1981 York Creek Petite Sirah

In 1981 the several Petite Sirah vineyards on the York Creek ranch produced a relatively large crop. Seventeen percent came from the Lake vineyard and sixty-eight percent from Dynamite Hill. Together they provide the peppery spice typical of this varietal and area. These grapes were combined with fifteen percent Zinfandel to enhance the fruit and complexity. This excellent wine should be quite enjoyable by spring, yet soften and develop further with three or four years of bottle age.

Begun in 1959, Ridge was one of the first of today’s chateau-size California wineries, that is, those that attempt only the highest quality at the quality levels of the classified chateaux (up to 40,000 cases). All the wines are aged in small oak cooperage with the majority receiving no cellar treatment other than racking. Located above 2300 feet on the Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains, our winery and main vineyards overlook San Francisco Bay.