Thomas Rutherford
Although George Yount was the first to make wine in the Napa Valley, his son-in-law Thomas Rutherford is widely credited with increasing the quality. He had a larger operation than Yount and also may have helped him improve his own vineyard.
Although the details are a bit sketchy, Rutherford probably arrived in the Napa Valley at some time during the 1850s. In 1864, Rutherford married George Yount’s daughter, Elizabeth. The elder Yount gave the newly wed couple 1,040 acres in the northern part of his Caymus Rancho.
Provenance Winery is currently located on this property on the west side of Highway 29. The town of Rutherford and the Rutherford AVA are both named after Thomas Rutherford. He was an important early Napa Valley vintner and helped lay the foundation for the future.
