Thank you so much for visiting RucksackCellars.com. We are currently updating our website in order to better serve you. Please forgive us while we upgrade and refresh…all of our services through the website will be back very soon.
Grab your favorite person (or come solo!) and join us for a fun, feel-good evening of flowers, wine, and delicious bites. This class is all about sipping, creating, laughing, and making something beautiful together.
Appetizers by the amazing Lauren @LittleCravings_55
Wine provided by rucksackcellars
When: Wednesday, February 11th at 5:00 PM
Where:RucksackCellars
Tickets:$95 per person
Includes one glass of wine, one flower arrangement, and appetizers.
To reserve your spot:
DM Mel @flowerclasses_bymel or Venmo @flowersonmain
Bring your date, bring your bestie, or bring yourself—we can’t wait to host you!
First off, I would like to say thank you! What an incredible final weekend at Rucksack where so many took advantage of the 30% off mix and match case sale. This final weekend capped off a wonderful 2025 and I am so grateful for all your continued support of Rucksack Cellars.
Rucksack is currently closed for the season, as we traditionally do at the beginning of each year. A few years ago we moved our opening date from May up to March, and this year we are hoping to have our shortest hiatus yet…we are looking to open for 2026, toward the end of January. After some general housekeeping, inventory and new year organization, we will be back serving you our estate, local, family made and run wines.
Keep in mind, we are in the Sierra Foothills and weather during the winter months can be unpredictable. Safety for our customers and all those working at Rucksack is of paramount importance, so even though we plan to be open in January, we will keep you all updated through this website, our newsletter or our Instagram and Facebook pages, letting you know if weather and road conditions prevent us from opening for the sake of safety.
We are so excited to see you all again soon and make Rucksack Cellars wines even more accessible. Cheers and Happy New Year once again!
For a number of years, my family and I have made olive oil from our high elevation Manzanillo and Mission variety olive trees for our families gifting and consumption. Being of Italian heritage, on my father’s side, olive oil is a staple in just about everything.
So what is this olive oil and why is it special? When olive oil is freshly pressed and unfiltered, it is called “Olio Nuovo” or “Yellow Gold.” Not only is this the most desirable oil by world class chefs for their restaurants, it is incredibly healthy as it is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants…some will even take a small “shot” of olio nuovo in the morning in place of daily vitamins. Our Olio Nuovo is 100% organic, with a smooth earthy palette and a wonderful peppery punch on the finish. It is a thicker consistency than store bought oil, which makes you savor every dip. 200ml bottles of olio nuovo, as ours are, commonly go for between $35 and $50 a bottle…as ours is a new offering and continuing the Rucksack Cellars tradition of providing incredible high quality wines for affordable prices, we are selling ours for $20 at bottle. We began selling this olive oil in the tasting room at the end of December, and so far it has been a hit!
Plus…olives come ripe and are ready to press in late November/early December, right when things are starting to really slow down in the winery, so I thought, why not take on another project just so I stay busy…yes, I am THAT crazy! When we re-open in January, come in and grab a bottle for yourself (yes…it is available to taste). This is a very small production size, so get yours while supplies last.
Look at that incredible tree…where did you get it?
Every year, for one day only, Rucksack opens up early in the morning and stays open until we’ve sold our quota of Christmas trees.
We celebrate this occasion with hot apple cider, wine, photo opportunities on our Rucksack sleigh and maybe, if we are lucky, our Christmas Storm Trooper will make an appearance.
Come out to Rucksack on Saturday, December 6th to select that perfect Christmas tree to cut down! All trees…no matter the size or type…are all the same price ($120 w/ cc and $110 cash). No reservations necessary.
First off, I want to wish you all a happy, festive and delicious Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by family, friends and loved ones. After all…every holiday, but Thanksgiving in particular, is all about with whom you can share it.
Rucksack Cellars will be closed on Thursday, November 27, for Thanksgiving. However, we will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. Come on in and take care of that “Black Friday” shopping for your wine loving friends and family or escape the crowds and come in to Rucksack for a relaxing wine flight.
But before Thanksgiving arrives, don’t forget that our Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel, Syrah, Cab Franc and GSM all pair wonderfully with Turkey and Thanksgiving menus. We are OPEN all this weekend, today thru Sunday, so come up and make sure you are fully stocked for your Thanksgiving celebrations.
As we head into the holiday season and we begin to think about how we want to wrap up 2025…we often think about what we want to include on our lists, what we want to purchase for friends and family, where we can find the best deals, and, hopefully, how we can help out our neighbors in need.
Well…this year at Rucksack, we are trying to combine all those goals in one stop. Starting this weekend and going until December 9, bring in toy donations and receive a discount on your Rucksack purchases. Toys need to be new and unwrapped. We will have a specific donation bin for the toys.
Our “thank you” to you for your generosity will be as follows. For each toy that you bring in, take 5% off your Rucksack wine purchase, up to 25%. The savings at Rucksack really add up.
Come in and take care of all those gifts for your wine loving friends and family, stock up for your holiday celebrations, get a big discount and feel good about it all at the same time. Now that’s a win, win, win, win!
…And prepare for your Thanksgiving Holiday with a floral centerpiece design class by Mel.
Our Thanksgiving Centerpiece class will be at Rucksack Cellars on November 19, at 6pm. Your ticket includes all flowers that are needed to create your one of a kind arrangement and your first glass of Rucksack wine.
Mel has been teaching classes for the last decade and has been a professional florist for almost 20 years. She is a local flower enthusiast!
This class will be using locally grown stems.
BYOV! Bring your own VASE! Do you have a favorite vase at home, in which you don’t quite know how to create that perfect arrangement? Bring it, receive a discount on the class, and Mel will show you how to create that perfect arrangement. If you choose to bring your own vase, Mel has provided some dimensions to help you decide what to bring…centerpiece containers should have a 4-6″ round diameter, same height. Oblong or rectangular containers can be up to 12-14″ long but only 3-4″ width, and only up to 6″ tall.
$75/person if your provide your own vase, $90/person if you would like us to provide a vase for you. You may purchase tickets by staying on this website, clicking the “STORE” tab across the banner, followed by clicking on the “EVENTS AND MERCHANDISE” tab.
Catered by Little Cravings Catering – October 25, 2025
On the evening of Saturday, October 25, we are planning a multi-course dinner, paired with our Rucksack wines, catered by Little Cravings.
This is just a little tease of the full menu offering, we are toying with the thoughts of toasted nuts on each table, Bacon Wrapped Dates, Grilled Pork Loin with Spiced Apple Chutney and various cheeses among other sides and accoutrement. Is your stomach growling yet?
As this dinner will need to be capped at 25-30 people, don’t hesitate to get your tickets early so you don’t miss out. Tickets can be purchased by staying on this website, clicking on the “STORE” tab across the top banner, followed by the “EVENTS AND MERCHANDISE” tab. Tickets are $60/person or $55/person for club members of both Rucksack and Madroña.
See you at Rucksack for our Harvest Dinner on October 25, 2025!
Our first flower class with Mel this fall season will feature Pumpkin Centerpiece designs on October 15 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Rucksack Cellars. If you want to purchase tickets just stay on this website, click on the “STORE” tab across the top banner, followed by the “EVENTS AND MERCHANDISE” tab.
For this pumpkin class, please provide your own pre-cleaned pumpkin or another festive vessel that you would like to decorate with at least a 4-inch opening.
The ticket prices for these classes ALWAYS include your first glass of Rucksack wine.
Other Flower classes later in the season include:
Thanksgiving Harvest Centerpieces on November 19
Holiday Wreaths on December 17
(Tickets for both of these classes can also be purchased by following the link instructions above)
This is going to be a beautiful and festive fall, heading in to the holidays, and we hope that you can join us. These are small classes, capped at 25 guests, so be sure to get your tickets early.
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