Ridge Vineyards

The modern estate has its roots in the reconstitution of the historic Monte Bello winery: a group of Stanford researchers purchased vineyards in the area in 1959, and in 1962 the project was renamed Ridge Vineyards with the first commercial release of Monte Bello. In the following years Ridge expanded production with bottles from historic vineyards, and the arrival of figures such as winemaker Paul Draper helped build the company's international reputation; Monte Bello was among the wines featured in the famous tastings that put Californian wine on the world stage.

Ridge promotes a single-vineyard philosophy: selecting parcels where climate, soil and grape variety are in balance so that the site determines the style. At the winery it favors a "pre-industrial" approach with measured interventions, the use of natural yeasts and transparent practices. The estate also states a commitment to sustainable farming practices and organic certification for some vineyards.

Operations are concentrated in California, with estates and wines from Monte Bello, historic vineyards in Sonoma County such as Lytton Springs and Geyserville, and projects in Paso Robles wine regions.

International critical recognition: Monte Bello has appeared among the notable Californian wines in historic tastings, and the winery regularly receives high ratings from critics and wine publications.