2022 Ridge Vineyards Geyserville, Alexander Valley, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

First produced in 1966, Geyserville is Ridge Vineyards’ longest-running Zinfandel-based wine and a defining expression of California’s historic field blends. Sourced from old vines (some over 130 years old) at the Trentadue Ranch in Alexander Valley, this wine is a co-fermented blend of Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah, and a small amount of Alicante Bouschet and Mataro (Mourvèdre), grown in gravelly, well-drained soils near the Russian River.

The 2022 vintage was warm and compact, with a smaller crop yielding highly concentrated, ripe fruit. Grapes were hand-harvested, destemmed, and fermented with indigenous yeasts in separate lots. Aging took place over 12 months in American oak barrels (20% new), preserving the wine’s fruit purity while lending gentle spice and structure.

The final blend is approximately 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet and Mataro. On the palate, the 2022 shows the hallmark Geyserville profile: rich dark fruit, earthy complexity, and a harmonious balance of power and freshness. Its firm structure and lifted acidity make it both immediately appealing and capable of aging 10–15 years or more.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Ridge Vineyards is a California icon—an estate that has defined American fine wine for over six decades. Founded in the 1960s in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ridge is best known for its Monte Bello Cabernet and for elevating Zinfandel-based blends to world-class status. Under the long-time guidance of winemaker Paul Draper (now retired) and his successors, Ridge has maintained a philosophy rooted in minimal intervention, natural fermentations, and an unwavering respect for terroir.

The winemaking is simple but meticulous: hand-harvested fruit, native yeasts, restrained use of sulfur, and aging in carefully selected American oak barrels. Ridge also publishes full ingredient disclosures on its labels, emphasizing transparency and integrity.

Geyserville is arguably the estate’s most beloved wine—a snapshot of California’s old-vine heritage, produced consistently for nearly 60 vintages. It embodies Ridge’s unique combination of historical reverence, technical precision, and elegant expression of place.