Rucksack Cellars

Our Wines

Rucksack features wines that exhibit the depth and diversity of the Sierra Foothill Appellation. While our sister winery, Madroña Vineyards, produces 100% estate wines, Rucksack will be scouring the Sierra Foothills for unique examples of fruit expression

• 2018 Chenin Blanc

  This Estate Grown Chenin Blanc is the ideal balance between rich and vibrant. Partially barrel-fermented in neutral oak, this gives the richness while the stainless fermented portion lends the freshness. Ripe pear and apple characters fill the palate while the lemon citrus provides the finish

• 2017 Chardonnay

  Lusciously rich with tropical characters, this barrel-fermented Chardonnay is all about the fruit. With just 2% Muscat blended in, the ripe peach and pear are lifted up while the hints of cream and an overall tropical essence fill in everywhere else. And there's a wonderful acidity on the finish that highlights this Chardonnay's balance!

• 2018 Barbera Rosé

  High-tone raspberry and pie cherry fruit abound in this dry and racy Rosé. All stainless fermentation has retained the fresh berry fruit and the ruby grapefruit characters. Being both rich and vibrant, the Barbera Rosé is the perfect summer food companion

• 2017 Mountain Nectar

  A blend of small-lot Zinfandel, Nebbiolo and Barbera bleed wines as well as 1% Muscat, this Rosé has a complex set of mixed berry fruit and hints of sweet spice. The texture has more body than many Rosés, focusing on an almost unctuous sensation while always enveloping the palate

• 2015 Barbera

  Mountain-grown Barbera picked at maturity has a plethora of high-tone fruit characters. Black cherry, raspberry and cranberry dominate the aromas and the palate although we at Rucksack embrace the wonderful acidity. The wine is both bold and lively and perfect with great Italian pasta!

• 2015 Zinfandel

  This Single Vineyard Zinfandel from the Sumu Kaw Vineyards in Pleasant valley shows how great Zin can have intense fruit and spice too. Classic white pepper married in dark blackberry and ripe cherry express the layer complexity of the variety. Add to this the backbone structure of 3, 000 ft. vineyards, and we have a great Zin for great food!

• 2014 'The Cache'

  The Cache is the term for the hidden food in the tree when one goes backpacking. We feel this idea of a 'hidden treasure' aptly describes this blend of five Bordeaux varieties. Based this vintage on Cabernet Sauvignon and a large amount of Malbec and Merlot, the intensity of the brooding cherry fruit pairs beautifully with the wine's nice supple texture. Geared for dinner or cellaring, The Cache shows its high-elevation beginnings!

• 2015 Seco

  A dry Portuguese blend (Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cão, Alvarelhão and Tinta Amarela), the wild blackberry characters pop in the nose as well in the tastes. Produced in small bins, hand punch-downed and then barrel-aged for nine months, the impressive flavors of fruit and spice simply fill the senses. It's a wine for the connoisseur who thinks she's tried everything!

• 2016 Cabernet Franc

  We produce our Estate Grown Cabernet Franc from two clones (214 and 623) we chose just for the Rucksack site. This wine is all black cherries with dense fruit and has amazingly dark color. Yet, there's still an elegance to the palate which is elevated by the softer tannins on the finish. Ageworthy and approachable, this has quickly become our family favorite!

Featured Drinks

Rucksack Current Releases

Rucksack Cellars will be open for tastings on Saturday and Sunday only by reservations. Any wine ordered for pick-up can be picked up at Rucksack Cellars on Saturday or Sunday, and at Madrona Vineyards 10-4 everyday. Reservations can be made at RucksackCellars.com

• Barbera Rose 2019$24.00

  2019 Barbera Rosé - Wonderfully vibrant, this high-acid expression of rose embraces the freshness of Barbera. LIght cherry fruit with hints of cranberry mix with the rub grapefruit characters through to the finish

• Barbera 2015$24.00

  2015 Barbera - Mountain-grown Barbera picked at maturity has a plethora of high-tone fruit characters. Black cherry, raspberry and cranberry dominate the aromas and the palate althought we at Rucksack embrace the wonderful acidity. The wine is both bold and lively and perfect with great Italian pasta!

• Cabernet Franc 2017 Rucksack$24.00

  If you love Cabernet Franc with a nod not only to old-world styles, but also a not to the incredible food-oriented aspects of the variety, this is your wine. This nose starts off with a complex sweet spice aroma of close and allspice while dark cherry notes come in from the edges. Wait a couple of seconds, and the bouquet switches to home-canned chereries, ripe plums and hints of molasses. But it's the balaqnce on the palate that really steals the show. The nose makes one think the wine is going to be another heavy-footed expresion, boring after the first sip. Instead

• Cache 2015$24.00

  This is one luscious and fruit-driven blend. The Malbec and Merlot take charge early on in the aromas with super-dark blueberry and ripe cherry fruit. A spice box of vanilla, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom weaves its way through berry characters furthering a sense of complexity. The entry on this wine is ripe and rich with rounded edges and a mouth-filling texture. Interestingly, the 2015 Cache drinks ripe yet the picking brix level and subsequent alcohol level (13.8%) are relatively low for the style. Instead, the mid-palate is equally dense as the entry and the finish is "soft" and approachable with that lingering cherry boldness. A wonderfully extracted vintage balanced by the Malbec and Merlot base, the 2015 Cache is going to be a crowd-pleaser for both Bordeaux and California drinkers!

• Chenin Blanc 2019$24.00

  2019 Chenin Blanc - Honoey, luscious peach and fresh pear abound in this off-dry- (0.8%RS) expression of Chenin Blanc. Bot rich on the palate and crisp on the rinish, the intensity of peach nectar characters grows while balanced beautifully by tart gooseberry and tangy citrus on the finish

• Seco 2015$24.00

  2015 Seco - A dry Portuguese blend (Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cão, Alvarelhão and Tinta Amarela), the wild blackberry characters pop in the nose as well in the tastes. Produced in small bins, hand punch-downed and then barrel-aged for nine months, the impressive flavors of fruit and spice siimply fill the senses. It's a wine for the connoisseur who thinks she's tried everything!

• Zinfandel 2015 Rucksack$24.00

  2015 Zinfandel - This single vineyard zinfandel from the Sumu Kaw Vineyards in Pleasant Valley shows how great Zin can have intense fruit and spice too. Classic white pepper married in dark blackberry and ripe cherry express the layer complexity of the variety. Add to this the backbone structure of 3,000 ft. vineyards, and we have a great Zin for food

Rucksack Merchandise

• Rucksack Go-Vino Glass$6.00

  Rucksack on the go! Enjoy your glass of wine in one of our Go-Vino Glasses. And if you bring it to the winery when you visit - your tasting is complimentary!

• Rucksack Lavender Sachet$5.00

  Our beautiful organically grown lavender packed in a rustic sachet

• Rucksack Logo Cap$19.95

  Go out on the town in style with our Rucksack Logo Cap!

Wine Specials

Madrona Vneyards is open daily from 10-4 for Curbside pick-up. We will also be open for tasting beginning June 20th on Thursday through Sunday by Reservations. Reservations can be made from MadronaVineyards.com. Rucksack Cellars is open for tasting on Saturday and Sundays - Reservations at RucksackCellars.com

• Father's Day Sampler$50.00

• Get Out Your Grill Sampler$100.00

  We can taste the BBQ from here! Check out our "Get Out Your Grillin' Sampler"! Each of these wines are just perfect for enjoying outside with grilled shirmp, pork, or veggies!

• Spring Sampler 2020$100.00

  Back in stock, just in time for Spring. This 6 bottle sampler includes two each of the 2019 Chardonnay, 2019 HIllside Riesling, and the 2019 Barbera Rose

Events and Virtual Tastings

Madrona Vneyards is open daily from 10-4 for Curbside pick-up. We will also be open for tasting beginning June 20th on Thursday through Sunday by Reservations. Reservations can be made from MadronaVineyards.com. Rucksack Cellars is open for tasting on Saturday and Sundays - Reservations at RucksackCellars.com

• A Toast to Thursday - June 11th$25.00

  A Toast to Thursday - Just because it's Thursday! We love working with Mary Dedrick and wine and cheese pairings! So we have put together a Thursday Night Treat. Enjoy a bottle of Madrona wine perfectly paired with a cheese and baguette for $25.00. This week, Thursday, June 11th is the bright and crisp 2019 Signature Dry Riesling paired with Meredith Diary, Mary Dedrick's favorite cheese. Meredith Dairy is a marinated goat cheese from Australia. It's delicious all by itsself, or spread of pizza, or put in eggs, the opportunities are endless!

• Lavender Wreath Class - June 24th at 6pm$50.00

  Melissa Cowan from Flowers on Main will once again be joining us for a Lavender Wreath Making class using the beautiful lavender from Rucksack Cellars. This class will be held at Rucksack Cellars on June 24th at 6pm. We will be socially distanced, outside, and enjoying a class of wine while me make wreaths! Friends/family members who arrive together can work at the same table. We look forward to seeing you!

• Virtual Tasting - Cabernet Franc Then & Now - June 23rd$85.00

  As you all probably know, Cabernet Franc is high up amongst the family's favorite wines. And Paul will be the first one to tell you that the variety Cabernet Franc should be El Dorado's hallmark wine for the region (wait to hear why!). This three-bottle tasting experience includes the 2011Madroña East Block Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Rucksack Cellars Cabernet Franc and the 2017 Madroña Signature Collection Cabernet Franc (pre-release). Spend an evening learning more about what makes Cabernet Franc a sommelier favorite and why Madroña pioneered the variety in the region!

• Virtual Tasting - June 20th - A Hint of Italy$75.00

  Madroña, Rucksack Cellars and the El Dorado Winery Association are teaming up to give you an adventure through high-elevation expressions of three Italian varietals grown in the heart of the El Dorado appellation. This virtual tasting of the 2019 Fiore (Muscato Giallo), the 2016 Rucksack Cellars Barbera and the 2017 Madroña Nebbiolo is a voyage through our vineyards of these three quintessential Italian varieties. Give yourself a chance to travel away on June 6th and join us for an evening of learning. Please note - this virtual tasting has been re-scheduled to June 20th @ 5pm