Ridge was founded in 1959 but has a history dating back to the late 19th century when an Italian immigrant bought the 180 acres near Monte Bello Ridge. Cabernet has been vinified there since the 1940’s and Zinfandel saw its first vintage in 1964. CEO Paul Draper, took the reins in 1969 and pioneered a ‘hands off’, non intrusive approach to wine making. Sustainable farming is practiced at Ridge and their winery has won numerous environmental awards over the years. The vineyards are all dry-grown with only new vines receiving drip irrigation until they are established.
The red wines are fermented in small-capacity fermenters to assure full extraction and intensity. The juice is drawn off, gently aerated, and pumped over a floating cap of grape skins. Once pressed, all wines go through a natural malolactic fermentation. Monte Bello, the flagship wine of the estate, is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and spends roughly 17 months in new American oak.
