Spring Wholesale Virtual Tasting

Virtual Tasting

Our Spring Virtual Tasting will be hosted live via Zoom on Friday, April 5th at 10am PT. The tasting will be moderated by Michael Torino, Sr. VP of Global Sales. The panelists will include John Olney, Head Winemaker & COO, Trester Goetting, Monte Bello Winemaker, and David Gates, Senior VP of Vineyard Operations. We hope to see you there!

Tasting Mat

Wines & Tasting Order

2022 Estate Chardonnay
2022 Three Valleys
2022 Paso Robles Zinfandel
2022 Geyserville
2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Our Panelists

Michael Torino, Senior VP Global Sales

Michael Torino is the Senior Vice President of Global Sales. In this position, Michael oversees our global distributor network spanning over 55 countries, our sales managers, the Wholesale Customer Service Department, and serves on the Executive Committee at Ridge. Michael joined Ridge Vineyards in 2008 as the Eastern Regional Sales Manager. He was promoted to Vice President of US Wholesale, in 2016 and to his current position in 2021.

John Olney, Head Winemaker & COO

In 1996, John began work at Ridge’s Monte Bello Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In 1999, he was put in charge of the Lytton Springs Winery where he oversaw the construction of the innovative 17,000 square foot straw bale winery. In 2021, John was promoted to Head Winemaker & COO.

David Gates, Senior VP Vineyard Operations

After an obligatory stint in Napa Valley he made his way to Ridge in 1989. David’s duties include managing the historic Monte Bello vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Whitton Ranch at Geyserville, and the Lytton Estate vineyards at Healdsburg, as well as monitoring and helping all Ridge growers in Sonoma, Napa, Santa Clara, and San Luis Obispo Counties.

Trester Goetting, Monte Bello Winemaker

Prior to joining the Ridge Team in January 2022, Trester was the Winemaker at Robert Biale Vineyards where he focused on zinfandel, petite sirah, Bordeaux and Rhône varietals from heritage vineyards. Before his work at Robert Biale, he was Winemaker at Napa’s Krupp Brother’s Stagecoach Vineyard and worked in winemaking at both Ladera Vineyards and St. Clement Vineyards. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from Humboldt State University in 1997.