Ridge Vineyards maintains legacy of excellence in California winemaking

Ridge Vineyards, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, has become one of the most respected names in American wine. The story of this estate began in 1885 when Osea Perrone, an Italian doctor, purchased land on Monte Bello Ridge. He planted vines and built a winery, producing his first vintage in 1892. The wines quickly gained a reputation for quality, but the Prohibition era and the Great Depression led to a long period of decline. Production nearly stopped, and the vineyards were neglected.

A revival began in the 1960s when a group of Stanford engineers, including Dave Bennion, Hew Crane, Charlie Rosen, and Howard Ziedler, bought the property. Their goal was to make exceptional wines. In 1969, Paul Draper joined as winemaker. Draper, who had studied philosophy, brought a new vision and commitment to quality that transformed Ridge Vineyards. Under his leadership, Ridge became internationally recognized. The estate’s flagship wine, Monte Bello, gained fame at the 1976 Judgment of Paris tasting, where it placed fifth among red wines—an event that shocked the wine world by showing that California could compete with France.

Thirty years later, in 2006, Steven Spurrier organized a rematch of the Judgment of Paris. This time, Ridge’s Monte Bello 1971 took first place among red wines, ahead of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973—the original winner from California.

Despite its success, Ridge faced financial challenges in the early 1980s. Paul Draper, then president of Ridge Vineyards, sought a buyer for the estate. Two major food industry companies—Coca-Cola and Nestlé—showed interest. However, after lengthy negotiations, Ridge was sold in 1986 to Otsuka Pharmaceutical, a Japanese company with no previous experience in wine but led by a chairman who admired Ridge’s wines. The sale price was never disclosed but is believed to have exceeded $40 million—the amount Suntory paid for Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma two years earlier.

Otsuka required that Paul Draper remain at the helm to ensure continuity. Draper continued to lead Ridge until his retirement in 2015 at age 79. He often traveled to Japan to meet with Otsuka executives and shared stories about their appreciation for fine wine. On one occasion, he recounted serving both Château Latour 1970 and Ridge Monte Bello 1970 blind to a samurai descendant who initially doubted California’s ability to match Bordeaux’s finesse but later admitted Monte Bello was an outstanding wine.

Monte Bello is produced from vineyards perched over 2,600 feet above sea level on steep slopes along the San Andreas Fault. The site’s unique terroir features old vines rooted in shale and granite soils that provide excellent drainage and impart distinctive mineral notes—graphite and flint—alongside spice and dark fruit flavors. The climate is shaped by Pacific Ocean breezes and cool nights that help preserve acidity in the grapes.

Ridge produces several wines—including a renowned Zinfandel—but Monte Bello remains its heart. The blend is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties. Paul Draper championed traditional winemaking methods focused on expressing terroir: hand-harvesting grapes grown organically or sustainably; fermenting with native yeasts; using natural malolactic bacteria; and aging in both French and American oak barrels.

Draper also pushed for transparency about ingredients long before it became common practice. Since the 2011 vintage, Ridge has listed ingredients on back labels: organically grown grapes, hand-harvested; indigenous yeast; natural malolactic bacteria; oak from barrel aging; SO2 (sulfur dioxide). Monte Bello is known for its balance—most vintages are between 12.5% and 13.5% alcohol—unusual for California where many reds exceed 15%. Only the hot 2001 vintage reached 14%.

The style of Monte Bello is marked by aromatic complexity: ripe black fruits, spice, forest floor notes, truffle, cedar and sometimes eucalyptus. The structure is defined by fine tannins and lively acidity that give length and aging potential.

Today John Olney serves as winemaker and director at Ridge Vineyards. He joined after working with Aubert de Villaine at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy. Mark Vernon is currently president but plans to retire within three years; there is speculation that Olney may succeed him.

Recent tastings of Monte Bello show its consistency across decades: the 1991 vintage offers deep aromas of jammy black fruit and spice with silky tannins; the elegant 1995 shows mature notes of cedar and truffle; the cooler 1999 vintage displays freshness with blackberry and licorice; while the warm 2001 stands out for its higher alcohol content due to an unusually high proportion of Merlot.

The more recent vintages continue this tradition: 2005 combines cassis with floral notes; 2006 is powerful yet creamy-textured; the challenging but fresh 2011 has only 11.8% alcohol; while hot years like 2016 and especially drought-marked 2021 show concentration without losing balance or elegance.

Ridge Vineyards’ legacy rests on its ability to produce wines that reflect their origin while maintaining freshness and restraint—a rare achievement in California today. As leadership transitions approach once again at this historic estate high above Silicon Valley, all eyes are on how Ridge will continue its tradition under new stewardship while honoring its past.