Page 12 - GV2020 Portfolio Master

Ridge
Ridge’s origins in Santa Cruz go
back to 1885. The Santa Cruz
Monte Bello Vineyard began
thriving in the 1940’s shortly after
prohibitions end. Paul Drapper SONOMA COUNTY - DRY CREEK
joined the Ridge team in 1969
and the style has remained Dry Creek Valley lies 20 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and 70 miles north of San Francisco.
consistent for 60+ years never It was designated an AVA in 1983. Lake Sonoma lies in the north providing ample water for
chasing trends or scores. In 1991 growers. To the east a ridgeline of the Inner Coastal Range separates Dry Creek Valley from the
the Lytton Springs Estate was Alexander Valley AVA. To the west the Coastal Range provides shelter from the cooling influence
added to compliment the line up.
While Ridge had been making Old of the Pacific Ocean. Dry Creek runs 16 miles from north to south and is 2 miles wide from
Vine Zinfnadel since the 60’s this ridgeline to ridgeline. The cooling fogs that cover many of the Sonoma AVAs rarely make it into
gave them ownership over the the valley and when it does permeate the southern boundaries it burns off by 10:00am. Diurnal
vineyards and allowed them to temperature swings of 30° are the norm with temperatures averaging in the 50s in the evenings and
build a second winery in Sonoma
County. With over 300+ acres 80s in the afternoons. The soils are primarily alluvial and clay and the valley sits along a fault line.
certified organic the old vine Zin, Zinfandel has been planted here since 1869 and many of the old vineyards survived the phylloxera
Carigane and other varietals epidemic by being planted on resistant St George rootstock. Sauvignon Blanc is the most planted
should continue to thrive for many white.
years to come.

Guarachi Ridge Vineyards (Healdsburg) ridgewine.com
Alex Guarachi came to the U.S on a
soccer scholarship but an injury (also see Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains)
dashed his dreams of playing Ridge Petite Sirah Lytton Estate 2017 $360.00 94 JS, 93 VN
professionally. Living in the bay area Ridge Zinfandel East Bench 2018 $300.00
he quickly realized there was a market
for South American wines in the U.S. Ridge Zinfandel Lytton Springs 2017 $420.00 94 VIN, 94 JS
He became one of the first to import
wines from his native Chile as well as
Argentina. In 2007 Alex decided to
found his own winery and began
purchasing prized vineyard land in SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Sonoma and Napa. The resulting
wines are hand crafted in small The 2,400-foot Sonoma Mountain range begins to rise above the town of Glen Ellen in the north
quantities. west corner of Sonoma Valley, west of the Valley of the Moon AVA. Granted its status as an
AVA in 1985, the Sonoma Mountain AVA is defined by altitude. The vineyards must fall
between 400-1,200ft in elevation and the AVA occupies just the northern and eastern exposures
Laurel Glen of the mountain. The northwest corner of the Sonoma Mntn. AVA overlaps the Bennet Valley
Founded in 1968 by Patrick AVA. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet are all major players here. The northern exposures
Campbell, Laurel Glen sits high experience a more dramatic effect from the cool breezes of the Petaluma Gap and therefore are
atop Sonoma Mtn. at 2400+ feet typically planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Eastern facing exposures are reserved to allow
of altitude. This wine remains a
sleeper in our portfolio. The Cabernet Sauvignon to soak up the cool morning sun. There are 800 vineyard acres currently
vineyards are farmed organically planted.
from one of the most underrated
AVAs in CA. The altitude
combined with the cool breezes
off the Pacific create a unique Guarachi
microclimate ideally suited for guarachifamilywines.com
age worthy Cabs. (also see Sonoma Coast & Oakville)
Guarachi Pinot Noir Sunchase Vineyard 2014 (6pk) $365.90 94 WE
Guarachi Pinot Noir Sunchase Vineyard 2016 (6pk) $365.90 92+ WA
Paul Hobbs
Paul grew up on a apple farm and
learned about terroir at a young
age. Tasting apples from the same
varietal but grown just miles Laurel Glen (Glen Ellen) laurelglen.com
apart it became apparent to him Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon Counterpoint 2016 $455.90 92 JD
that location and terroir made a
difference. Paul was assistant Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2014 (6pk) $377.90 94 WE
winemaker at Opus One from
1979-1984 before going on to
run Simi. Forbes calls Paul “the
Steve Jobs of wine.” A keen
proponent of terroir Paul’s hands Paul Hobbs (Sebastopol) paulhobbswinery.com
off approach in the vineyard (also Russian River, Oakville & Coombsville)
consistently coaxes the best from
the vines year in and year out. Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Richard Dinner Vineyard 2014 $720.00

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