Lytton Springs – Decanter’s Top Dry Creek Valley Wine

Decanter Magazine

June 25, 2019

Decanter‘s recent feature on the most exciting winemaking regions in Sonoma County names Ridge as a must-know producer in Dry Creek Valley, “one of the best terroirs in California for world-class Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.”

While this narrow, rural valley (26km long, 3km wide) is one of the best terroirs in California for world-class Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, some 30 varieties are grown here. One of Sonoma’s smallest AVAs, Dry Creek Valley retains a rustic, laid-back feel and a legacy of old vines and multi-generational winemaking families. You still feel the influence of early pioneers, many of them Italian, who arrived after the 1849 Gold Rush. Many who planted grapes over 100 years ago, such as Mauritson, are still making wines from them, which adds to the region’s strong sense of identity.

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Author Elin McCoy selects 2016 Lytton Springs as her top pick from Dry Creek Valley:

Ridge Vineyards, Lytton Springs, Sonoma County, Dry Creek
This Zinfandel blend (with 23% Petite Sirah and 6% Carignan) has an intense purple juiciness, plenty of tannins from 14 months in oak, plus a slightly burly, rustic character. – 94 Points