Ridge Vineyards has a rich history as a California wine producing estate that dates all the way back to 1885. Ridge Vineyards shifted to 100% organic farming techniques by 1999. Much of the success for the wines of Ridge Vineyards is due to their terroir. The vineyards are located in perhaps the coolest, if the not coldest terroir in California for growing wine grapes. They are situated only 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They also have vines in Sonoma, the Alexander Valley and Paso Robles. The higher elevations were where the owners first planted vines for the production of Ridge Monte Bello. Aside from the elevation, the soils contained large deposits of limestone.
The flagship wine for Ridge Vineyards is Monte Bello. The wine is aged in a combination of 95% American Oak and 5% French oak.

Ridge Vineyards produces a massive array of wine including Chardonnay, Petit Syrah, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, proprietary blends, assorted Rhone varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon and their flagship wine, Ridge Monte Bello. Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello is probably the sole remaining California wine that was known for producing outstanding wine in the 1960’s and 1970’s that is still on top of their game today. The wine ages for decades and remains popular with wine lovers.  Ridge Vineyards is the first, popular, California wine produce to embrace the concept of providing consumer with back labels that provide a list of all the additive ingredients found in wine. With the 2011 vintage, Ridge Vineyards began producing a wine from 100% Petit Verdot, Torre Petit Verdot from the Monte Bello Vineyard. Only 275 cases are produced each year. Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed, barrel fermented, and held on its lees for close to 11 months. For Red and white wines, the wines are racked, unfiltered and aged in 100% American oak.