut on Passport weekend!

Mini lamb sliders made with our own pomegranate-Zinfandel marinade---celebrating all things savory that pair with both our 2006 estate Zinfandel and our 2007 ¿Por qué no? (A zesty blend of Zinfandel, Cab, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot).   The PQN tasting will also introduce guests of the spring passport weekend to a new vintage of a wine that’s perfect for the holidays (and the days after holidays).  

On Sunday only we'll do barrell tasting in the cave.  You won't want to miss this opportunity!

Slaughterhouse Cellars

Peju Province is graciously hosting Slaughterhouse Cellars for the Rutherford Passport Weekend at their beautiful Rutherford property. Join Margo and David Slaby of Slaughterhouse Cellars, who will be pouring their 2005 Rutherford Cabernet, along with "sneek peeks" of both their 2006 and 2007 Rutherford Cabernets.