The history of Ridge Vineyards dates back to 1885, when a member of San Francisco's Italian community bought land on Monte Bello - a few kilometres south of the bay - terraced the slopes and planted vines.
In the 1940s, a theologian bought the vineyard and planted several plots with Cabernet Sauvignon. From these vines, the next owners - Dave Bennion, Hew Crane, Charlie Rosen and Howard Ziedler - produced a quarter barrel of "Estate Cabernet" in the early 1960s. This Monte Bello Cabernet was a discovery and, with the commitment of the exceptional winemaker Paul Draper, became one of the best wines in California.
Ridge Vineyards pursued the concept of single-vineyard wines from an early stage:
"We've always believed that wine is much more interesting and meaningful when it reflects a single place."
In addition to Monte Bello, where mainly Bordeaux-style wines are produced, Ridge also cultivates areas in Geyserville and Lytton Springs in Dry Creek Valley, where a winery with Zinfandel vines over 110 years old was acquired in 1991. Further areas with old vines are located in Paso Robles.
Cabernet and Zinfandel make up the majority of the production. There are also Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Petite Syrah, as well as Chardonnay.
The company favours nature and tradition rather than technology and calls this approach "pre-industrial wine production".
"Find intense, flavourful grapes; intervene in the process only when necessary; bring the unmistakable character and richness of the fruit into the wine."
Fermentation takes place spontaneously with natural yeasts, with as little intervention as possible. Ridge Vineyards is certified organic and is the largest organic producer in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.
© Photos: RidgeVineyards
