A Wine by Any Other Name...

We are proud to offer exclusive blends to our wine club members. Even though the blends may vary slightly from one vintage to another, the quality and experience hold true. As we welcome a new wine to our Club Wine portfolio, we think it is fitting to share about the inspiration behind the names of each wine. 

Armonia

Armonia, pronounced "arm-o-nee-uh" is Italian for “harmony” or “balance.” Musically speaking, harmony can be created by three different instruments all playing different notes. When these noises combine, the resulting sound is beautiful, and greater than the sum of its parts. The same is true for our Armonia. The philosophy is to create rich harmony without boundaries. Instead of having a specific vintage assigned to it, our Armonia is designated by “lots.” Each lot is a harmonious blend of multiple varietals and vintages and crafted exclusively for our valued members. Currently, we are offering the Armonia Lot #10, which is a careful balance of Cabernet, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah.
 

Patchwork

This blend is named after the appearance of our estate vineyards. From an aerial view, our vineyard blocks create a lush spread across the landscape. These vines are grouped by their varietals and create a “patchwork” of vineyards on the estate. Beginning in the 1800s, patchwork quilts were an important pastime, especially among women in midwestern America. Patchwork quilts would often incorporate meaningful scraps of fabric, even including pieces of wedding gowns or special baby clothes. Similarly, the wines we select from our patchwork of vines are priceless and improve with time. Our current vintage, the 2017 Patchwork, smoothly stitches together Merlot, Zinfandel, and Petit Verdot. If you’d like to taste an exclusive blast from the past, our 2013 Patchwork is featured in our Winter Red Case Sale!
 

Cielo Viola

Cielo Viola is an Italian phrase, pronounced like two instruments (cello and viola) which can be translated as either “Violet sky” or “Violet Heaven.” According to meteorologists, purple skies are the result of the sun hitting the atmosphere at a low angle, such as at dawn and dusk. Instead of the normal golden hue of a sunrise or sunset, water droplets and other particles in the air scatter the wavelengths of light. What reaches our eyes, then, is a most lovely purple. We capture and celebrate this beauty in the label of all of our club wines, which feature the vineyard at sunset, under a violet sky. We think that the experience of the Cielo Viola is a beautiful one, just like sitting under the breathtaking canopy of a violet heaven, sipping a glass of your favorite wine. The 2017 Cielo Viola is a heavenly blend of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.
 

Intesa

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. Every blend should feature harmony between the acidity, tannins, sweetness, oak and fruit concentrations, among other factors. Every individual has their own definition of a perfectly balanced wine, where everything is in agreement, based on their own palate and preferences. There is also an objective nature to a wine that is in agreement with itself. All of the best features of the wine must have ideal interplay, and in this way have agreement. Our 2016 Intesa is a delicious union of Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon. 
 

Riverbed Red

The name of our new Club Wine honors the long history of agriculture in the Livermore Valley. Our historic winery was once fed by a stream that ran through the estate. In 1883, Jon Crellin selected the rocky ground of the dry riverbed to plant the original Ruby Hill vineyards. The gravelly soil drains well and puts slight stress on the vines, leading to perfectly flavorful grapes. Ruby Hill earned its name from the rich red soil of this region, and our Riverbed Red recognizes the legacy of Ruby Hill in the Livermore Valley. The 2018 vintage of this all-new blend includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petite Sirah. 
 

In addition to access to our club-exclusive wines, Club Members can enjoy discounts on all wines and merchandise, as well as complimentary tastings. 
To find out more about membership at Ruby Hill Winery, click here.