2021 Ridge "East Bench" Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, California, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

This vineyard sits atop a high bench overlooking Dry Creek Valley. It is one of our only vineyards planted solely to Zinfandel. This year the vines again set a small crop and ripened quickly. All eight parcels were harvested the first week of September. Seven were selected for their exuberant fruit. This excellent wine will be at its best over the next ten years. Aged for 14 months in 100% air-dried American oak barrels (19% new, 9% one year old, 8% two years old, and 64% five-plus years old).

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

In 1962, Ridge made its first Monte Bello, and two years later its first zinfandel. Since that time, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, searching California for those rare and exceptional vineyards where climate, soil, and variety are ideally matched.

Ridge calls their approach to winemaking “pre-industrial.” They believe that for anyone attempting to make fine wine, modern additives and industrial processing limit true quality. Relying on the natural yeast, they let the terroir define the wine and make their winemaking decisions based upon taste, not a recipe. They believe in transparency and as a result, they include a list of ingredients on every wine they make. They are committed to sustainability and organic farming and are the largest grower of organically certified grapes in Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.