Ridge is a Sonoma County pioneer, early advocate of sustainable viticulture, and long-time practitioner of minimal-intervention winemaking. Ridge also happens to produce some of the most consistently superb Zinfandel you’ll encounter. Consider “Three Valleys”, the winery’s entry-level Zinfandel blend, a good introduction. Unlike Ridge’s single-vineyard wines, which reflect the distinct character of each site, Three Valleys demonstrates skillful blending at the highest level. While Zinfandel sets the wine’s varietal character; old-vine Carignane contributes bright fruit and acidity; Petite Sirah gives spice, depth of colour, and firm tannins; and Grenache brings briar fruit and lively tannins.

Fruit is sourced from a number of Ridge-approved Sonoma vineyards. The winery takes great care in selecting the fruit, which is hand-harvested, crushed, then eased through primary and malolactic fermentation by native yeast at Monte Bello and Lytton Springs. Minimal sulphur is introduced. The wine spends 10 months in American oak (only 5% new) prior to blending.

“This focused, firm and tannic wine exudes black pepper and wood-smoke aromas followed by rather tight espresso, blueberry and cacao flavours. Made from 74% Zinfandel and other California heritage-grape varieties, it has the bones of a cool-climate wine and should improve through at least 2028.” 93+ points, Editor’s Choice, Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast, September 2022