76% ZINFANDEL, 13% CARIGNANE, 8% PETITE SIRAH, 3% MATARO Alcohol 14.2% by volume The history of Ridge’s Sonoma County Three Valleys began with the 2001. The wine contains grapes from a number of Sonoma vineyards. We take great care in selecting the fruit, which is hand-harvested, then crushed and fermented at Monte Bello and Lytton Springs. Unlike our single-vineyard wines, which reflect the distinctive character of each site, Three Valleys represents the blending of vineyards—winemaking at its finest. Zinfandel fruit determines the wine’s varietal character; old-vine carignane contributes its own bright fruit and acidity; petite sirah adds peppery spice, depth of color, and firm tannins. Mataro imparts a round, soft texture, and further complexity. old), this full, well-balanced zinfandel is enjoyable now. Its rich fruit will show to best advantage over the next four or five years.

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The history of Ridge’s Sonoma County Three Valleys began with last year’s release of the 2001. The wine contains grapes History Three Valleys is a Ridge proprietary name, referring to three of Sonoma County’s finest appellations. Roughly half the grapes in this bottling came from six vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, one-third from six vineyards in Alexander Valley, and the balance from two vineyards in the Russian River Valley; included are grapes from recent plantings on our Lytton Springs and Geyserville vineyards. The wines fermented on their natural yeasts, were pressed at eight days, and completed a natural (uninoculated) malolactic fermentation five weeks later. Aged in air-dried american oak barrels (twenty percent new, the rest two to six years old), this full, well-balanced zinfandel is enjoyable now. Its rich fruit will show to best advantage over the next four or so years.