Ridge Vineyards is one of California's classic wineries, famous for Monte Bello from the Santa Cruz Mountains and for old-vine zinfandel from Sonoma. Here you will find Monte Bello, Lytton Springs, Geyserville, the Estate wines and several smaller cuvées, from half bottles up to six litres.
Ridge Vineyards: from Monte Bello Ridge to Sonoma County
The story starts high on Monte Bello Ridge, south of San Francisco Bay. In 1885 the doctor Osea Perrone bought land near the top of the ridge, terraced the slopes and planted vines. His first vintage came in 1892, from a cellar built into the limestone at around 790 metres. After Prohibition the property fell into neglect, until four engineers from the Stanford Research Institute, Dave Bennion, Hew Crane, Charlie Rosen and Howard Zeidler, made wine from old cabernet vines on the slope in the early 1960s. The results convinced them, and from the 1962 vintage the winery was bonded again.
Paul Draper joined in 1969 and made 47 vintages before retiring in 2016. His approach still shapes the house: ripe fruit from chosen vineyards, native yeasts and as little intervention as possible. Since the 2011 vintage Ridge has printed its ingredients on the label, so you can see exactly what was used in the cellar.
Ridge Monte Bello: Cabernet Sauvignon from a limestone mountain
The Monte Bello vineyard runs from roughly 400 to just over 800 metres, on fractured limestone overlaid with weathered greenstone and clay. Cool Pacific air keeps the acidity fresh. The wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon led blend with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. At the Judgment of Paris in 1976, Monte Bello finished fifth among the reds. At the rematch thirty years later, in 2006, it came first with the judges in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Here you will find Monte Bello from 2014 to 2022, in half bottles, magnums, double magnums and six litre bottles for the cellar. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the same mountain vineyards and opens up sooner. Ridge has made small amounts of Chardonnay on the mountain since 1962, and both Monte Bello Chardonnay and Estate Chardonnay show that side of the house.
Lytton Springs, Geyserville and old-vine Ridge zinfandel
Ridge made its first zinfandel in 1964, and the first Geyserville from Alexander Valley followed in 1966. Lytton Springs in Dry Creek Valley came in 1972 and became part of the Ridge estate in 1991. Both are old, interplanted vineyards: zinfandel leads, supported by Petite Sirah, Carignane and a little Mataro (Mourvèdre). Lytton Springs usually carries more Petite Sirah and less Carignane than Geyserville, which gives darker fruit and firmer tannins.
Three Valleys is the exception in a range built on single vineyards: a blend from several vineyards across Sonoma County. Pagani Ranch Zinfandel comes from Sonoma Valley, a site Ridge has bottled since 1991. Add to that the Lytton Estate Petite Sirah and a Grenache Blanc.
To explore further, browse our California wines, the full range of wine from the USA, our Zinfandel page and our Cabernet Sauvignon.
Frequently asked questions about Ridge Vineyards
What is Ridge Monte Bello?
Monte Bello is Ridge's flagship wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon led blend from a limestone mountain vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is known for its freshness and its ability to age for decades.
What is the difference between Lytton Springs and Geyserville?
Both are old-vine zinfandel blends from Sonoma. Lytton Springs, in Dry Creek Valley, has more Petite Sirah; Geyserville, in Alexander Valley, has more Carignane.
How long can you keep Monte Bello?
Monte Bello is built for long ageing, and most vintages benefit from at least ten years in the cellar. The zinfandel blends can be opened sooner, though good vintages also keep well.