Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello is a celebrated winery that played a significant role in the 1976 “Judgment of Paris,” which pitched six Californian wines against top Bordeaux and Burgundies in a blind tasting by industry experts, and emerged as the victor. This pivotal moment in the international perception of New World wines put to rest any notion of their inferiority to the Old World. In a rematch 30 years later, Ridge came out on top again, cementing its reputation as a trailblazer in Californian winemaking.

Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, south of San Francisco, the steep terrain of Monte Bello Ridge gives the vineyards a rugged air and a unique microclimate that allows the grapes to receive bright and powerful sunlight despite the coolness of altitude. The winery produces single vineyard wines made from some of the oldest and best vines in the country, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Rhone varietals, which are known for their notable aging potential.

Vineyards were first planted on the Monte Bello Ridge in 1886, but it was the acquisition of the property by four engineers from the Stanford Research Institute in 1959 that sparked its triumphant modern incarnation. They brought in winemaker Paul Draper in 1969, who was an early adopter of the low-interventionist approach. This approach shunned many of the winemaking practices that had become entrenched in the USA post-Prohibition to bring attention back to the fruit, and fruit alone.

The restored nineteenth-century winery is built into the hillside, and tastings take place on a sunny terrace overlooking Silicon Valley. Booking is essential, and visitors can opt for intimate 75-minute “Estate Tastings” or the “Monte Bello Private Library Tasting,” which allows for comparing current releases alongside older wines from the Ridge catalogue. The winery also has a second location in Lytton Springs to the north of San Francisco, which offers al fresco tastings and winery tours.

In summary, Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello has a storied history and remains at the forefront of Californian winemaking. Its single vineyard wines are renowned for their age-worthiness and are a must-try for wine lovers visiting the area.