(November 20; Rutherford, CA)—Sullivan Rutherford Estate, located in the heart of Napa Valley’s most famous AVA, is redefining and changing critical perceptions of Merlot, one vintage at a time. Under new ownership since 2018, the team at Sullivan made a concerted decision early on to put as much emphasis on Merlot as the region’s already beloved Cabernet Sauvignon. Beginning November 20, the Estate will unveil a new tasting experience, Merlot Mastery: Redefining Napa Valley Merlot. This engaging and educational experience will explore the history of Merlot in the Napa Valley and demonstrate that when given the same resources and attention to detail, Merlot can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Merlot Mastery experience guides guests through an immersive, multi-wine Merlot tasting and offers access to some of the world’s most coveted bottlings, from Napa’s own Merlot hideaway AKA Sullivan Rutherford Estate to the great Right Bank houses of Bordeaux or the rolling hills of Italy’s Bolgheri. Following a tour of the Estate grounds, guests will be seated inside the historic Sullivan Residence, designed by celebrated architect John Marsh Davis, for a tasting of three exquisite Merlots of structure and grace from like-minded global producers along with a library vintage of the J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Merlot. A second flight will showcase a vertical lineup of the flagship 2018, 2019 and 2020 J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Merlot. Each flight will be accompanied by a small bite pairing, crafted by local chef partners and specifically designed to complement each wine.
Personally hosted by a member of Sullivan’s leadership team, the intimate two-hour tour and private tasting is $350 per person. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the winery at (707) 963-9646.
“When we first purchased this property, our team conducted frequent and intensive tastings across library vintages and varieties. We had an “ah-ha” moment during this process, realizing that the Merlot was always a stand-out from our property,” says General Manager Joshua Lowell. “When we had the opportunity to replant a portion of our Rutherford vineyard with our viticulturist Mike Wolf, we did so with additional Merlot vines. When planted on well-drained soils, this variety just sings and is as complex and sophisticated as the top wines of the world. We’re not shy about planting Merlot in “Cabernet” dirt,” he adds.
Far from a new endeavor, Merlot has been a part of the fabric of Sullivan Rutherford Estate since its inception, when founder James O’Neil Sullivan first planted grapevines per the encouragement of legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff. Today, now under the ownership of Juan Pablo Torres Padilla and a family-driven group since 2018, the team endeavors to champion Merlot at the same caliber as Cabernet Sauvignon—in a region that increasingly focuses on the latter. Winemaker Jeff Cole, who is celebrating his 11th harvest at Sullivan this year, has implemented proprietary techniques in the cellar specifically tailored to further elevate the winery’s esteemed Merlot program.
The new Merlot Mastery experience joins Sullivan Rutherford Estate’s other ongoing hospitality experiences, including the Founder’s Tasting ($150 per person), which features a customized selection of five wines from the J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Collection. Sullivan Rutherford Estate offers private tastings from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment.
For more information about Sullivan Rutherford Estate, please visit: www.sullivanwine.com.
About Sullivan Rutherford Estate
Situated in the heart of Napa Valley, Sullivan Rutherford Estate has been Rutherford’s Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon hideaway for five decades. Founded in 1972, during the apex of the boutique winery movement, by James O’Neil Sullivan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines were first planted on the 26-acre estate in 1978, per the encouragement of Rutherford’s legendary winemaker, André Tchelistcheff. In 2018 Juan Pablo Torres Padilla led a family partnership to purchase Sullivan Rutherford Estate, and quietly assembled a world-class team of exceptional individuals in the wine industry, including General Manager Joshua Lowell, Head of Consumer Sales and Marketing Erin Callahan and Vineyard Manager Mike Wolf. Winemaker Jeff Cole, who had joined Sullivan in 2013, is dedicated to crafting world-class wines that reflect a traditional style and a mastery of today’s finest winemaking techniques. Sullivan produces a J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve tier offering, produced from the top percentage of vineyard blocks on the estate. This includes the J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Merlot ($310) and the J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($310). Additional offerings include an Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ($140), Coeur de Vigne ($130), Merlot ($95), Estate Chardonnay ($75) and Rosé ($40). Located at 1090 Galleron Road, Sullivan Rutherford Estate is open for visits daily by appointment. Reservations or requests for private appointments can be made by calling the winery at (707) 963-9646, emailing hospitality@sullivanwine.com, or on Tock.
