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