David Gates
A MONTE BELLO TOAST TO PAUL DRAPER
A LEGEND IN HIS TIME Paul Draper, the winemaker and CEO of Ridge Vineyards for nearly 50 years, recently announced his retirement. In my mind Paul was the California wine industry’s guiding force in continuing traditional wine making practices and making consistently great wines during his entire career at Ridge Vineyards. The history of Ridge […]
Click here to read entire article »RIDGE VINEYARDS & THE DROUGHT YEARS 2012-2015
A RECENT VISIT AND SOME REALLY STUNNING WINES I have been visiting Ridge Vineyards since the 60s and writing about them since just before the launch of The Underground Wineletter in 1979. During this entire period I have been buying, cellaring, and drinking Ridge Vineyards wines. They have always given me immense pleasure and […]
Click here to read entire article »RIDGE VINEYARDS
Without question, Ridge consistently produces some of the best red wines in California. They have been doing it for over 50 years and have a record that is unmatched by anyone in the state. Here is a history of Ridge taken from one of my earlier Ridge articles: The history of Ridge Vineyards begins in […]
Click here to read entire article »HISTORIC VINEYARD SOCIETY
Many of California’s Oldest Vineyards Are Endangered The Rare Wine Company recently arranged the tasting of Joseph Swan wines which I attended. This tasting was part of their continuing efforts to support California’s historic vineyards (to read that article click here). In The Rare Wine Company’s November 16, 2010 newsletter, collections of wines were […]
Click here to read entire article »RIDGE VINEYARDS – UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY
The history of Ridge Vineyards begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor who became a prominent member of San Francisco’s Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge. He terraced the slopes and planted vineyards; using native limestone, he constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage under that name in 1892.
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