rutherford, napa valley

Auberge Road Vineyard

Auberge Road Vineyard produces LIEFF Cabernet Sauvignon

Rutherford is known for its unique terroir, volcanic deposits, gravel, sand, and loam, with marine sediments from the Franciscan Assemblage. This is a well-draining soil which encourages the vine’s roots to establish themselves by reaching deep into the ground.

Rutherford is the “sweet spot” of the Napa Valley, a small area with only about 1500 acres cultivated for grapes. It is home to some of the world’s most renowned wineries. Many believe this is the very best soil in the world. The terroir has a unique influence on the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.

Robert Lieff hired André Tchelistcheff to consult on planting vineyards and together they visited the most famous vineyards in France.

When Robert chose the land for his Rutherford vineyard, he planted in virgin soil on a hillside slope, east of the Silverado trail, not on the valley floor. The roots of the first vines in soil get the most benefit.

Most of Rutherford is flat. The famous “Rutherford Bench” is a stretch of the Napa Valley, about three miles long, starting in Oakville and heading north to Rutherford.  The bench sits in the middle of the valley floor, surrounded on two sides by small hills. On the eastern side, the soil is primarily of volcanic origin. It is generally considered to be deeper and more fertile than the soil found on the western side.

Annual rainfall averages around 34 inches with just 5 inches falling during the growing season. The growing season sees an average temperature range of 83° F for the high and a low of 50° F, ideal growing conditions for ripening and retaining the perfect acidity before harvest.

Auberge Road Vineyard is 22 acres, 6 blocks of vines, a 4-acre vineyard. The vines are Cabernet Sauvignon grapes Root Stock 110R. A small part of block 5 is planted with blending varietals, Petit Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The vines are cordon trellised bilateral vines and are pruned by hand.

The grapes are hand-picked and harvested at night when cool. Night harvesting is better for both the workers and the grapes. The cool grapes are picked and loaded into trucks and taken directly to the winery.

L I E F F Cabernet Sauvignon is a single vineyard wine. Limited production, fewer than 500 cases, and only produced in select vintages, L I E F F is a Napa Valley cult wine. The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon will be released in 2025.