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Ridge's Alexander Valley Estate
Since the first vintage in 1966,
Geyserville has displayed an unparalleled consistency of character
with each subsequent offering. We attribute this to the distinctive
character of the site and to our commitment to sustainable agriculture.
Working the land in a sustainable fashion means that we take an environmentally
conscious approach to the whole vineyard through techniques such
as integrated pest management, cover cropping, composting, and hand
harvesting. Farming the land as gently as possible is what allows
us to capture the uniquely distinctive character of Geyserville year
after year. |
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The Oldest Vines We Farm
Geyserville is home to the oldest vines
we farm. The "Old Patch" section of the vineyard contains vines that
are more than 130 years of age. Old vines contribute an intensity
and complexity of flavor to the wine that cannot be replicated by
any other method. We take a natural approach to winemaking to ensure
the true expression of these extraordinary old vine characteristics.
We do not use chemical treatments, membrane filtration, or sterilization,
as these techniques can strip color, flavor, and texture from the
wine. Rather, we adopt a non-industrial approach to winemaking, including
using only natural yeast fermentation, to make certain that intensity,
complexity, and character are retained. |
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Traditional Field Blend
Geyserville is a traditional field blend
of zinfandel and its complementary varieties: carignane, petite sirah,
and mataro (mourvedre). Each vintage is unique, distinct, extraordinary... yet
they do have elements in common, including the blackest of blackberry
fruit, ripe plum, rich cherry, and cedar. A remarkably consistent
and elegant wine with exceptional layering, Geyserville's unique
flavor characteristics are often attributed to the relatively higher
percentage of carignane, added to the petite sirah found in most
of our other zinfandels. Among the most age-worthy of Ridge wines,
Geyserville often drinks beautifully well beyond 10 years of age. |
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A Perfect Site
Here, warm days ideal for ripening fruit give way
to frequent evening breezes and occasional morning fog to give the
vines time to rest. The soil is made up of deep gravelly loam mixed
with larger river rocks, which were deposited by an ancient river
that once flowed through the land. This combination not only permits
excellent drainage while also allowing the soil to retain heat when
necessary, it imparts a distinctive mineral quality to the wine.
These attributes, combined with the vineyard's position three miles
south of Geyserville, on the western edge of Alexander Valley creates
a perfect growing site for zinfandel and its complementary varieties. |
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Source of Great Wines Since 1966
The history of Geyserville cannot
be told without mentioning the Trentadue family. Leo and Evelyn Trentadue
sold the Monte Bello Winery to the four founding partners of Ridge,
and the founders purchased fruit from the oldest vines on the Trentadue's
Sonoma ranch on the southern edge of the Geyserville township. From
that purchase, the first vintage of Ridge Geyserville was born. The
close relationship with the Trentadues continues to this day. Ridge
has made Geyserville as a single-site zinfandel every year since
1966. |