This is a delicious, harmonious wine with an exotic character from an area not well-known for Zinfandel – the Santa Cruz Mountains!

Since the late 1960s, Ridge has made small quantities – ranging from five to seventeen barrels of wine from this 19th century vineyard that is part of their Monte Bello estate.  The vines, which survived Prohibition and the Depression were planted by Alsatian Pierre Klein.  In 1936, the property was purchased by the Schwabacher family and re-named Jimsomare. In 1966, the long-neglected vines were brought back to life.   Ridge first harvested Zinfandel from the vineyard, which is situated at 1,400 – 2,000 feet, in 1968.  Ridge has been farming the property since 1996 as part of their Monte Bello estate.

The grapes were hand harvested, destemmed and crushed; fermented on native yeast, and aged in 100% air-dried american oak (40% one year adn 60% two years old) for sixteen months.  Minimal sulfur used.

Color – Opaque violet
Aromas – Aromatic black and red fruit, exotic spice, bramble, cedar wood
Body – Medium-bodied, and dense with vibrant acidity and velvety well-integrated tannins
Taste – Black raspberry, black cherry, plum, strawberry Jolly Rancher, black tea and spice with hints of orange rind and espresso
Finish – Long with an appealing hint of minerality

100% Zinfandel| 15.2% abv| $SRP $32 – 90pts

This is a delicious, harmonious wine with an exotic character, from an area not well-known for Zinfandel – the Santa Cruz Mountains!

Pair with: Slow Roasted Rack of Lamb, Braised Beef Short Ribs, or Pulled Pork Sandwiches

The Winery

Ridge Vineyards  is a California winery with two estates, Monte Bello in Cupertino, and Lytton Springs in Healdsburg.  They are best known for producing single-vineyard premium Bordeaux style Cabernet Sauvignon Blend (“Monte Bello”), Zinfandels, and Chardonnay.  Ridge was established by three engineers from nearby Stanford Research Institute (SRI).  They produced its first commercial wine in 1962 after purchasing the winery in 1960.

Great wines have always been determined by their site – by nature, not by man – Paul Draper

It wasn’t too long after that, that Ridge gained an international  rep when the  Ridge Monte Bello, under the direction of winemaker Paul Draper , took fifth place in the “Judgment of Paris” in 1976 against nine other French and California wines.  Here’s what’s really cool though, the 1976 Monte Bello unanimously took first place in The Judgment of Paris 30th Anniversary when it was tasted against the same wines thirty years later!

Aside from it’s Bordeaux based wine, Ridge is renown for its single vineyard Zinfandel wines.  They made their first Zinfandel in 1964, from a small nineteenth-century vineyard near their Monte Bellow estate.  That was followed in 1966 by their first Geyserville Zinfandel.

Ridge has four estate vineyards, Monte Bello (first commercial release was in 1962), Geyserville (first release 1966), Lytton Springs (first release 1972), and their newest property East Bench.

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