Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
West Coast U.S.
292
Ridge Vineyards
The Philosopher's Stone
Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Nobody said the Holy Grail would be easy
to find. A twisting and narrow road climbs
along steep canyons and quarries, with
huge boulders upheaved by earthquakes
threatening to block your way. The rugged
terrain is punctuated by oak woods and
redwood forests. There are shimmering
views of Silicon Valley below.
Suddenly a winery appears tucked in a
mountain fold, perched atop a ridge. Win-
ery? It looks more like a roadside barn, the
large brown sash windows just hinting
that it may be something more. Inside
you'll find a long L-shaped bar in a white-
walled main room with a sloping ceiling.
Big ceiling fans circle above; what passes
for decor is simply a shabby carpet and
some old barrels. Is this it? Is this Ridge
Vineyards? The Holy Grail of California
Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel?
Wine has been blamed for many an
accidental pregnancy, so it's amusing to
note that this winery was founded in the
1960s by the same Stanford scientists
who invented the birth control pill. Yet the
winery was not truly born until 1969, when
professor of philosophy and winemaking
legend Paul Draper joined. Famous for giv-
ing California wine “a sense of place,” by
the mid-'70s Draper was raising eyebrows
and flaring the nostrils of wine lovers all
around the world. He shocked French
wine critics when his Cabernet Sauvignon
rivaled the best of France at the now-infa-
mous Judgement of Paris blind tasting in
1976, coming in second right after the
Stag's Leap Cabernet (see ). What's
more, at a 30th-anniversary repetition of
the tasting event, that same 1971 vintage
Cabernet from Ridge took first place.
Thus was born a California superstar
wine. And yet the winery is so
not
Holly-
wood—it is hardy, small, and unpreten-
tious, much like the area surrounding it.
The unassuming tasting room leads to
some lovely grounds with picnic tables
affording a great view of San Francisco
Bay and the terraced vineyard slopes. It is
mellow, laid back, and casual—the only
thing that comes across as serious is the
wine itself. Even the bottles' labels are
stark and minimalist, listing on the back
exact percentages of each grape and a
detailed summary of the particular pro-
cess that went into this particular wine.
There is no mention of what you should
taste, no gushing adjectives describing
red fruit and boysenberries. That is for you
to decide. That is your Holy Grail.
Ridge Vineyards,
17100 Montebello
Rd., Cupertino, CA (
&
408/867-3233;
www.ridgewine.com).
(
San Francisco International (37 miles/
59km).
L
$$$
Hilton Garden Inn Cupertino,
10741 N. Wolfe Rd., Cupertino (
&
408/777-
8787;
www.hiltongardeninn.com). $$$
Cypress Hotel,
10050 S. De Anza Blvd.,
Cupertino (
&
800/499-1408
or 408/253-
8900; www.thecypresshotel.com).
