Ridge

America's First Wine Club, California's Finest Cabernet

Ridge Vineyards stands as a California icon, founded in 1962 by Stanford engineers who pioneered a minimalist, terroir-driven philosophy that revolutionized American winemaking. The estate traces its roots to 1885 when Italian immigrant Osea Perrone planted vines atop Monte Bello Ridge at 2,600 feet elevation.

Under legendary winemaker Paul Draper, Ridge crafts single-vineyard wines emphasizing natural fermentation and minimal intervention. Their Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon famously placed fifth in the 1976 Judgment of Paris, proving California could rival Bordeaux's finest. The winery specializes in mountain-grown Cabernet and old-vine Zinfandel from historic sites like Geyserville and Lytton Springs.

Critics consistently award Ridge among California's highest ratings for wines that showcase remarkable longevity, complexity, and authentic expression—benchmark examples that define American fine winemaking.