Since 1991, Ridge has made Zinfandel from the Pagani vineyard on the western side of Sonoma Valley near the town of Kenwood. The majority of the vineyard was planted ninety to one hundred years ago by Felice Pagani and has survived as a result of the ongoing attention and care of four generations of his family.

The location is somewhat cooler than Geyserville and Lytton Springs and, as a result, the fruit reaches full maturity slowly resulting in consistent, high quality, rich and complex wines.

Ridge is a minimal-intervention winemaking pioneer. The Pagani Ranch grapes are hand-harvested, de-stemmed and crushed, then fermented on native yeast. Full malolactic fermentation takes place on the naturally occurring bacteria. Barrel aged in American oak. The Pagani Ranch exhibits plenty of jammy blueberry, raspberry, and red cherry fruit with notes of mineral and dark chocolate. The full flavours combined with bright acidity and structure offer a dynamic and full experience.

“Bright crimson in color. Brilliant nose of red fruits, baking spices and pepper. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Lush upfront fruits on a wine with notable power and concentration. Cherry, raspberry compote, strawberry and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Another in a long line of breathtaking Zins from the iconic Pagani Ranch. Best over the next 5-7 years.”
96 pts, Tom Lee, Zinfandel Chronicles, September 2023

“The 2021 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is a wine of tremendous stature. Vertical and composed in bearing, the 2021 has a ton to offer, but is also a bit reserved today. Time in the glass brings out a mesmerizing range of red/purplish fruit, spice, cedar, new leather, tobacco, mocha and dried flowers. Pagani Ranch remains a beacon for Sonoma County Zinfandel-based field blends. This is a fine rendition.”
95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media, October 2023

“Nearly all Zinfandel (90%), this has 5% both Alicante Bouchet and Petite Sirah blended in. The nose is absolutely rocking right now. Heady red fruit aromas combine with shades of black olives and a dusting of white pepper on the nose. The palate is bright and very concentrated, loaded with red cherry and tobacco leaf flavors, alongside wet gravel and citrus zest, making this exceedingly complex and delicious. This is even better than the 2020 version.Showing fantastic structure and weight, this beauty will easily go from another fifteen years. If enjoying in its youth, this needs about an hour in the decanter to be fully aroused. Drink 2023-2038”
95 points, Owen Bargreen, OwenBargreen.com, October 2023