Case Study: Rutherford Hill WineryReturn To Main →

Founded in 1972, Rutherford Hill Winery is a pioneer in the development of California Merlot. The grape growers who founded Rutherford Hill carefully studied the geography of the region and capitalized on climate and soil conditions that resembled those of Pomerol, the small but distinctive Merlot-growing region of Bordeaux. What a promising discovery that was - one that has borne plenty of fruit - specifically, the lush, purple-black grapes that have contributed so much to Rutherford Hill's success. Today, Merlot remains the flagship wine of the company with 75 percent of Rutherford Hill's production dedicated to this varietal, one of the leading Merlots of Napa Valley.

This 404 kW DC ground mount installation was made more difficult due to several factors: a steep wooded slope, unknown soil type, and pre-existing pipe conditions for pipes (gas, water and electric).

Shamrock worked with an established excavation company, known for its attention to detail and quality control, to clear the slope and coordinate its efforts with the solar construction team to insure no loss in installation productivity. We successfully located all of the existing pipes (gas, water and electric), as well as easements. In drilling the post holes for our racking system, we unearthed some rocks the size of small cars. We also oversaw the erosion control work efforts on the hillside to prevent any future slippage.