Ridge Vineyards is an iconic and highly respected California winery, renowned for its commitment to traditional, "pre-industrial" winemaking and for producing some of the country's finest Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Founded in 1962, the winery is located on Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Its philosophy, pioneered by legendary winemaker Paul Draper, is to take a minimalist, hands-off approach in the cellar, allowing the unique character of the vineyards to shine through. Ridge uses indigenous yeasts, and its wines are known for their balance, complexity, and exceptional aging potential.

The "Three Valleys" Zinfandel is a perfect example of Ridge's approach. While the brand is most famous for its single-vineyard wines, Three Valleys is a deliberate exception. It is a multi-vineyard blend that combines Zinfandel with other traditional Rhône and Portuguese varieties like Petite Sirah, Carignan, and Mataro from various top-tier vineyards in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley. The blend from these different sites creates a complex and layered wine that represents a snapshot of the vintage and a broader expression of Sonoma's diverse terroir.

The 2023 vintage of the Three Valleys Zinfandel is particularly noted for its polished and expressive character. It showcases the brand's signature style of crafting a full-bodied red with concentrated flavors of dark fruit, berry, and spice, all balanced by a fine-grained tannin structure. The wine is approachable in its youth but also has the potential to develop with a few years of aging, making it an excellent and reliable entry point into the world of Ridge Vineyards.