Harney Lane reveals its long-secret Ruby Cabernet wine

Harney Lane Vineyards in Lodi says its Patriarch’s Promise, first released in 2012, is a 100% single-vineyard Ruby Cabernet from a block once considered expendable. The reveal also highlights a charitable component that has raised more than $100,000 for cancer-related causes.

Why it matters: - Harney Lane Vineyards is reviving a California grape that was once prized in the 1960s and 1970s but later dropped by much of the premium wine industry. - The reveal gives Patriarch’s Promise a clearer identity after nearly 20 years of secrecy and could reset how collectors and trade buyers view the wine. - The project has also turned into a fundraising vehicle, with more than $100,000 raised for cancer-related charities.

What happened: - Harney Lane Vineyards announced that Patriarch’s Promise is a 100% single-vineyard Ruby Cabernet from its Lodi estate. - The wine has been part of the winery’s cellar program since its 2012 debut, but the grape variety was kept secret until now. - Fifth Generation Proprietor Jorja Lerner said the family withheld the varietal identity so the wine could stand on its own, free of industry preconceptions. - The announcement comes from the 126-year-old, family-owned estate in Lodi, California.

The details: - George Mettler, the late patriarch and fourth-generation Lodi farmer, saw potential in a three-acre block that others had given up on. - Harney Lane says Patriarch’s Promise spent nearly three years in barrel before reaching its final form. - The winery describes the finished wine as elegant, structured and luxurious. - Harney Lane believes it is now the only California winery producing a premium, single-vineyard, single-varietal Ruby Cabernet. - The winery has donated a portion of proceeds from every bottle sold to cancer-related charities in George Mettler’s honor. - Harney Lane directs readers to the official reveal video and project page.

Between the lines: - The secret kept the wine from being judged against Ruby Cabernet’s faded reputation before the bottle had a chance to prove itself. - The family story and charitable mission add emotional weight to a product announcement that is also about grape preservation and brand differentiation. - The claim of being the only California producer of this style positions Patriarch’s Promise as both a niche wine and a statement about what the varietal can still become.

What’s next: - Harney Lane is using the reveal to introduce the wine’s full origin story to consumers, collectors and the trade. - The winery is also pointing attention to the legacy of George Mettler and the continuing charitable impact tied to the project. - The official video and project page are the main next stop for readers who want more background on Patriarch’s Promise.

The bottom line: - Harney Lane is betting that a once-overlooked grape, a long-held family secret and a charitable mission can give Patriarch’s Promise a new place in California wine.