MISSION STATEMENT
At Rudd, we are committed to producing wines of rare, artisanal quality. We use a blend of tradition and innovation, adhering to a philosophy of continuous improvement, so that we may provide our discriminating consumers with an exceptional wine-drinking experience.
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In 1996, food and wine entrepreneur Leslie Rudd realized his 30-year dream of
owning a winery in Napa Valley when he purchased a 55-acre estate in Oakville, an appellation recognized for
outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends.
Today the red, rocky soils have been replanted and a stone winery with 22,000 square feet of subterranean
caves has been built. This picturesque site is flanked by the renowned vineyards of Dalla Valle, Plumpjack,
Harlan Estate's Bond, St. Eden Vineyard, Screaming Eagle, and Phelps Backus.
Leslie Rudd hails from Wichita, Kansas. In addition to managing Standard Beverage Corporation, his home
state's largest wine and spirits wholesaler, Leslie has forged a career in handcrafted luxury items and
fine food, most notably as Chairman of Dean & DeLuca, the upscale nationwide purveyor of specialty foods,
housewares and California wines. At Rudd Vineyards & Winery, the vintner has focused his love of fine-tuned
artisanal tradition to create the first and only venture bearing his family's name. It will be a lasting
legacy for his daughter and for many generations come.
A quest for excellence and the financial resources to support it is what makes Rudd Oakville's most
exciting up-and-coming winery. To make the best use of the winery's outstanding resources, David Abreu
continues to consult as vineyard manager and Patrick Sullivan has joined the Rudd team as winemaker
for the upcoming 2008 harvest season. Patrick returns home to the Rudd family after working with Randy
Lewis as his winemaker and most recently as associate winemaker at the renowned Paul Hobbs Winery.
Patrick shares Leslie’s vision of making the best wine from our Oakville Estate.
Beginning with the 2000 vintage, Rudd is producing a cabernet family blend from the re-planted Oakville
estate. Rudd also has close ties with a number of small, high-end growers allowing Rudd to produce small
quantities of Sauvignon Blanc from the Napa Valley and Chardonnay from the Bacigalupi Vineyard in the
Russian River Valley.
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