Ridge Vineyards - Geyserville 2005
Ridge Vineyards is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation of California , United States . The story of Ridge Vineyards begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a physician who became a prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, purchased 70 acres near the summit of Monte Bello Ridge. He terraced the slopes and planted vines and using native limestone he built the Monte Bello winery, producing the first vintage under that name in 1892. In the 1940s, William Short, a theologian, purchased the abandoned winery and vineyard just below Perrone's property. New owners Dave Bennion, Hew Crane, Charlie Rosen and Howard Ziedler , all Stanford Research Institute engineers, have crafted a quarter barrel of "Estate" Cabernet. This Monte Bello Cabernet was among the best California wines of the time. The first Zinfandel was made in 1964, from a small 19th century vineyard further up the ridge. This was followed in 1966 by the first Geyserville Zinfandel. The founding families recovered the terraces of Monte Bello, increasing the size of the vineyard. By 1968, production had increased to just under 3,000 cases per year, and in 1969 Paul Draper joined the partnership. Under his leadership, the old Perrone cellar (acquired the previous year) was restored, the finest vineyard lands rented or purchased, the consistent quality and international reputation of the wines established. Lytton Springs in Sonoma County became part of the Ridge Estate in 1991. Known primarily for its red wines, Ridge has also produced limited quantities of Chardonnay since 1962. Sustainability is both a philosophy and a set of practices environmentally friendly designed to preserve their land. Most of their vines are certified organic. In winemaking, Ridge Vineyards uses natural yeast, no commercial enzymes or nutrients and decisions are based on taste.
Geyserville 2005 is a blend of Zinfandel (77%), Carignane (17%) and Petite Sirah (6%) . Grapes from Alexander Valley's Geyserville Vineyard are destemmed and the whole berries are fermented with their native yeast. The wine is aged in American oak barrels dried in the open air for 14 months (72% two to six years old, 20% new and 8% one year old).
Grape varieties: 77% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah
