Ridge Vineyards
History
The history of Ridge Vineyards begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor who became a prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge. He terraced the slopes and planted vineyards; using native limestone, he constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage under that name in 1892. This unique cellar, built into the mountainside on three levels, is Ridge's production facility. At 2600?, it is surrounded by the "upper vineyard."
In the 1940s, William Short, a theologian, bought the abandoned winery and vineyard just below the Perrone property; he replanted several parcels to cabernet sauvignon in the late 1940s. From these vines -- now the "middle vineyard"-- new owners Dave Bennion, Hew Crane, Charlie Rosen, and Howard Ziedler, all Stanford Research Institute engineers, made a quarter-barrel of "estate" cabernet. That Monte Bello Cabernet was among California's finest wines of the era. Its quality and distinctive character, and the wines produced from these same vines in 1960 and '61, convinced the partners to re-bond the winery in time for the 1962 vintage. Dave Bennion left his role at S.R.I. to oversee winemaking duties full time.
The first zinfandel was made in 1964, from a small nineteenth-century vineyard farther down the ridge. This was followed in 1966 by the first Geyserville zinfandel. The founding families reclaimed the Monte Bello terraces, increasing vineyard size from fifteen to forty-five acres. Working on weekends, they made wines of regional character and unprecedented intensity. By 1968, production had increased to just under three thousand cases per year, and in 1969, Paul Draper joined the partnership. A Stanford graduate in philosophy--recently returned from setting up a winery in Chile's coast range--he was a practical winemaker, not an enologist. His knowledge of fine wines and traditional methods complemented the straightforward "hands off" approach pioneered at Ridge. Under his guidance the old Perrone winery (acquired the previous year) was restored, the finest vineyard lands leased or purchased, the consistent quality and international reputation of the wines established. Cabernet and Zinfandel account for most of the production; Syrah, Grenache, Carignane, and Petite Sirah constitute a small percentage. Known primarily for its red wines, Ridge has also made limited amounts of chardonnay since 1962.
Lytton Springs, in Sonoma County, became part of the Ridge estate in 1991. A quarter century's experience with this vineyard had convinced us that it was an exceptional piece of ground. Forty consecutive vintages of Geyserville attest to yet another stunning combination of location and varietals. Though born in the early sixties to the post-Prohibition world of modern California winemaking, Ridge relies on nature and tradition rather than technology. Our pre-industrial approach is straightforward: find intense, flavorful grapes; intrude upon the process only when necessary; draw the fruit's distinctive character and richness into the wine.
Ridge Vineyards Three Valleys Zinfandel 2017
$24.95
Wine Spectator 91 Lively and well-built, with expressive cherry, roasted dill and white pepper flavors that glide toward refined tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Grenache.
Ridge Vineyards 'Paso Robles' Zinfandel 2017
$29.95 $39.87
Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points “The 2017 Zinfandel Paso Robles is a bigger, richer wine compared to the Dry Creek Release, and its deep purple color is
Ridge Vineyards 'Pagani Ranch' Zinfandel 2017
$38.95 $51.20
"Focused jammy blueberry fruit and pepper on the nose. On the palate, fresh cherry, mineral, firm acidity, balanced structure and long lingering finish."-Winemaker's Notes "Ridge's history
Ridge Vineyards 'East Bench' Zinfandel 2017
$26.95 $35.74
5d
California » Dry Creek Valley
Wine Advocate 93 “Medium ruby color and scented of violet, lilac, warm peaches and yellow apricot with wet clay, dust, red and black cherries, bramble fruit
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs 2017
$39.95 $52.27
5dCalifornia » Dry Creek Valley
Vinous 94 “Ridge’s 2017 Lytton Springs opens up beautifully, with bright acids that drive a whole range of red/purplish fruit intermingled with floral notes. Creamy and
Ridge 'Lytton Estate' Petite Sirah 2017
$35.95 $46.93
Vinous 93 “The 2017 Petite Syrah Lytton Estate is another superb wine from Ridge’s Lytton ranch. Inky dark fruit and expressive savory notes infuse this bombastic,
Ridge Vineyards 'Geyserville' Zinfandel 2017
Robert Parker 95 “A first look at the 2017 Geyserville Proprietary Red Wine revealed immense promise. Despite having been in barrel for a mere six months,
Ridge Vineyards 'Monte Bello' Cabernet Blend 2016
California » Santa Cruz Mountains
Wine Advocate 98 “The 2016 Monte Bello is stunning, bursting from the glass with aromas of crushed currants, plums, charcoal, sweet spices, black truffle and rich
Ridge Vineyards 'Geyserville' Zinfandel 2016
Vinous Media 91-94 “The 2016 Zinfandel Geyserville is bright, lifted and decidedly medium in body. The flavors are distinctly red toned and the acids
Ridge Vineyards 'East Bench' Zinfandel 2016
Robert Parker 92 "The 2016 Zinfandel East Bench offers up classic aromas of blackberry, cherry pit, warm spices and licorice. On the palate, it's medium to
Ridge Vineyards 'Paso Robles' Zinfandel 2016
Wine Spectator 92 "Appealingly old-school, with briary black cherry and smoky pepper beef flavors. A whiff of coconut helps build zestiness on the long finish. Drink
Ridge 'Lytton Estate' Petite Sirah 2016
Vinous 94 “The 2016 Petite Syrah Lytton Springs is another fabulous wine in this range. Dense and powerful, the 2016 is endowed with striking depth and
Ridge Vineyards Pagani Ranch Zinfandel 2016
Vinous Media 94 “The 2016 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is bright, focused and beautifully perfumed. Bright red cherry, blood orange, pomegranate, mint and rose petal notes are
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs 2016
Vinous 95 “The 2016 Lytton Springs is a powerful, dense wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, new leather, cloves, licorice and menthol flesh out. Deep, plush and
Ridge Vineyards Three Valleys Zinfandel 2016
Vinous Media 91 The 2016 Zinfandel Three Valleys is fabulous. Bright, floral and lifted, with very pretty red and purplish berry fruit, the 2016 holds tons
Ridge Vineyards Ponzo Vnyd Zinfandel 2016
California » Russian River Valley
James Suckling 93 “Ripe dark plum and cassis aromas with licorice and some lightly tarry notes. The palate has a wealth of redcurrant and cassis with
Ridge Vineyards Three Valleys Zinfandel 2015
"Spicy oak with strawberry and fig jam to the nose. Medium-to-full bodied, soft mouth-feel and focused cherry fruit, mint. Refreshing acidity on the finish with
Ridge Vineyards 'Geyserville' Zinfandel 2015
Wine Spectator 90 "Big but polished, with floral black cherry and roasted dill aromas and rich, slightly earthy flavors of dark plum, licorice and spicy clove.
Ridge 'Lytton Estate' Petite Sirah 2015
Vinous Media 94 "The 2015 Petite Sirah Lytton Estate is all class. There is plenty of depth to the inky blue and purplish Petite fruit, while
Ridge Vineyards 'East Bench' Zinfandel 2015
Wine Spectator 90 "Refined and well-built, with raspberry and smoky dill aromas and sleek, zesty cherry and licorice flavors that linger nicely. Drink now through 2024.
Ridge Vineyards 'Estate' Chardonnay 2015
"Pale golden color. Pineapple fruit, braised pear, and fig aromas, sweet oak, and dried herbs. Tart apple fruit entry, pineapple, citrus, and an elegant texture;
Ridge Vineyards Pagani Ranch Zinfandel 2015
Vinous Media 94 “A dense, powerful wine, the 2015 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch exudes concentration in all of its dimensions. Red cherry jam, pomegranate, mint, rose petal
Ridge Vineyards Ponzo Vnyd Zinfandel 2015
California » Russian River Valley
Wine Spectator 92 "Sleek and focused, with floral cherry and dill aromas and lithely layered black raspberry, pepper and anise flavors that finish with polished tannins.
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs 2015
Vinous Media 94 "The 2015 Lytton Springs is very, very closed. Readers should not think about opening a bottle anytime soon. Intensely aromatic, but also tightly
Ridge Vineyards 'Monte Bello' Cabernet Blend 2015
JamesSuckling 100 “Stunning depth, power, purity and elegance. The blackcurrants and plums are fresh and intense on the nose with blueberries and gently herbal notes, too.