Ridge Vineyards — Iconic Cabernet Sauvignon & Zinfandel from the Santa Cruz Mountains and Sonoma

Founded in 1962, Ridge Vineyards is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking Cupertino. It is one of California’s most storied estates, globally recognized for its precision-crafted Cabernet Sauvignon from the legendary Monte Bello vineyard and for its authentic Zinfandel sourced from old vines in Sonoma.

Key People

• Paul Draper — Visionary winemaker and iconic figure (1969–2016).
• John Olney — COO and Director of Production, Draper’s successor.
• David Gates — Vice President of Vineyard Operations.
• Eric Baugher — Longtime Monte Bello cellar master.

Philosophy

Ridge stands out for its minimalist and transparent approach: sustainable farming, parcel-by-parcel vinification, native yeast fermentations, restrained use of American oak and exceptional traceability with a full list of cellar actions printed on the back label.

History & Milestones

• 1886: Monte Bello vineyard established by Osea Perrone.
• 1962: Four Stanford engineers revive the estate under the name Ridge Vineyards.
• 1969: Paul Draper joins Ridge and defines the Monte Bello style.
• 1976: The 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet ranks 5th at the Judgment of Paris, making history.
• 2000: Ridge sets a new global standard for label transparency.
• 2016: Draper retires, Olney takes over.

Terroirs & Viticulture

Monte Bello — Santa Cruz Mountains AVA

• Altitude: 400 to 850 m.
• Rare limestone soils in California.
• Cool climate influenced by the Pacific Ocean.
• Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (dominant), Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot.

Wines from Monte Bello are linear, structured, fresh and built for extraordinary aging.

Sonoma — Geyserville & Lytton Springs

• Old Zinfandel vines, some planted in the 1880s.
• Typical blending grapes: Carignan, Petite Sirah, Mataro (Mourvèdre).

These wines are juicy, spicy, and savory, reflecting the authentic heritage of California Zinfandel.

Farming Practices

• Sustainable and organic viticulture (Lytton Springs certified organic in 2018).
• Hand harvesting and lot-by-lot vinification.
• Native yeast fermentations, moderate aging in American oak (20–30% new for Monte Bello).

Style & Tasting

Monte Bello: Structured and elegant Cabernet with menthol, graphite, blackcurrant and black cherry notes. Cellaring potential: 20–40 years.
Geyserville & Lytton Springs: High-class Zinfandel — juicy, spicy and vibrant, with supple tannins and exceptional drinkability. Cellaring: 10–20 years.
Parcel blending brings remarkable precision, balance and aromatic purity.

Signature Wines

• Monte Bello — Cabernet Sauvignon, the flagship and guardian of the classic California style.
• Estate Cabernet Sauvignon — a more accessible expression of Monte Bello.
• Geyserville — single historic Zinfandel vineyard (planted in 1882).
• Lytton Springs — concentrated and vibrant Zinfandel.
• East Bench — a fruit-forward, direct style.
• Zinfandel Three Valleys — a regional blend representative of Ridge’s signature.