Van Ruiten Family Winery

For 50 years, the grapes grown in the Van Ruiten vineyards were harvested and shipped to other wineries every summer. The family wanted to branch out into winemaking, so in 1999 the first varieties of the Van Ruiten wines went into production. Among the most memorable and lasting first wines was a Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz blend that remains one of the families most popular today, along with the famous Old Vine Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio.

In 2000, less than a year after kicking off its first season of winemaking, the Van Ruiten family opened a state-of-the-art winery among their vineyards along Highway 12. The following year saw an addition of a tasting room, which allowed thirsty travelers to sample the winery’s growing list of award winning wines. Soon a growing number of local boutique wineries were knocking at the door, seeking custom crush and winemaking services.

Three generations of the Van Ruiten family have worked together tending the vineyards, managing the winery and bringing the finest wines to market. The Van Ruitens believe in hard work and an uncompromising commitment to excellent wines with their winemaker John Giannini.