Ridge Vineyards

Grapevines were first planted on Monte Bello Ridge by Italian doctor Osea Perrone in 1885, with the first Monte Bello wine produced in 1892. In 1959, four Stanford Research Institute engineers purchased 80 acres on the ridge. After three years of experimental winemaking, they re-bonded the winery in 1962 and released the first commercial Ridge Monte Bello. Paul Draper joined as winemaker in 1969 and led operations for 47 vintages until retiring in 2016.

• Osea Perrone first planted vines on Monte Bello Ridge in 1885; built the stone winery in 1892
• Four SRI engineers purchased the property in 1959; first commercial vintage 1962
• Paul Draper joined as winemaker 1969; retired as CEO and Head Winemaker July 1, 2016
• Otsuka Pharmaceutical acquired Ridge in 1986, maintaining hands-off ownership

Ridge demonstrated that California mountain fruit could achieve world-class quality and aging potential. The winery elevated Zinfandel from jug wine status to premium quality through single-vineyard bottlings showing terroir expression. Ridge pioneered ingredient transparency in California, eventually gaining permission to list all processing methods and additions on back labels. The 1971 Monte Bello's performance at the 1976 Judgment of Paris and its decisive first-place finish in the 2006 retasting cemented Ridge's international stature.

• Elevated American Zinfandel through single-vineyard bottlings demonstrating terroir
• Pioneered ingredient transparency on California wine labels
• 1971 Monte Bello won the 2006 Judgment of Paris retasting by 18 points in combined results
• Influenced a generation of California producers toward minimal-intervention winemaking

Monte Bello, the flagship, is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend with varying percentages of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc from the estate vineyard at 1,300-2,700 feet elevation. Geyserville, produced every year since 1966, is an old-vine Zinfandel-based field blend with vines over 130 years old. Lytton Springs, first made in 1972, draws from vines planted in 1901 in Dry Creek Valley, interplanted with Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mourvedre, and Grenache.

• Monte Bello: Cabernet-dominant blend from Santa Cruz Mountains; aged in mostly neutral American oak
• Geyserville: old-vine Zinfandel field blend produced every year since 1966; vines 130+ years old
• Lytton Springs: Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel field blend since 1972; vines planted 1901
• Monte Bello 2013 and 2017 vintages both achieved 100-point scores

Ridge follows a pre-industrial, minimal-intervention approach: all grapes are hand-picked, fermented with native yeasts from the vineyard, and processed without commercial enzymes. Only small amounts of sulfur are used during barrel aging. Paul Draper championed air-drying his own oak staves for barrels, contributing to what became known as the distinctive 'Draper Perfume.' Ridge was the first major California producer to list all additives and processing methods on back labels.

• Native yeast fermentation; no commercial enzymes or cultured yeast strains
• Minimal sulfur additions during barrel aging to preserve wine character
• First major California producer to list all ingredients on back labels
• Estate vineyards managed organically; 75% of fruit from estate properties

Ridge produces at two winery locations: the original Monte Bello facility in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Lytton Springs in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County. Monte Bello vineyard ranges from 1,300 to 2,700 feet elevation on decomposing limestone and Franciscan greenstone, just 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Lytton Springs was purchased in 1991, featuring 40 acres of vines dating to 1901. Estate properties provide approximately 75% of all fruit.

• Monte Bello: 1,300-2,700 feet elevation; limestone and greenstone soils; 15 miles from Pacific
• Lytton Springs: purchased 1991; 40 acres of vines planted 1901; Dry Creek Valley
• Geyserville: sourced from the Trentadue family's oldest vines since 1966
• Additional single-vineyard Zinfandels from Sonoma, Lodi, and Paso Robles