RIDGE VINEYARDS
SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA
WHY BUY: Big news, folks. Great news. The legendary Ridge Vineyards has debuted a new Cabernet. Sourced with mountain fruit from the rocky Santa Cruz Mountains, it marks the welcome return of an appellation blend to their stellar portfolio, and we're happy to report that we've got a sizable allocation. And also that it's already so delicious — a wine as seamless as it is sinuous, and a marvel of a value at only $60. We're pairing it with a one-off, never-to-be-repeated Zinfandel, acquired recently at auction, made from vines that are 100- and 130+-years old, and that will have you believing in that oft-overlooked varietal (to say nothing of the wizardry of their winemaking team). What both have in common is Ridge's "pre-industrial" philosophy, as they like to call it, which eschews modern techniques in favor of the methods that defined Bordeaux and 19th century California: wild yeast fermentation, minimal filtration, and the judicious use of oak. The results — well, we can't wait for you to taste these two for yourself.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Wine Enthusiast was taken with the 2023 Santa Cruz Cabernet, whose "aromas of black plum, clove and ajwain [editors’ note: carom seeds,” it observed, "draw in the nose, while the palate picks up licorice and more black plum alongside a firm structure."
OUR TASTING NOTES:
* The Historic Zinfandel Vineyards Zin is like settling in to hear a complex and compelling story, one that takes its time in unfolding for you. This is the first (and last) collaboration between Ridge's legendary Lytton Springs site, with its vines that are more than a century old, and its Geyserville sites, whose "Old Patch" section boasts vines that go back more than 130 years. The depth and intensity grab hold of you immediately, but what keeps you fixed to your spot is the complexity. Only vines this old can deliver an experience like this, with layers that lead to more layers, and all of it so integrated, and so intricate, that you’ll sit there for hours trying (and failing) to tease out its many mysteries. (Zinfandel makes up 2/3rds of the bottling, with the rest a field blend of Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mataro, and Alicante Bouschet).
* The Santa Cruz Cabernet unfolds like a well-constructed argument: blackberry fruit wrapped in tannins that know their place, cedar and tobacco notes that linger without overstaying their welcome, and a finish that stretches on (and on) with the kind of persistence that makes you forget you’ve got other things to do. There's something almost old-school Bordeaux about its composure, which stays with you long after the final sip.
THE STORY: Long before Apple made Cupertino famous, the company of legend in these parts was Ridge Vineyards, founded in 1959 on Santa Cruz Mountain land that had been producing wine grapes since 1885. Paul Draper arrived in 1969 and has been making wine there ever since, a tenure that makes most tech CEOs look like job-hoppers. His philosophy has not changed one iota since: minimal intervention, maximum character. All grapes are organic, estate-grown, and hand-harvested; only native yeasts handle fermentation; pump-overs happen just once daily. While other wineries chase trends and consultants, Ridge has quietly perfected a throwback approach, avoiding chemical treatments, membrane filtration, or sterilization (techniques that strip color, flavor, and texture from wine) in favor of what they proudly call their "non-industrial” approach, one that maintains intensity, complexity, and above all character.
FUN FACT: Paul Draper insists on listing every ingredient used in winemaking on Ridge's back labels. Not because he's required to, but because he considers it a statement of integrity about how little should go into a bottle of fine wine.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate to ensure that your wines will arrive with pristine provenance. Secure your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2025 (Dec. 21st - March 20th, 2026). With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NE, NY, OK, or TN. The SoCo Zinfandel is not available in DC, NC, NM, TX, and VA. This offer will expire on Thursday, December 4th, 2025.