Ridge Geyserville Alexander Valley AVA, Sonoma County

Description

Ridge Geyserville is a Zinfandel-based red wine blend made from grapes grown in the Alexander Valley AVA, the largest AVA in Sonoma County located just north of Healdsburg. It is a blend of Zinfandel, Carignane, Petit Sirah and Alicante Bouschet.

Ridge Vineyards, renowned for its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel wines, boasts a rich history dating back to 1885. It was then that Osea Perrone, an Italian immigrant and doctor, first planted grapevines on Monte Bello Ridge. Though the vineyards changed hands over the years, it was in 1959 that Ridge Vineyards as we know it today was founded by a group of engineers from Stanford Research Institute. In 1962, Ridge released its first Monte Bello blend, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine that would quickly gain acclaim. This was followed in 1964 by their first Zinfandel. The 1970 arrival of Paul Draper as winemaker marked a pivotal moment. Draper, with his dedication to traditional winemaking methods and minimal intervention, crafted an impressive 47 vintages for Ridge, solidifying its reputation as a producer of world-class wines.

While Ridge Vineyards was acquired by a Japanese company, Otsuka U.S., in 1987, it remains committed to producing single-estate wines from its vineyards across Northern California. The company operates two wineries, one at the historic Monte Bello site and another at Lytton Springs. Ridge is particularly celebrated for its Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon, a field blend that showcases the unique terroir of the Monte Bello Ridge. However, the majority of their production is dedicated to Zinfandel, with acclaimed wines like Geyserville, York Creek, and Lytton Springs. These wines, often sourced from old vines, demonstrate the complexity and age-ability of Zinfandel, further cementing Ridge’s status as a leading California winery.

The Geyserville Vineyard is home to the oldest vines that Ridge farms. The “Old Patch” section of the vineyard contains vines that are more than 130 years of age. Old vines contribute an intensity and complexity of flavour to the wine that cannot be replicated by any other method. The first vintage was released in 1966.  The warm days here are ideal for ripening fruit and give way to frequent evening breezes and occasional morning fog to give the vines time to rest. The soil is made up of deep gravelly loam mixed with larger river rocks, which were deposited by an ancient river that once flowed through the land. This combination not only permits excellent drainage while also allowing the soil to retain heat when necessary, but it also imparts a distinctive mineral quality to the wine. These attributes, combined with the vineyard’s position three miles south of Geyserville, on the western edge of Alexander Valley, create a perfect growing site for zinfandel and its complementary varieties.

The 2020 Ridge Geyserville Alexander Valley is blend of 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petit Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet. The grapes undergo a full crush with a 100% floating cap. Each variety and each lot are fermented separately using natural yeast fermentation, letting the wines undergo natural malolactic, and employing minimal egg white fining. The wine is aged in 100% air-dried American oak barrels (20% new, 2% one year old, 22% two years old, 25% three years old, 22% four years old and 9% five years old) for 12 months.