2023 Ridge Grenache Blanc, Paso Robles, California, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

This Grenache Blanc comes from Adelaida District vineyards in Paso Robles, where limestone-rich soils and higher elevations foster bright acidity and finesse in Rhône varietals. The 2023 growing season was marked by a cool, extended harvest window, allowing for full phenolic ripeness while maintaining freshness and restraint.

Fermented in neutral French oak barrels, the wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation, giving it a lightly creamy mid-palate without sacrificing its linear structure. Ridge's minimalist approach—native yeast fermentation, no fining, minimal filtration, and restrained use of sulfur—preserves the purity of fruit and site expression.

The resulting wine offers a beautiful interplay between texture and tension, with subtle notes of fennel, lemon pith, and wet river stone adding complexity. It's a refined, food-friendly white that balances California sunshine with Old World sensibility.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Ridge Vineyards is one of California’s most iconic wineries, known for producing world-class wines with a focus on site expression, sustainability, and minimal intervention. While best known for their historic Monte Bello Cabernet and pioneering work with old-vine Zinfandel, Ridge’s commitment to Rhône varietals in Paso Robles has produced compelling whites like this Grenache Blanc.

All grapes are grown using organic and sustainable practices, and Ridge employs a traditional, low-intervention approach in the cellar: native yeast, minimal handling, and transparent winemaking. This ethos, along with an obsession with terroir, allows each bottling to reflect its origin with clarity and integrity.

The Grenache Blanc project is part of Ridge’s effort to showcase the versatility of California terroir—and with wines like this, they prove that Rhône whites can thrive with finesse and complexity in Paso Robles.