Introducing the Winemaker's R&D Collection

We are proud to announce an all-new exclusive collection at Ruby Hill Winery. Available only at our annual R&D Release parties, the Winemaker’s R&D Collection will feature two new, rare, and distinct wines you can’t get anywhere else. The ticketed release party offers a peek into the mind and process of your favorite winemaker as we unveil two single-lot wines created exclusively for this event. The debut R&D release is a Free Run Chardonnay and a Malbec. These wines will be made only once and are only available at our R&D Release! Only 65 tickets are available, so secure yours today. Read on for more info about the philosophy behind the R&D collection, and what makes the wines in this release so special. 

About the Winemaker's R&D Collection

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 22nd, we will debut the first wines in our 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. 

2021 Malbec

We planted our Malbec vines five years ago, and the fruit has reached the superb quality we pursue. This vintage was carefully crafted to emphasize this excellence, and aged in oak for thirty months before bottling. Only 20 cases of this Malbec were produced, so each bottle is a piece of Ruby Hill history—available only in the R&D Release. 

2022 Free Run Chardonnay

A "Free Run" Chardonnay is the cream of the crop of Chardonnay production. Right after harvest, the "Free Run" is whatever comes out of the press naturally, before the fruit is squeezed. A Free Run Chardonnay has a fresh and crisp tartness, with a floral aromatic character you can't get from a standard Chardonnay. To preserve its delicate profile, we treated it in neutral French oak. 

Event Menu

We have selected several dishes to pair with the delicious nuances of the wines featured in this release of the R&D Collection. The menu will include: herb roasted chicken, wild mushroom risotto, seasonal vegetables, caesar salad, and tiramisu. In addition to the R&D Release wines, we will be pouring Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon from our library (2019 vintage), our ultra-exclusive Odyssey Red Wine, and barrel tastings of next year’s R&D release: a co-ferment red blend and a post ferment red blend. We welcome you to enjoy this luscious symphony of flavors.

Members: You're invited to the Release Party of our all-new Winemaker's R&D Collection!

 Click here to secure your ticket and join us Saturday June 22nd, 6:30-9:30 at the Ruby Hill Winery Tasting Room. 

Each ticket includes admission and dinner for two and the four-bottle R&D Release: two bottles of Malbec & two Free Run Chardonnay, which will be available for tasting at the event alongside other specially curated wines. 

Questions? Contact Us. Telephone: 925-931-9463  |  Email: info@rubyhillwinery.net

 

Five Critically Acclaimed Wines

This week, we are celebrating five new scores from Wine Enthusiast! These critics’ ratings provide a helpful guide to the delicious wines we offer here at Ruby Hill Winery. Of course, everyone has their go-to wines, but we hope this quick guide will give you confidence to explore phenomenal wines and varietals that are worth discovering!

93 points - 2020 Jewel Collection Petite Sirah

This wine is opulent with aromas of black currant, boysenberry and grilled jalapeño. The palate has flavors of blackberry, huckleberry, blood-orange zest and cardamom wrapped around vanilla cream, dark chocolate and grippy tannins. Pair with short ribs. — Tonya Pitts

A truly lustrous and rich varietal, this wine is a stunner, vintage after vintage. Our terroir is particularly well-suited to growing fantastic Petite Sirah fruit, and we spare no expense when it comes to the winemaking techniques applied to our Jewel Collection series. Enjoy this saturated and elegant wine today!

92 points - 2021 Jewel Collection Petit Verdot

This wine is dense, concentrated with aromas of spiced blackberry, boysenberry, florals and cloves. The midpalate has flavors of blueberry, cardamom spice and grilled blood-orange zest intertwined with sedimentary rock, dried tobacco leaf, spicy chocolate and a dry, mouthwatering finish. Pair with marinated tri-tip. — Tonya Pitts

Another standout from our Jewel Collection, this distinctive varietal is deserving of attention and acclaim. A full-bodied classic Bordeaux grape, it is rare to find Petit Verdot bottled on its own, but we are proud to shine a spotlight on this varietal. In addition to this score from Wine Enthusiast, this wine won Double Gold in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. 

91 points and “Best Buy” - 2021 Grapeful Red

This wine is opulent with aromas of blackberry pie, clove, black licorice and potpourri. The palate offers blackberry, cinnamon, vanilla cream and orange blossom honey that slip into tobacco leaf, spicy chocolate and a dry, silky finish. Pair with sausage pizza. — Tonya Pitts

Our classic Grapeful Red is a playful and pleasing red blend you can always rely on. This vintage is particularly excellent, and at $19 per bottle, it has earned the “Best Buy” designation from Wine Enthusiast. Embrace the tie-dye and let the good wine flow!

90 points - 2020 Sangiovese

This wine is supple, fresh with aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry, dried florals and earth. The midpalate has flavors of cranberry, red licorice and chicory rounded out with bittersweet chocolate and a dry finish. Pair with pork loin. — Tonya Pitts

Faithful to its roots as an everyday-drinking Italian varietal, this keen and bright Sangiovese pairs with all of your favorite weeknight dinners. As a delicious bonus, it brings high-quality aromas and flavors so you can enjoy the sense of a fine wine without breaking the bank. 

90 points - 2021 Peacock Patch Zinfandel

This wine is juicy, lively with aromas of blackberry, mulberry and cinnamon-vanilla spice. The palate offers black cherry, orange marmalade, star anise and black-tea leaf wrapped around bittersweet chocolate shavings and a dry finish. Pair with meat loaf. — Tonya Pitts

A true emblem of Ruby Hill Winery, our Peacock Patch Zin celebrates the vineyard ecosystem, including our ostentatious avian friends, the peacocks. Ideal for pairing and gifting alike, this beautiful wine is calling for you!

We hope you’ll visit the tasting room soon to enjoy these remarkable wines. Perhaps you will even find a new favorite!

 

Cuvée Dray Update

     We recently welcomed the new vintage of our beloved Cuvée Dray into the tasting room! The estate-grown Bordeaux-style blend brings together 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Petit Verdot, and 20% Merlot in the 2021 vintage. A smooth and complex aroma offers notes of blackberry, ripe red fruit, and floral accents. The flavor profile exemplifies balanced mixed fruit in each sumptuous sip. Juicy, elegant, and cohesive on the palate, this wine has a nice tannin profile, silky texture, and a flavorful finish—this wine will hold up for years to come.

     Beyond its exceptional quality and flavor, Cuvée Dray is a passion project of our animal-loving winery. It is our celebration of all of the things that bring goodness and joy into our lives, especially our furry friends. For every bottle of Cuvée Dray sold, Ruby Hill donates $10 to Valley Humane Society to aid them in their mission to spread compassion and companionship through the love of animals. 

Valley Humane Society’s Work 

     Valley Humane Society (VHS) was founded right here in Pleasanton and has served people and pets in the Tri-Valley for over 30 years. With rigorous compassion aimed at increasing welfare and quality of life for every animal brought into their care, they serve with optimism, love, and integrity.  

"Valley Humane Society creates a brighter future for cats and dogs by encouraging and strengthening the bond between people and pets. VHS rescues and rehabilitates companion animals, champions responsible caretaking, shares pets’ soothing affections with people in need of comfort, and supports and preserves existing pet-guardian relationships." - VHS Mission Statement

The Partnership So Far

     Cuvée Dray is named for our beloved winery dog, Draymond. During the lockdowns of 2020, when we needed a way to look toward brighter days, a lot of us turned towards our pets for companionship and much-needed levity. With some extra time on our hands and renewed love for our furry friends, the idea for Cuvée Dray was born. Our Winemaker Jesse painstakingly crafted several blends with names inspired by our four-legged friend, and a label was designed based on a picture of Draymond as a puppy in the vineyard.

     The gorgeous wine and adorable bottle captured the palates and hearts of many. When this project started, our goal was to raise $20,000 for Valley Humane Society and their work to improve the lives of animals and the people who love them. Since this blend’s first release in August 2021, we have had the honor of donating more than $70,000 to Valley Humane Society, and we’re just getting started. We have set a goal of reaching $100,000 donated by the end of 2024! We can’t do it without you.

If you love people, pets, wine, or all of the above, we are delighted to offer you our Cuvée Dray.