Why an Aged Zinfandel Wine Can Taste Like Bordeaux—At Ridge Lytton Springs

Forbes

September 2024

This fall, we release the 2022 vintage of Lytton Springs, which marks 50 years since our first bottling in 1972. To kick off the celebration, we invited a group of journalists and sommeliers to the winery to taste vintages of Lytton Springs dating back to 1974.

This comprehensive piece from Liz Thatch, contributing writer for Forbes, explores the history of the Lytton Springs Estate and our winemaking team, the aging potential of RIDGE Zinfandels, and the wine-tasting experiences at Lytton Springs. Read excerpts below or follow the link to the full article.

Historic Tasting Highlights Aging Ability of Old Vine Zinfandel

“A great wine transcends the varietals,” stated John Olney, Head Winemaker and COO of Ridge Lytton Springs.

“As zinfandel field blends age, they transform from generous layers of primary fruit, such as strawberry, blackberry, and hibiscus to softer, tertiary characteristics, with earth, mushroom, dusty cherry, herbs, miso and tobacco,” explained Shauna [Rosenblum]. “The latter are descriptors I might use to describe aged claret and Bordeaux.”

Shauna noted that the fact that the old vineyards were planted as field blends is part of what allows them to age so well. Just like a great Bordeaux is a blend of grapes, so is an old-vine zinfandel if sourced from a field blended vineyard.

Visiting Lytton Springs

A visit to Ridge Lytton Springs is not only a treat for the taste buds, but also a feast for the eyes, because the winery is surrounded by 100+ year old vines, all farmed organically. About a 2 hour drive north of San Francisco, the winery can be visited as part of a day-trip, or a stop on a weekend visit. A great place to stay is in the nearby historic town of Healdsburg with its multiple Michelin star restaurants, or nearby Geyserville or Cloverdale.