2021 · Lytton Springs

Ridge is a privately held California producer founded in 1959 by Stanford Research Institute engineers and shaped for decades by Paul Draper, now succeeded by John Olney. It is known for single-vineyard wines from sites including Monte Bello in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Lytton Springs in Sonoma County, with a long focus on old-vine vineyards and wines that express place. Farming is a central part of the estate’s identity: by 2022 all estate vineyards were certified organic, supported by regenerative practices such as cover crops, composting, low-tillage, water conservation, and integrated pest management. The winery’s style is firmly traditional and non-interventionist, with minimal cellar handling and an emphasis on naturalness, balance, and ageworthiness.