05 Oct Ridge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards
17100 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014
ridgewine.com
Region: Santa Cruz Mountains & Dry Creek Valley
Owners: RIDGE
Winemaker: John Olney, Shauna Rosenblum
About: In 1962, Ridge Vineyards made its first Monte Bello, and two years later, its first Zinfandel. Since that time, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, searching California for those rare and exceptional vineyards where climate, soil, and variety are ideally matched.
What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Valdigue, also known as Napa Gamay. It’s a fun, lighter style and is a nice complement to our wine program.
What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? My first experience was tasting our RIDGE Valdiguié from Frediani Vineyard, and it was pretty special. It’s a bit “out of the norm” for RIDGE since we rarely focus on lighter-style reds, and it’s also unique in that it comes from Napa Valley. The wine’s bright, refreshing style is best served slightly chilled and pairs beautifully with a wide range of foods.
What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? What I love most about these lesser-known varieties is that they often come from historic vineyards and offer a glimpse into how winegrowing was done decades ago. It’s fascinating to taste something that was intentionally planted and popular in the early 1900s; it feels like sipping a piece of history.
