In 1992, The Wine Spectator, cited Sullivan Vineyards as one of the top 50 wineries in the world. In 1994, Robert Parker, published a review of the 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Napa Valley, upon the tenth anniversary of the vintage. And hospitality became their passion. In a September 3rd 1999 article of the Wall Street Journal, Sullivan Vineyards was named one of the top five wineries to visit in the Napa Valley. And of course one cannot make world-class wines without the soil, or terroir.
Location means deep well drained soils, climate and enough water below the surface to dry farm.
In the center of the Rutherford Bench the water tables are 6 to 10 feet with deep sandy loam soils. Jim did not come to Napa Valley lightly, he researched soils and locations for three years throughout California before settling on the Rutherford Bench. Dry-farm means the Sullivan's do not water throughout the year. This technique insures a high concentration of fruit and tannin. Studies have shown that the grapevine receives a higher ratio of water to minerals in the first three feet of the soil.