Some wines are delicious. Others are delicious and quietly instructive. The 2022 Ridge Vineyards Frediani Ranch falls squarely into the latter camp—a wine that is not only distinctive and satisfying, but one that also offers a glimpse into a chapter of Napa Valley history that predates luxury tasting rooms, destination dining, and what some now call “Adult Disneyland.”

This bottling looks back to a time when Napa was still, at its core, a working agricultural landscape—and when blending varieties such as Valdiguié, Petite Sirah, and Charbono was both practical and commonplace.

A Vineyard with Deep Roots in Calistoga

The Frediani Ranch, farmed by Jim Frediani, spans both sides of the Silverado Trail in the Calistoga AVA, at the northern edge of Napa Valley. The Frediani family has been cultivating this land for generations, and Jim himself has been farming the ranch since the 1970s.

That continuity matters. Long before Napa became a global destination, vineyards like Frediani were planted with varieties chosen for resilience, adaptability, and suitability to site. Cabernet Sauvignon may now dominate the conversation, but these older plantings tell a broader, more nuanced story of Napa’s evolution—one rooted in farming rather than fashion.

A Blend That Reflects Napa’s Past

The 2022 Frediani Ranch is an unusual and historically grounded blend of Valdiguié, Petite Sirah, and Charbono. According to Ridge Lytton Springs winemaker Shauna Rosenblum, blends like this were far from uncommon in the 1970s, particularly in Napa’s northern reaches.

Rather than attempting to recreate the past, Ridge approaches this wine as a respectful nod—honoring the practical blending traditions of an earlier Napa while applying the winery’s hallmark restraint, balance, and transparency to site.

When the Past Showed Up in the Glass

The 2022 Frediani Ranch was not conceived as a historical exercise so much as the result of a shared tasting experience. During a group blind tasting, one wine stood out as particularly delicious and compelling—yet no one could confidently identify the grape variety. When the bottle was revealed, it turned out to be a Frog’s Leap Winery blend of Valdiguié, Petite Sirah, and Charbono.

The back label offered a simple but telling explanation: in the 1970s, it was common in Napa Valley to blend those three varieties. At the time, Valdiguié—often labeled “Napa Gamay”—was far more widely planted than it is today.

That moment crystallized something important. While this wine was made specifically for the 2022 vintage, Ridge continues to source its 100% Valdiguié from the same Frediani Ranch. Thanks to the Frediani family’s long stewardship, blocks of Valdiguié, Charbono, and Petite Sirah endure to this day on their Calistoga property—living reminders of a time when Napa’s vineyards reflected a broader, more utilitarian palette of grape varieties.

Tasting the Wine

This wine is a blend of sustainably farmed 40% Valdiguié, 37% Petite Sirah, 23% Charbono that were whole-cluster pressed and fermented on native yeast.

Deep violet color with enticing blackberry blueberry, dried herb, bramble, sarsaparilla and a whiff of smoked meat aromas. On the palate, it’s medium bodied with bright juicy acidity and blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, sarsaparilla, and dried herb flavors. Medium plus finish.

14.1% abv | SRP: $42 | 90 points Purchase here. (Note: as of the date of publication – on sale for $29.40)

Why This Wine Matters

What makes the 2022 Frediani Ranch compelling isn’t novelty—it’s context. This is a wine that reminds us Napa didn’t always chase polish or power. It values vineyard expression, historical continuity, and balance over spectacle.

Ridge has long acted as one of California’s most thoughtful custodians of wine history, and this bottling fits squarely within that tradition. It’s not a throwback for nostalgia’s sake, but rather a measured acknowledgment that Napa’s past still has plenty to teach—and plenty to offer in the glass.

Final Thoughts

The 2022 Ridge Vineyards Frediani Ranch is a wine that rewards curiosity. It is expressive without excess, grounded without being rustic, and deeply rooted in a time when Napa was still defined by farming, experimentation, and adaptability.

For anyone interested in Napa’s broader story—beyond Cabernet, beyond luxury, beyond trends—this bottle offers a compelling and delicious reminder of where the valley has been, and why that history still matters today.