Ridge Three Valleys, Sonoma County 2022

The Monte Bello site of Ridge Vineyards lies 2600 feet above sea level in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is a winding tortuous drive up a road more reminiscent of an alpine pass than of America.

The altitude here ensures a slow ripening process and the results are more European than most would expect. The vineyard was originally planted in 1885. Paul Draper has been the driving force here having joined in 1969 and is often described as a Professor or Philosopher as well as a wine-maker. In the re-enactment of the 1973 tasting in Paris that shook the Wine world it was Ridge’s 1971 Monte Bello that took the top honours both in the UK and in the USA. There are 3 sites: Monte Bello on the Santa Cruz Mountains predominantly Cabernet based wines. Geyserville (pronounced Guyzervil not Geezervil!) in the Alexander Valley North of the Napa in Sonoma County, where the wine is predominantly Zinfandel. Finally Lytton Springs south of Geyserville between Dry Creek and Alexander Valley again mostly Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.