WORLD RENOWNED! 5.0…read more Living in the Bay Area, we're fortunate to have Ridge Winery right in our own "backyard." Ridge's winemakers craft some of the most exceptional wines by blending a variety of grapes into the finished product...the wine in your glass. Everywhere we dine, both on land and at sea, the Ridge name is well known and highly respected for producing outstanding wines. From the base of the mountain, the 15-minute drive up Montebello Road is a winding route to the winery. Some of the turns have a very tight radius, and you'll be sharing the road with cyclists as well as oncoming traffic, so drive with extra caution. Before your visit, be sure to reserve a tasting on their website. Tastings are available for a fee for non-members. We belong to the Trio Membership, which includes ATP, Z List, and Monte Bello Collector. Ridge also offers private release events for members, along with additional benefits depending on the membership level (see their membership page for details). These events often feature exclusive tastings and wine releases accompanied by hors d'oeuvre stations arranged throughout the property. On non-event days, our tastings are complimentary, and we're allowed to bring up to two guests. Small bites, including cheeses, crackers, pâté, and salami, are available for purchase. When the weather is just right (not too hot or too cold) the winery opens several seating areas, including the covered barn, the shaded patio adjoining the barn, and multiple patio spaces at varying elevations throughout the property. Wear comfortable shoes, as you'll be walking along short but hilly paved pathways. One word of caution: you'll notice posted signs warning, "Beware of Rattlesnakes." Fortunately, we've yet to encounter one. The winery itself is absolutely beautiful, with impeccably manicured grounds. Meandering pathways lead you through the barn, out to the patios, and up to the top of the hill, where you're rewarded with breathtaking views of the valley. You know you're perched high above Silicon Valley when you look down and spot two iconic landmarks: Apple's Ring Building, better known as "The Spaceship," and Moffett Field's Hangar One. At an elevation of 2,300 feet, these massive structures appear surprisingly small. The winery's crème de la crème is the Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon. Not only does this wine age beautifully, but it has also appreciated significantly in value over the years. We currently have a 2009 bottle that will need to be opened soon. I recommend following the guidance printed on the back label, which suggests the ideal number of years to cellar the wine before opening. During our last tasting, I especially enjoyed the 2024 Paso Robles Zinfandel, which has a recommended drinking window of about seven years. It was already drinking beautifully, but I'm looking forward to tasting it again in 2031 and comparing how it has evolved. A visit to Ridge Winery always makes for a wonderful afternoon: a scenic, twisty drive, thoughtfully guided wine tastings, spectacular views, and, of course, a few bottles to bring home and enjoy later. This review isn't intended to analyze the subtleties and tasting notes of each wine. Rather, it's an invitation to experience Ridge for yourself, learn about its wines through a guided tasting, and discover your own favorites. Compare, explore, and elevate your palate.

A freind and I went to the Ridge Winter Soiree - a member event in February. This was on a Thursday…read moreand even though this event was supposed to be open to all members during the day but because the weather was so bad, members were given slots of time that they could attend. We went in the early evening. The place is in the Cupertino hills and up a steep hill, driving can be tricky and one you get there, there is not much parking, at least for the number for people who were there. And the parking is precarious - you pull right up to the edge of a steep drop. And backing out of the parking spot can be even trickier. Ridge had 5 stations set up with Station 1 starting with their rose, it was quiet good. When you walked into the tasting room, you were greeted, you name checked against the list and you were handed a tasting of the rose. In the outer room, there was only standing room but the adjoining smaller inner room had a couple of tables and chairs. Station 2 was small bites and they were small, which is surprising for a member soiree! There was a choice of a tiny bowl of hummus with a couple of carrot sticks and some pita chips and a small piece of toast with duck pate and a slice of chicken fat. They both tasted good but I have been to other member events at other wineries where there was a reasonable amount of food. Stations 3, 4 and 5 were red wines and quite good. Station 5 was in a separate building and was served with a tiny cup of saved cheese. As our time was up - 4-6pm, we left but barely 2 miles down the road, there was a fallen tree that completely closed off traffic both sides. Everyone who was leaving turned back around because we were told that it would take a couple of hours to move the tree. Even though tastings stopped at 6, Ridge opened up some more bottle and went beyond the 6pm hour to accommodate the people who did not want to be sitting in their cars for 2 hours. Funny enough, almost every one who was struck up in the mountain were the people who were attending the soiree. It dd not take 2 hours but one hour abd the folks at the winery were good natured about it. They kept us updated regularly on the situation. Ridge has great wines but their customer service, from precious experience, could be better.

I am a member and this place is awesome! The staff is all super friendly, definitely worth a visit,…read moreawesome view

Quality/Quantity - The better of the two vineyards we visited today. And our friends are members of…read morethe first winery..... Since this was our second vineyard today, we decided to only share a bottle; it was only bottle service. But then the team member started giving us a few tastings?!?! Not sure if it was due to closing time and they just wanted to finish the bottles...? Either way, GREAT service! Our friends let me select the wine and vintage. After trying a few cabs, I decided on the 2011 cab which I felt was the smoothest of the 3 splashes. If you were not so far away, I might consider becoming a member. Well, I am still considering it... Ambiance - Beautiful winery. And we were able to catch the early sunset during the winter hours. Huge indoor and outdoor space, my pictures do not do it justice. Two unisex restrooms on either side of the estate. Plenty of parking, well we did get here an hour before closing. Service - 5 stars, from the greeter to the person serving us at our tables. Price - $55 a bottle + generous tip. And of course we bought a few bottles to go. After fighting to try to pay, our friend won and would NOT let us pay/treat. So nice to have good friends! Owner Comment - Congrats on your winery success since 1996. And to your family's previous history that dates back 4 generations.

I planned one of my best friend's birthdays here and it was a wonderful experience. Stephanie was…read moregreat to work with and very accommodating to our group's dietary restrictions. The venue is situated on a beautiful property and our group had the best photos. During our reservation, we were warmly looked after by Tamara, Owen and Corbin. Each provided great service and were wonderful hosts! For the wines, our group's favorites were the Sauvignon blanc and GSM. Since it was quite hot, the Sauvignon blanc was perfect! Despite the heat, we were very comfortable because of all of the umbrellas providing ample shade. A huge plus for us was that they were dog friendly too so we were able to bring 2 of our pups with us. We'll definitely be back here again!

It was the perfect day to enjoy the sunshine outdoors. The service was excellent, and the ambiance…read moreis truly unmatched. The beautiful natural scenery from the mountaintop is absolutely breathtaking. I will definitely be coming back! There was just one small detail: after my wine tasting, I was served the glass of wine I selected in the same glass used for the tastings. While this may not be a big deal for some, I personally prefer to keep my tastings and full glass separate. Overall, I highly recommend this place to everyone. It's especially perfect for a romantic date with an incredible view.

Quiet and cute tasting room tuck away in the woods. Worker…read morewere super friendly. Wine was wonderful.

How have I never heard of this lovely winery? I had the pleasure of attending their Summer Music…read moreseries, but was immediately struck with the gorgeous views of the property. Stunning views of the bay, rolling mountainside with grape vines, and then the lush green of the redwood forest carved out this magical micro climate in the Saratoga Hills. There was a red-forward tasting menu, and I fell in love with the heavy, and complex pour on the Bourrée and the refreshing fresh sangria. But there wasn't one wine that I was upset about drinking, and I sipped each new sample with delight. I can't tell you what I loved more: the wines, or the lovely and attentive customer service of Lisa. Thank you for making me feel instantly at home in a new space. The entire grounds was a photoshoot waiting to happen, and I heard there are some lovely hiking trails right through this winery. It's hidden gems like this that make me fall in love with my hood a little more with every discovery.

As a former horse girl and present wine lover, this place was a perfect birthday activity spot. We…read morecame on a Sunday morning/afternoon with our two toddlers and well-behaved chihuahua for a pony ride + wine tasting. (Bonus points for being dog and toddler friendly) Our older toddler had a blast on her first real pony ride, even after taking a bit of a tumble when Max got spooked. The staff said this usually doesn't happen and were super apologetic. My baby girl was fine and took it like a champ. She still had lots of fun! On the wine tasting: Wines: Awesome! I ordered their white wine flight, the chardonnay and rose were standouts for me even though I tend to like sauvignon blanc profiled wine more. Service: Great too, the staff was attentive and friendly Snacks/food: Ok, so like other reviews have said...my only critique of the wine tasting experience was that the cheese, meats, crackers, olives arrived completely packaged with flimsy plastic utensils. I was expecting a cute charcuterie board; basically the "platter" presentation just saves me a trip to Whole Foods -- but if you bring your own food, they will banish you 5 feet away to the less comfortable bench tables. It seems like they don't have a kitchen license, which is the reason for the packaged food. That said, I think the provided olives could have at least been the pitted variety. Anyway, literal champagne problems Vibes: The wine tasting area was shaded, relaxing, and comes with a great view of all the pretty horses coming and going.

It's a vineyard overlooking a stable, with live cello music playing in the background…read more Vibe Check: The vineyard exudes rustic elegance, where rolling vines meet countryside charm. This boutique estate offers a refined, artisanal approach to winemaking. A special shoutout to the cellist, who made the entire experience both musical and beautiful. Crowd: Having a reservation definitely helps to get a table here. The vineyard was filled with large groups of people, most accompanied by family and friends, including us. Service: I arrived with my entire family, and we were able to secure a table right away since we had reservations. Although the vineyard was busy, the staff approached us promptly with menus and walked us through their offerings. The overall vibe was relaxed and approachable, less formal than a sommelier, which is perfect for a casual wine-tasting experience. The Sip: We chose the light flight, which included red, white, and rosé. The wines were well-balanced and thoughtfully crafted. Going into the tasting, I expected to prefer the rosé, as that's usually my favorite. However, the Pinot Noir surprised me the most because it was light and smooth, with subtle earthiness and soft tannins, which to me is a true classic Pinot Noir. Overall, it was a strong lineup with no weak points, but the Pinot Noir clearly stood out for me. The Pairing: We ordered crackers, cheese, fig spread, and roasted almonds, which paired perfectly with the wines. This vineyard also allows minors to accompany adults, which I really appreciated. We were joined by my six-year-old nephew, and it was great to see that they offer non-alcoholic beverages as well. He ordered a Sanpellegrino Limonata and proudly enjoyed his own "tasting," which was honestly adorable. The One Drawback: The smell from the horse stable. While the stable adds a unique opportunity to see beautiful horses up close, the smell can sometimes detract from the wine-tasting experience. Since tasting relies heavily on all olfactory senses, horse aroma wasn't exactly the afternote I was hoping for. The vineyard was quite a drive from our residence, but aside from the stable smell, it was a wonderful experience.

Hidden gem. Mount Eden and Domaine Eden are pretty much sister wineries. You can taste wines from…read moreboth vineyards at both locations (ME is only open weekdays, DE only open weekends) We shared a chardonnay flight $40, pinot noir flight $45, and cabernet flight $65. Each consisted of 3 - 3 oz pours. The 3 flights covered all the wines they had available for tasting. Not a single bad wine and we liked most of them. Prices are on the higher end, but wines are high quality They allow outside food. Have both indoor and outdoor seating. Decent views. Service was excellent. Tasting by appointment only The drive there is no fun, literally on a dirt road hiking path for a mile or 2. Not enough room for 2 way traffic, but luckily we didn't encounter any other cars on the road going there or leaving. Worth checking out

We made reservations for Saturday 3:30pm and it was not busy at all. Only two other tables were…read moretaken outside. It seems like a pretty chill winery. They just opened last year so I guess not many people know about it. But the drive up is rough and winding. The one way dirt road is shared with hikers too. It is sister winery to Mount Eden. Mount Eden is only open weekdays while Domaine Eden is only open weekends. They serve both wineries' wines for tasting. They have 5 tasting flights varying from $30, $40, $45, $60, and $65. 3 wines per flight and they pour a good portion. We got to try 3 different flights to share. Mount Eden Estate , Chardonnay, and Cabernet flight. All the wines were pretty good. Fruit forward and bold. Our favorites were the first Chardonnay , Pinot noir Tanaka project , and Cab from Mount Eden library. I believe it was 3 bottles purchase to waive a tasting fee. Pricey wines. There was only one male staff. He was friendly and made sure we had enough shade when the umbrella shade moved. You can bring outside food. Nice Mountain View.

Visiting Naumann Vineyards and meeting the owner, Don Naumann, was such a treat. My friend and I…read morewere visiting from out of town and he made us feel so welcomed! The wine tasting was affordable and the wine was excellent! He kept our glasses full, shared laughs with us, was very personable and knowledgeable about his wines. I told him I like to take pictures and he welcomed the idea. He even got in a few pictures with us. Just make sure when you get to Naumann Vineyards walk to the back of the building. It's a house so don't leave, you're going in the right direction. You'll see some great views of the Cali from this vineyard. I highly recommend everyone visiting Don and tasting his delicious wines at Naumann Vineyards. Tell him Juana sent you.

Great winery that is family run which I appreciate. The views are amazing and the Merlot is to die…read morefor.

Just plain great…read more Nice people, exceptionally good wine, very reasonable prices, and they're local to the South Bay.

I really enjoyed this winery. It was unpretentious. They served 3 wines, a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir…read moreand a Cabernet Sauvignon. I enjoyed the Chard and the Cab. But I'm not a pinot noir lover. The wines were reasonably priced. My friends were going to buy the chard but everyone must have liked it... they sold out. People there are extremely friendly. The gardens beautiful even for fall. And for passport weekend they served rosemary bread and a triple cream brie. Even if they didn't have wine, I would come here for bread.