When we think of California wine regions, two major “household names” come to mind: Napa and Sonoma. But hidden in the foggy and forbidden “mountainous forests” of the Santa Cruz Mountains is another unassuming and exceptionally “humble” American Viticultural Area (AVA) that produces some of the best wines that have ever graced earth’s green gizzard: Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.
It also happens to be the region where we grew up.
This week, in a rare alignment of the so-called “stars,” us Tannic Panic bros happened to be visiting home at the same time. Needless to say, we jumped at the opportunity to stop in at our favorite winery in the area, Ridge.
We’ve talked about Ridge in the past, highlighting their transparency into the winemaking process and the minimal intervention approach they take (they call it “Pre-Industrial Winemaking”), which, if widely adopted, would objectively make the world of wine a better “place.”
Of course, with prestige and a laser focus on quality (not to mention the overhead costs of operating in one of the most expensive parts of the country) comes a price tag that doesn’t exactly put Ridge in the “value” category–especially when it comes to their Santa Cruz Mountains AVA offerings. Still, dollar for dollar, you are getting value in a sense, especially when you consider that some of the most popular “premium” California wines command not too dissimilar prices for their Mega-purple infused grape juice cocktails.
But as we continue to dream our little dreams of an overhaul of the mass-market plonk brigade that sometimes also masquerades as “prestige” wine (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE), Ridge continues to practice what they preach.
They were one of the key players that put California wine (and Ridge wine) on the proverbial “map” with their extremely wholesome success in the Judgement of Paris (and repeat performance in the subsequent re-judgements of Parises in the years that followed) and they continue to produce some of the best and most highly regarded wines in the country year after year.
DID YOU KNOW… The 1971 Ridge Monte Bello was one of the top wines in the original Judgement of Paris tasting. In the 30 year anniversary “Judgement” featuring the same wines from the original tasting, the 1971 Ridge Monte Bello won.
The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, established in 1981, spans the “hilly,” forest-infested terrain of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties in California. Defined by its mountainous “topography” and elevation-ranging from 400-3,000+ feet, the region “enjoys” a unique climate shaped by “cooling influences” from the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The vineyards in this region are often “perched” above the fabled “fog line,” allowing for ample sun exposure while still experiencing generally cool temperatures and significant diurnal shifts. These WONDERFUL conditions contribute to both high acidity and “adequate ripeness.”
The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA features a remarkable diversity of “soils,” shaped by the dynamic forces of the shaky little “San Andreas Fault” and its even shakier little tectonic “plates.” This geological complexity creates a patchwork of soil types-from limestone and shale to granitic and metamorphic substrates—which, together with the region’s varied elevations and exposures, create a range of unique microclimates that facilitate the cultivation of some of the finest mountain fruits in the land. Nuance, my friends. Nuance.
“Viticulture” in the Santa Cruz Mountains is “challenging” due to “steep slopes” (the kind you can “tumble” down), and limited land area suitable for crop growing, resulting in only about 1,500 “planted acres” out of 480,000 total. Despite this, the area is renowned for producing exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with other varieties like Merlot and Rhône grapes also thriving. Santa Cruz Mountain wines are known for their freshness, minerality, high acidity, and aging potential, exemplified by iconic wines such as Ridge Vineyards’ Monte Bello.
Use the comments section to heckle our good friend and generous tasting host at Ridge, Cosimo, into jumping on a guest post for us!
Characterized by small, family-owned wineries and a focus on sustainable practices, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA remains very much under-the-radar and underappreciated by most (EXCEPT ME!) compared to other Californian “household name” wine regions like Sonoma, Napa and Paso Robles. Despite its relative lack of “visibility” to TODAY’S YOUTH, Santa Cruz Mountains wines are consistently praised by “prestigious wine experts” for their elegance, complexity, and distinct sense of place, making it a hidden gem for wine enthusiasts seeking authenticity and quality.
Let’s dive into some of the highlights from our visit to Ridge’s Monte Bello Estate…
Profile: Lemon curd, mint, juniper bush, vanilla, wet rock, pear, baked apple, dried pineapple Palate: Dry, high acid, medium body, long finish
We were excited to try a wine that recently received a score of 100 points from critic Jeb Dunnuck. As the name of our blog might give away, we tend to prefer big red wines (THE TANNIC KIND!) but we love dabbling in wines of all kinds, especially when we hear they’ve been getting a good rap from some of our “peers” in the “industry.” This wine was awesome. Already it is showing layers of complexity and it’s super concentrated in flavor. It’s got that beautiful sharpness that we get from Chablis, but with the richness you get from warmer climate wines that have seen just the right amount of oak. For us, this wasn’t quite a perfect 10, but it sure was a delight to drink. Can’t wait to “see” what it’s up to in a goodly decade or so.
Profile: Blackberry, blueberry, black plum, cinnamon, wet stone, orange peel, ballpoint pen ink, cocoa dust, pencil shavings Profile: Dry, high tannin, high acid, full body, long finish
A beautiful wine aromatically and well structured, this will be an amazing wine once it’s spent a few more years trolling around in its big boy jorts, but it’s too young right now. As such it is a bit sour and underripe, and the sip doesn’t live up to the sniff. Nonetheless, it’s a great wine, just not worth opening at this price for at least a few more loops around the sun.
Profile: Blackberry, raspberry, black plum, cassis, cocoa powder, bay leaf, cedar, wet stone, graphite Palate: Dry, high acid, high tannin, full body, long finish
This puppy can only be described as a “very spoiled child.” It’s flamboyant, highly assuming, filled with bruised black and blue fruit, a cheeky dollop of oak spice dancing along with a grapple with “stony” minerality and graphite. A tight but premium wine that just needs a moderate to severe number of “years” to truly “grow” into its “potential.”
Profile: Blackberry, black currant, plum, bay leaf, earth, pine forest, tobacco, leather, wet stone, chocolate, prune, Asian spice, tomato paste Palate: Dry, high tannin, medium+ acid, full body, long finish
An unreal aged “Bordeaux style” blend with ripe black fruits, herbaceous and “forest-related” notes (THE GOOD KIND), spices along with impeccable integration of oak spice and cedar and tertiary complexities (earth, leather, tobacco, prune) from over a decade of bottle age.
Coming up next? We’ve got a special guest post from Tannic Panic guest-post-veteran Victoria, as well as Isaac and Zach’s “sister” Ariel. After that, expect some goodly New Zealand focused content as Isaac and Victoria spend half a month “exploring” the shaky isles.
Until next time, HAPPY DRINKING PEOPLE.
Cheers!
Isaac & Zach
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