Description

Country: USA

Region: Alexander Valley, California

Varieties: 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet

Terroir: Grown in three adjoining vineyards on a single soil type, deposited by an ancient washout of the Russian River that carried river stone and gravel. It is approximately one-and-a-quarter miles long and half a mile wide.

Farming: Sustainable and Organic (Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification Program); Hand harvesting

Winemaking: Full Crush; Natural Fermentation; Daily pump-overs; Pressed after 6 days; Aged 12 months in American oak barrels (20% New)

"Geyserville is home to the oldest vines we farm. The “Old Patch” section of the vineyard contains vines that are more than 130 years of age. Old vines contribute an intensity and complexity of flavor to the wine that cannot be replicated by any other method. We take a natural approach to winemaking to ensure the true expression of these extraordinary old vine characteristics. We do not use chemical treatments, membrane filtration, or sterilization, as these techniques can strip color, flavor, and texture from the wine. Rather, we adopt a non-industrial approach to winemaking, including using only natural yeast fermentation, to make certain that intensity, complexity, and character are retained.

Geyserville is a traditional field blend of zinfandel and its complementary varieties: carignane, petite sirah, and mataro (mourvedre). Each vintage is unique, distinct, extraordinary… yet they do have elements in common, including the blackest of blackberry fruit, ripe plum, rich cherry, and cedar. A remarkably consistent and elegant wine with exceptional layering, Geyserville’s unique flavor characteristics are often attributed to the relatively higher percentage of carignane, added to the petite sirah found in most of our other zinfandels. Among the most age-worthy of Ridge wines, Geyserville often drinks beautifully well beyond 10 years of age.

Here, warm days ideal for ripening fruit give way to frequent evening breezes and occasional morning fog to give the vines time to rest. The soil is made up of deep gravelly loam mixed with larger river rocks, which were deposited by an ancient river that once flowed through the land. This combination not only permits excellent drainage while also allowing the soil to retain heat when necessary, it imparts a distinctive mineral quality to the wine. These attributes, combined with the vineyard’s position three miles south of Geyserville, on the western edge of Alexander Valley creates a perfect growing site for zinfandel and its complementary varieties." -Ridge Vineyards