High atop the cool Santa Cruz Mountains, our Monte Bello estate is an ideal site for the Bordeaux varietals. These low-yielding vines produce two complementary cabernet blends.

Chardonnay

Whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented, Ridge chardonnays reflect the cool climate and limestone sub-soils of the Santa Cruz Mountains Estate vineyards.

Merlot

Ridge first made merlot in 1974 from a small section on Monte Bello Ridge at an elevation of 2600'. The cool micro-climate and limestone sub-soils give us merlot with great structure, full body, and complex dark fruit character.

Petite sirah

Our first Petite Sirah was in 1971. It is a natural cross of syrah and a little-known French variety, peloursin, and is frequently found interplanted in California's old zinfandel vineyards. The varietal offers deep color, firm tannins, and peppery spice complement the rich berry fruit and softer structure of zinfandel.

Zinfandel

The first zinfandel was made in 1964, from a small nineteenth-century vineyard on Monte Bello ridge. Since this time, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, searching California for those rare vineyards where climate, soil, and varietal are ideally matched.

Rhones

Produced exclusively for our ATP (Advance Tasting Program) members, these wines are made from grapes that have flourished for centuries in France’s Rhone River Valley. Sourced from some of the finest vineyards in Sonoma County, these small-lot offerings are true expressions of the varietal and the land from which they are grown.