Ridge Vineyards Ridge Three Valleys Red

Zinfandel

Description: 76% Zinfandel, 13% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 3% Mataro Alcohol 14.2% by volume The history of Ridge's Sonoma County Three Valleys began with the 2001. The wine contains grapes from a number of Sonoma vineyards. We take great care in selecting the fruit, which is hand-harvested, then crushed and fermented at Monte Bello and Lytton Springs. Unlike our single-vineyard wines, which reflect the distinctive character of each site, Three Valleys represents the blending of vineyards—winemaking at its finest. Zinfandel fruit determines the wine's varietal character; old-vine carignane contributes its own bright fruit and acidity; petite sirah adds peppery spice, depth of color, and firm tannins. Mataro imparts a round, soft texture, and further complexity. old), this full, well-balanced zinfandel is enjoyable now. Its rich fruit will show to best advantage over the next four or five years. Other text The history of Ridge's Sonoma County Three Valleys began with last year's release of the 2001. The wine contains grapes History Three Valleys is a Ridge proprietary name, referring to three of Sonoma County's finest appellations. Roughly half the grapes in this bottling came from six vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, one-third from six vineyards in Alexander Valley, and the balance from two vineyards in the Russian River Valley; included are grapes from recent plantings on our Lytton Springs and Geyserville vineyards. The wines fermented on their natural yeasts, were pressed at eight days, and completed a natural (uninoculated) malolactic fermentation five weeks later. Aged in air-dried american oak barrels (twenty percent new, the rest two to six years old), this full, well-balanced zinfandel is enjoyable now. Its rich fruit will show to best advantage over the next four or so years. Producer The history of Ridge Vineyards begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor who became a prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge. He terraced the slopes and planted vineyards; using native limestone, he constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage under that name in 1892. This unique cellar, built into the mountainside on three levels, is Ridge's production facility. At 2600', it is surrounded by the "upper vineyard", now referred to as the Perrone Ranch. In the 1940s, William Short, a theologian, bought the abandoned winery and vineyard just below the Perrone property; he replanted several parcels to cabernet sauvignon in the late 1940s. From these vines - now the "middle vineyard" and referred to as the Torre Ranch - new owners Dave Bennion, Hew Crane, Charlie Rosen, and Howard Ziedler, all Stanford Research Institute engineers, made a quarter-barrel of "estate" cabernet. That Monte Bello Cabernet was among California's finest wines of the era. Its quality and distinctive character, and the wines produced from these same vines in 1960 and '61, convinced the partners to re-bond the winery in time for the 1962 vintage. Dave Bennion left his role at S.r.i. to oversee winemaking duties full time. The first zinfandel was made in 1964, from a small nineteenth-century vineyard farther down the ridge. This was followed in 1966 by the first Geyserville zinfandel. The founding families reclaimed the Monte Bello terraces, increasing vineyard size from fifteen to forty-five acres. Working on weekends, they made wines of regional character and unprecedented intensity. By 1968, production had increased to just under three thousand cases per year, and in 1969, Paul Draper joined the partnership. A Stanford graduate in philosophy-recently returned from setting up a winery in Chile's coast range-he was a practical winemaker, not an enologist. His knowledge of fine wines and traditional methods complemented the straightforward "hands off" approach pioneered at Ridge. Under his guidance the old Perrone winery (acquired the previous year) was restored, the finest vineyard lands leased or purchased, the consistent quality and international reputation of the wines established. Cabernet and Zinfandel account for most of the production; Syrah, Grenache, Carignane, and Petite Sirah constitute a small percentage. Known primarily for its red wines, Ridge has also made limited amounts of chardonnay since 1962. Lytton Springs, in Sonoma County, became part of the Ridge estate in 1991. A quarter century's experience with this vineyard had convinced us that it was an exceptional piece of ground. Forty consecutive vintages of Geyserville attest to yet another stunning combination of location and varietals. Though born in the early sixties to the post-Prohibition world of modern California winemaking, Ridge relies on nature and tradition rather than technology. Our pre-industrial approach is straightforward: find intense, flavorful grapes; intrude upon the process only when necessary; draw the fruit's distinctive character and richness into the wine.
Price: $ 27.98
Price in original currency: None

Previously available from Austin Liquors

Address: 117 Gold Star Blvd. Worcester, Ma, 01606
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United States
Telephone (regular): 508-853-8953
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First added to 1000 Corks on October 20, 2020.

This product was inactivated January 13, 2022.

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