Nestled high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ridge Vineyards’ Monte Bello estate invites guests to experience its exceptional single-vineyard wines in a picturesque setting overlooking Silicon Valley.
Just 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, this gem of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA has a storied history that began in 1885. It was revitalized in 1959 by four visionary engineers from the Stanford Research Institute, leading to the establishment of Ridge Vineyards in 1962. The appointment of Paul Draper as winemaker in 1969 was transformative, catapulting Ridge to international fame after their triumph at the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting.
Ridge Vineyards has since become renowned for its exquisite Bordeaux blends and Chardonnays from Monte Bello’s celebrated terroir, alongside its acclaimed Zinfandels from Lytton Springs and Geyserville in Sonoma County.
Ridge’s winemaking philosophy is elegantly straightforward: a commitment to cultivating the most concentrated and flavorful grapes in the vineyard, followed by minimal intervention in the winery to ensure that the wine captures the fruit’s natural richness.
A recent visit to Ridge Vineyards’ Monte Bello Estate provided an opportunity to experience a curated tasting flight featuring:
- 2023 Alder Springs: 82% Falanghina, 18% Vermentino from Alder Springs Vineyards, Mendocino County
- 2021 Corralitos Pinot Noir: 100% Pinot Noir from Gali Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains
- 2022 Geyserville: 67% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah, 3% Mataro from Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
- 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot from Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains
We enjoyed these exquisite wines with artisanal delights that included Cowgirl Creamery Pierce Point cheese, Journeyman sliced salumi, and Rustic Bakery olive oil flatbread. Overall, it was a very pleasant afternoon and after the tasting I brought home a 2016 Monte Bello. Often hailed as America’s First Growth, Monte Bello consistently delivers structured, complex, and balanced wines that age gracefully over decades. I look forward to enjoying this bottle of wine on a special occasion.
Ridge Vineyards continues to be a beacon of excellence, with each bottle showcasing an unwavering dedication to quality and a profound respect for the vineyard’s natural expression.