2020 | Ridge Vineyards

Ridge is one of America’s oldest and most respected wine estates. In 1962, it produced its first Monte Bello, followed two years later by its inaugural Zinfandel. Since then, Ridge has championed single-vineyard wines, seeking out rare and remarkable plots across California where climate, soil, and grape variety come together in perfect harmony. This philosophy is rooted in the belief that the greatest wines in the world are expressions of their terroir. Ridge today manages over 20 distinctive vineyard sites, notably in Sonoma County and on the legendary Monte Bello estate (dating back to 1885), perched high above the San Andreas Fault in Santa Cruz. It is now one of California’s leading producers of certified organic wines.

The estate was founded by four Stanford scientists in 1962 and guided for decades by the visionary Paul Draper, renowned for his commitment to “pre-industrial winemaking”: selecting intensely flavoured fruit, intervening only when necessary, and allowing the wine to reflect the richness and character of the grapes. Since the 2011 harvest, Ridge has listed all ingredients on its labels to underline just how little is needed to make a truly great wine. Today, Paul Draper is surrounded by a talented team of winemakers, led by John Olney. Our selection