We are proud to announce a new limited release of our Winemaker’s R&D Collection! These rare and distinct wines will be available at a ticketed release party on Saturday, June 21st, hosted here at Ruby Hill Winery.
This exclusive release party offers a peek into the mind and process of your favorite winemaker as we unveil two single-lot wines created for this collection. This year, we are releasing “twin” blends: two wines with identical compositions, crafted with two different techniques to emphasize the impact of each decision in the winemaking process.
Learn more about the Winemaker’s R&D Collection and this release below!
Every wine you enjoy is part of a story. Each wine is a step in the process of creating the next wine, and it’s time to invite our members into the excitement. On June 21st, we will debut the second installment of wines in our Winemaker’s R&D collection, which will feature different single-lot wines each year. These rare and distinct wines showcase our ongoing commitment to uncover the marvelous potential of our estate vineyard and create wines that continuously improve.
Our Winemaker, Jesse Plautz, will be present at the release party to offer barrel sampling of next year’s R&D release, answer questions about his winemaking vision, and provide insight into the process of making your favorite Ruby Hill wines.
This delicious red wine was blended using the standard method, where each varietal was fermented and aged separately then blended together prior to bottling. This classic style of blending allows our winemaker more flexibility in fine-tuning the end product and allows for each varietal to be picked at an ideal time and fermented using different yeasts.
This wine was produced using an uncommon method known as co-fermentation, where multiple varietals are combined in one tank and fermented together. This allows unique flavors, tannins and color extraction when compared to fermenting these grapes separately. The individuality of this blend is impressive alongside its complement, the “Post-Ferment” blend.
We have selected several scrumptious pasta dishes to pair with the delicious nuances of the wines featured in this release of the R&D Collection. The menu will include: chicken alfredo, italian sausage penne, rigatoni bolognese, and penne pomodoro. In addition to the R&D Release wines, we will be pouring other select wines such as our ultra-exclusive Odyssey Red Wine, and barrel tastings of next year’s R&D release. We welcome you to enjoy this luscious symphony of flavors.
These wines will be made only once and are available in very limited supply! Only 50 tickets are available, so click here to secure yours today. Each $200 ticket includes admission and dinner for two and the four-bottle R&D Release, which will be available for tasting at the event alongside other specially curated wines.
Futures Night is coming soon on Saturday, April 26th! This ticketed member-exclusive event will feature barrel tastings of 7 phenomenal Rubino Estates and Ruby Hill Wines. We are delighted to share the barrels that have been hand-selected for Futures Night by our talented team. Guests of the event will have the opportunity to taste and pre-order these gorgeous wines!
Estimated bottling date: June / July 2025
Futures Night 6-Pack Price – $130
An undeniable classic, the Ruby Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunner, vintage after vintage. Richly flavorful with a heavy and satisfying mouthfeel, you can expect a voluptuous profile on the palate and long, lingering finish. Flavors like marionberry, French plum, dark chocolate, black pepper, and vanilla bean are all at home in our estate vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon. This Bordeaux beauty is known for its excellent ageability, so it can be enjoyed for years to come.
Estimated bottling date: June / July 2025
Futures Night 6-Pack Price – $155
Intesa is an Italian word meaning something like a friendly agreement. In the creation of blends, our winemaker is tasked with creating agreement among many elements in the wine, from flavor and weight to tannin and acidity. Intesa is a beloved blend that marries Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera. One sip and you know this pairing was meant to be! Flavors interlace in an approachable harmony unlike any other.
Estimated bottling date: March 2026
Futures Night 6-Pack Price – $210
For lovers of all things bold, the Jewel Petite Sirah is a highlight. Audacious flavor, laden with black pepper, espresso, and dark chocolate, enchants the palate and nose. Crafted with attention to every detail and meticulous care for the farming, gentle vinification, and extended aging in carefully selected cooperage, this elegant wine is one to remember.
Estimated bottling date: June / July 2025
Futures Night 6-Pack Price – $225
This varietal is a brand-new addition to our portfolio of wines, and we are proud to see it debut at Futures Night. With fruit sourced from a carefully farmed block in the Santa Lucia Highlands, this Pinot Noir is sure to impress. With very limited production, it is likely to sell out fast. Secure your access to this new beauty by tasting and pre-ordering at Futures Night!
Estimated bottling date: March 2026
Futures Night 6-Pack Price – $130
This iconic wine celebrates the symbiosis between our vineyard and the natural ecosystem around us. The sumptuous Barbera offers classic Italian flair with refined red fruit and subtle floral and herbaceous accents. The finished product presents well-balanced acidity that meets a rich, unctuous mouthfeel that invites you to take another sip.
Estimated bottling date: June / July 2025
Futures Night 6-Pack Price – $155
A vibrant and welcoming blend, Tuscano is Cabernet-forward and accented with beloved Italian varietals. Mouthwatering and complex layering of red and black fruit notes lead into a long finish. The Cabernet provides a structured foundation, with a full mouthfeel and smooth tannin. Tuscano is named in honor of all things Tuscan, a region famous for magnificent wines, unbeatable food, and breathtaking views. We like to enjoy all these things right here in the Livermore Valley!
Estimated bottling date: June / July 2025 or March 2026
Futures Night 6-Pack Price – $225
The rich and lush Proprietary Red is a favorite of many guests and members of Rubino Estates Winery, with saturated and bright flavor. This top-secret blend is comprised of our most exceptional varietals from each vintage. The exact components are known only to our winemaker, who has crafted this unique wine especially for you! After barrel aging, the finished wine is bold and gorgeous with promise to age gracefully.
One Weekend Only – March 22nd & 23rd
Our 2025 Case Sale Blitz is almost here! In this blog, you’ll find the juicy details on wines that we will feature in this year’s sale. Additional wines may make a surprise appearance, available in very limited supply, so don’t miss out! More information about the event can be found at the bottom of this post.
This excellent Reserve Petite Sirah is deep and soulful. A velvet curtain envelops the senses, rich with classic Petite Sirah aromas and elevated by silky and graceful notes on the palate. Enjoy scents of violet, plum, clove, allspice, vanilla, and black pepper, all flowing into the palate where they join a supportive base of dark fruit framed by lingering spice. This vintage is smooth yet structured, with balance in each sip. You can expect tannin-endowed wines like these to only improve with age, so it’s the perfect time to open that 2019 and get lost in the luxury of each sip.
Case Blitz Price: $210 | Member’s Price: $185
This wine continues our reputation for phenomenal Chardonnay. Capturing the essence of California sunlight, this golden beauty opens with a classic aroma adorned with floral allure. Splendid notes of orange blossom swirl with essences of clover honey and hints of stone fruit. Toasted oak influence supports these notes with flavors reminiscent of an orange almond tart. Rich body and unctuous mouthfeel make each sip luxurious, relaxing into a smooth and flavorful finish.
Case Blitz Price: $200 | Member’s Price: $175
This club-exclusive blend is a delight to drink. A complex aroma opens with vibrant fresh fruit including juicy raspberry and blackberry. Cozy hints of dark chocolate, vanilla, and baking spices round out the profile. The luscious finish emphasizes toasty baking spice notes. The body is rich, with a medium-plus mouthfeel, very smooth tannins, and flavors that match the aroma. This vintage is a luscious blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Syrah, and 13% Petite Sirah.
Case Blitz Price: $225 | Member’s Price: $200
This wine was awarded Best of Class in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and 92 points from Wine Enthusiast, and offers richly plush notes of marionberry, plum, cherry, violet, and vanilla. It’s the quintessential wine for a delicious steak dinner. We selected this vintage of Riserva Cabernet from the library and fell in love with the maturity and full-bodied nature of the tannin, with integrated roundness and just the right amount of ripeness.
Case Blitz Price: $210 | Member’s Price: $185
This bright and light red varietal is a traditional Italian wine. It is exceptionally prevalent in the old world and grows like a dream in California. This vintage offers a very characteristic nose for our Saugiovese, with notes of wild strawberry, vivacious red fruit, and a touch of lychee. A hint of black pepper peeks through on the palate, and rich cherry flavor accents the lingering finish. A very smooth body is accented with sassy floral notes and a mid-weight palate.
Case Blitz Price: $210 | Member’s Price: $185
Velvety and elegant, each sip dances with jammy fruit and playful floral aromas, all on a rich backdrop of purple fruit accents. This wine is a club-exclusive blend, named in honor of Ernest Ferrario. Ferrario was an Italian immigrant and the proprietor of the Estate Vineyard from 1921-1975. By the mid-twentieth century, the Ferrario family was well-known for their quality wines, especially their Zinfandel. This blend honors the Ferrarios by combining Barbera—an Italian varietal, and Zinfandel—Ferrario’s specialty. The 2020 vintage components are 50% Zinfandel, 28% Petit Verdot, 21% Barbera, & 1% Petite Sirah.
Case Blitz Price: $225 | Member’s Price: $200
Our Case Sale Blitz is our annual warehouse clear-out event, offering delicious wines at unbeatable prices so we can make room for the wines of the future! This event is hosted at Rubino Estates Winery in the covered production area around the back of the tasting room. All are welcome to attend this event at no cost, whether they are a first-time visitor or a long-time member of Ruby Hill or Rubino. No reservations are needed, just drop by, say hello, and try these featured wines!
The Case Sale Blitz will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 22nd and 23rd only. Sales are valid only while supplies last, and all wines are in limited quantity!
