Go west, young man…and discover one of California’s most pioneering wineries, Ridge Vineyards. Dating way back to 1885, when Italian-American Osea Perrone purchased 180 acres of land on Monte Bello Ridge, the original Monte Bello Winery developed into Ridge Vineyards and planted firstly the vines that would become Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet and then, in 1964, the first Ridge Geyserville Zinfandel.
These varieties still make up the majority of Ridge Vineyards production, with Ridge Lytton Springs complementing the Geyserville Zinfandel, although small amounts of other grapes are grown, notably the powerful Ridge York Creek Petite Sirah. Furthermore, the gloriously complex Ridge Santa Cruz Chardonnay proves that these guys don’t just excel in red wines.
