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630:(or mostly-Zinfandel field blends) constitute the bulk of the winery's production. Using grapes from selected sites from all over the state and bottling them each under their own label, Ridge Zinfandels emphasize the particular characteristics of each growing site and may show different aging characteristics than do other Zinfandels. Among the best known of the Ridge Zinfandels or Zinfandel-blends are those from Geyserville, York Creek, and Lytton Springs.
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since 1971. He was hired by David
Bennion and emphasized natural, ecologically sustainable farming and fermentation. Draper is known for drying his own oak staves for use in barrels, which may be a component of the dusty "Draper Perfume" that is characteristic of Ridge wines. on 1 July 2016, Draper
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His winemaking style championed minimal intervention. A major component of this philosophy was to make use of the natural yeasts on the grapes. To this end, only a small amount of Sulfur would be used during the winemaking process. This process would only kill off the wild yeasts but allow the wine
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in 1964. Beginning in 1966, the winery began sourcing some grapes for its
Geyserville Zinfandel and other wines from vineyards in Sonoma County. In 1991, Ridge Vineyards purchased the Lytton Springs vineyard in the
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from the estate. Excited by the quality of the early wines, the partners decided to re-bond the winery in time for the 1962 vintage, calling their endeavor Ridge
Vineyards.
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Ridge also focuses on single-estate wines where the grapes for a particular label are all grown at the same vineyard. The signature wine of Ridge is its Monte Bello, a
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wines. Ridge produces wine at two winery locations in northern
California. The original winery facilities are located at an elevation of 2,300 feet (700 metres) on
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In 1967 Dave
Bennion left SRI completely, to become the first president and winemaker of Ridge. Bennion served as winemaker at Ridge until 1970, when he hired
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379:, a producer of nutritional drinks and other pharmaceutical products. Otsuka operates an experimental wine-making center near Fuji, in Japan."
433:. The winery produces wine at both the Monte Bello and Lytton Springs locations, and operates tasting rooms open to the public at both.
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Although Ridge
Vineyards was founded in the early 1960s, wine production at the winery's Monte Bello location has a much longer history.
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On the evening of 18 October 2016, East Bench
Zinfandel of Ridge Vineyards was selected to be served at the last state dinner of the
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The international reputation of the Monte Bello wine produced by Ridge
Vineyards was established when it achieved fifth place in the
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By focusing on single-vineyard
Zinfandels—Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Lodi, and Paso Robles—Bennion showed that Zinfandel can express
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retired as CEO and Head
Winemaker of the company, but remains chairman of the board. He produced 47 vintages for Ridge.
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to oversee winemaking operations. After hiring Draper, Bennion continued to serve as the President of Ridge until 1984.
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were first planted on Monte Bello Ridge by Osea Perrone, a doctor and prominent member of the northern California
320:. Ridge Vineyard's 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon gained prominence for its fifth-place finish in the 1976
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article, Ridge Vineyards was acquired by a Japanese company. "The new owner is Otsuka U.S., a subsidiary of the
368:. Ridge Vineyards was bonded and produced its first commercial wine, a Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon, in 1962.
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A bottle of 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon that was entered into the 1976 Judgement of Paris wine tasting.
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named Ridge Vineyards as one of the best wineries in America. Ridge was named as one of the best producers of
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named Ridge Vineyards as one of the top producers of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in California.
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mixed with varying percentages of other grapes grown in the same location, usually including
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immigrant community, in 1885. The first Monte Bello wine was produced in 1892. Following
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Ridge’s wines today are better than ever is a tribute to him (Paul) and his successors.
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1118:""The Outsider" - Wine Spectator's James Laube on Paul Draper - Ridge Vineyards"
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933:"Decanter Names Ridge One of the Best Producers in the 2013 California Vintage"
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described Monte Bello as the America’s greatest Cabernet Sauvignon.
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312:. The other Ridge winery facilities are at Lytton Springs in the
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Monte Bello wine by Ridge Vineyards achieved fifth place in the
1094:"The Outsider | Columns | News & Features | Wine Spectator"
909:"The Outsider | Columns | News & Features | Wine Spectator"
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1142:"East Bench Zinfandel Featured at Obama's Final State Dinner"
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named Ridge Vineyards as one of the best wineries in America.
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884:"'It's been great': Paul Draper retires at Ridge - Decanter"
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643:, against nine other French and California wines in 1976.
532:. That same year, he produced his very first wine, a
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In the 30 September 2016 Issue of Wine Spectator of
1210:Companies based in Santa Clara County, California
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582:Ridge had been under the direction of winemaker
524:purchased the 80 acre winery and vineyard above
364:, and Howard Zeidler, all engineers at nearby
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701:'s history with Ridge Vineyards. He noted “
488:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
1220:American subsidiaries of foreign companies
1062:"Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards to Retire"
1011:"California 2013 Vintage Guide - Decanter"
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958:"California 2013 Vintage Guide - Decanter"
852:"Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards to Retire"
826:"Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards to Retire"
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508:Learn how and when to remove this message
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984:"101 Best Wineries in America for 2014"
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411:The Judgment of Paris 30th Anniversary
1205:Wineries in Sonoma County, California
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808:"Winemaker of the Year: Paul Draper"
486:adding citations to reliable sources
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1036:"101 Best Wineries in America 2016"
424:Ridge Vineyards produced its first
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780:Steinberger, Mike (24 May 2006).
567:yeasts to survive on the grapes.
1200:Wineries in Santa Cruz Mountains
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96:Santa Cruz Mountains, California
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445:Back label of 1990 Monte Bello
171:Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon
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401:Ridge–Lytton Springs Vineyard
386:View from Ridge Vineyards on
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377:Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
336:Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello
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1060:Asimov, Eric (2016-06-28).
982:Jess Novak (Jul 22, 2014).
850:Asimov, Eric (2016-06-28).
812:The San Francisco Chronicle
756:"History - Ridge Vineyards"
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667:in 2013 California Vintage.
366:Stanford Research Institute
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251:Open to public on weekends
142:(COO & Head Winemaker)
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16:Northern California winery
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302:Santa Cruz Mountains AVA
46:Cupertino, United States
19:Not to be confused with
782:"The Judgment of Paris"
147:(VP of Wholesale Sales)
127:(Chairman of the Board)
1178:"Ridge Vineyards Sold"
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21:Remick Ridge Vineyards
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310:Cupertino, California
306:Los Altos, California
162:Otsuka Pharmaceutical
710:Obama administration
697:wrote an article on
530:Santa Cruz Mountains
482:improve this section
431:Dry Creek Valley AVA
392:Santa Cruz Mountains
371:According to a 1987
314:Dry Creek Valley AVA
74:37.3050°N 122.1294°W
641:"Judgment of Paris"
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407:"Judgment of Paris"
322:"Judgment of Paris"
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1183:The New York Times
1066:The New York Times
856:The New York Times
661:Cabernet Sauvignon
609:Cabernet Sauvignon
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534:Cabernet Sauvignon
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298:Santa Clara County
296:in unincorporated
282:Cabernet Sauvignon
183:Cabernet Sauvignon
79:37.3050; -122.1294
1180:(7 January 1987)
1098:WineSpectator.com
913:WineSpectator.com
670:On 25 June 2016,
655:On 25 June 2014,
649:Decanter Magazine
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388:Monte Bello Ridge
294:Monte Bello Ridge
278:California winery
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690:The Outsider
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617:Petit Verdot
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362:Hewitt Crane
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308:and west of
273:
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238:Distribution
195:Petite Sirah
130:Mark Vernon
714:White House
699:Paul Draper
695:James Laube
682:Eric Asimov
634:Recognition
605:field blend
584:Paul Draper
578:Paul Draper
572:Paul Draper
561:Pinot Blanc
350:Prohibition
304:, south of
150:Ryan Moore
140:John Olney
137:(President)
124:Paul Draper
102:First
91:Appellation
77: /
65:122°07′46″W
52:Coordinates
1194:Categories
1151:2017-01-19
1127:2017-01-19
1103:2017-01-19
1079:2017-01-19
1045:31 January
1021:2016-12-17
995:25 October
968:2017-01-19
942:5 November
918:2016-12-17
894:2016-10-25
869:2016-10-25
835:5 November
791:5 November
765:25 October
733:References
665:Chardonnay
628:Zinfandels
549:Pinot Noir
545:Chardonnay
437:Winemakers
417:. In this
342:Grapevines
290:Chardonnay
263:.ridgewine
189:Chardonnay
113:Key people
62:37°18′18″N
1074:0362-4331
864:0362-4331
646:In 2013,
526:Cupertino
520:In 1959,
498:June 2020
469:does not
426:Zinfandel
286:Zinfandel
231:Carignane
207:Zinfandel
177:Varietals
168:Known for
120:(Founder)
1015:Decanter
962:Decanter
888:Decanter
721:See also
626:Ridge's
557:Carignan
219:Grenache
43:Location
712:at the
541:terroir
528:in the
490:removed
475:sources
346:Italian
328:History
300:in the
256:Website
247:Tasting
104:vintage
1072:
862:
613:Merlot
559:, and
288:, and
213:Merlot
786:Slate
591:Wines
276:is a
225:Syrah
201:Syrah
132:(CEO)
1070:ISSN
1047:2017
997:2016
944:2016
860:ISSN
837:2016
793:2016
767:2016
663:and
473:any
471:cite
265:.com
108:1962
607:of
484:by
316:of
261:www
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