To celebrate Mother’s Day a little over a week ago, we visited two wineries — Rochioli, where we enjoyed an idyllic picnic in the rose garden (see last Monday’s posting for our full review), and Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs.  

We included Ridge Lytton Springs in our itinerary primarily for two reasons.  First, Ridge is one of California’s most respected non-Napa wineries, and the Lytton Springs location has developed a solid reputation for Zinfandel (NB. Ridge makes its well regarded Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay at its Montebello location in the Santa Cruz Mountians).  And second, we had recently read that Ridge’s tasting room was built in an eco-friendly manner using, for example, straw for insulation, recycled lumber for the building’s main structure, and solar panels for generating electricity.  We highly recommend reading more about the winery’s eco-sustainability by clicking here.

We were charmed by Ridge’s setting along a narrow, tree-lined road in the heart of the golden Sonoma countryside, and we made sure to take time to soak in the expansive views of the surrounding vineyards.  Granted, there was no obvious place for a picnic, but that didn’t bother us at all.  This is the type of winery where it’s just as satisfying to spend time chatting with the friendly (and knowledgeable) staff or admiring the airy and sleek tasting room, as it is to relish the peaceful scenery outside.

www.RidgeWine.com
650 Lytton Springs Road
Healdsburg, California 95448
(707) 433-7721