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Paul is known for the fine cabernets and chardonnays of the Monte Bello estate vineyards, and as a pioneer in the production of long-lived, complex zinfandels, in particular, those from the Geyserville and Lytton Springs vineyards.

Our Executive Team consists of Paul Draper, Chairman of the Board; Mark Vernon, CEO; John Olney, Head Winemaker and COO; David Gates, Senior VP of Vineyard Operations; Ryan Moore, Senior VP of Consumer Sales; Michael Torino, Senior VP of Global Sales and Charles Marin, Senior VP of Finance

Our Winemaking Team consists of John Olney, Head Winemaker & COO; Shauna Rosenblum, Winemaker at Lytton Springs; and Michael Bairdsmith, Assistant Winemaker at Lytton Springs.

Our vineyard team keeps a close eye on the health of our estate vineyards in Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains, using organic and sustainable farming techniques.

We are committed to sustainability and organic farming of our vineyards. We are the largest grower of organically certified grapes in Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Ridge provides on its labels a list of actions and ingredients to demonstrate how little intervention is necessary to produce a fine, terroir-driven wine from distinctive fruit.

In 1976, Steven Spurrier, an Englishman running a wine shop and wine school in Paris, organized a tasting of six top California cabernets and chardonnays to celebrate the American Bicentennial. He added four Bordeaux wines and four white Burgundies to act as markers against which to evaluate the Californians.

The properties that now comprise the Ridge Monte Bello Estate were first developed and planted to wine grapes during the late 1800s and early 1900s by four different, unique owners.