Introducing RIDGE’s New Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon

Blog Post

July 2025

The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA

The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA—established in 1981—is one of California’s first recognized mountain appellations. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the San Francisco Bay to the east, its steep slopes and cool maritime climate offer a unique environment for growing Bordeaux and Burgundy varieties. The original RIDGE founders started farming there in 1959, with Monte Bello becoming the cornerstone of our identity and a benchmark for American Cabernet Sauvignon. Over the decades, we’ve expanded our understanding of the region, working with neighboring vineyards to showcase the full range of what these mountains can produce.

The 2023 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon

In 2023, an opportunity presented itself—several of our neighbors in the Santa Cruz Mountains had fruit available. We sourced grapes from three vineyards: Fellom Ranch, Vidovich Vineyards (both located on Montebello Road), and Bates Ranch to produce our first vintage of the Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon. All three sites lie within the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. The quality of the fruit—and the wine it produced—made it clear we had something truly special.

Fellom Ranch Vineyard sits just south of us, on a spur of the mountain between our Torre Vineyard and Rousten Ranch. Roy “Bud” Fellom III planted his vines in the early 1980s and bonded his winery in 1987. We purchase cabernet sauvignon, along with small amounts of merlot and petit verdot from Bud. Vidovich Vineyard, a collaboration between the Vidovich and Dorcich families, lies between our Torre and Perrone parcels on Montebello Road. Bates Ranch, located near Mount Madonna at the southern end of the appellation, is a historic site known for producing structured, ageworthy wines. From this vineyard, we purchased cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot.

Our History with the Santa Cruz Mountains Label

Our connection to the “Santa Cruz Mountains” name runs deep. In the early 2000s, before we began labeling our second wine from Monte Bello as “Estate,” it was simply called “Santa Cruz Mountains.” With this new blend, we’re proud to bring the name back. Our original bottling was sourced solely from parcels within the Monte Bello estate. This new wine reflects a broader expression of the AVA, capturing the varied soils, elevations, and exposures of our mountain neighbors. It’s a return to a name with history, and a step forward into a broader vision of what Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet can be.

— David Gates, Senior VP Vineyard Operations