WORLD RENOWNED! 5.0 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. read more

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Amazing winery operating as Ridge since mid 1960s. Beautiful location on top of a hill in the Santa Cruz mountains near Palo Alto and nestled among the redwoods and mature oaks. Prior to Ridge, someone else owned the property with some vines over 100 years old. Producing over 1 million bottles a year Ridge wines are readily available throughout the United States and even OUS. Many visitors like us are familiar with Ridge. Visiting gives a whole new perspective on the interesting history of the winery, types of wines, and lovely Cabernet they produce right here on this property. We were welcomed by a gentlemen named Cosmo who was enthusiastic and proud of the wines and history of the Property. Well done Cosmo! Why four stars versus five.... Wine tasting was $110 for two people - minus half star. Their Cab Sav from this winery is $100 per bottle. It tastes like a $22 bottle - minus half star. The software to set up tasting is clunky and wasn't sure what we had bought. Their elite Cab Sav is world class but out of range for most including me at $500 per bottle retail. Their other whites and blended Zins are more reasonable and generally of good quality. Cheers Yelpers :) read more

Beautiful winery with stunning views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and a lovely overall atmosphere. We had an 11:00 AM tasting reservation. Based on years of visiting wineries, we typically arrive about 10 minutes early to allow time for parking, check-in, and getting settled. We arrived at 10:50 AM, only to find the gates closed. There were about five other parties waiting outside the gate as well, which was a bit surprising. The gates were opened right at 11:00 AM. If the team is not ready to welcome guests before the scheduled start time, it would be better not to offer an 11:00 AM reservation slot. This was a first for us and could be improved with better guest communication. Once inside, we were seated promptly, and our tasting host was very pleasant and knowledgeable. However, she stepped away for about 15 minutes, and the transition to the next tasting was delayed until we had to ask for assistance. A smoother handoff between team members would have made the experience feel more seamless. We also purchased a bottle of wine and were surprised that single-bottle wine carriers were not available. Having a simple wine bag or carrier option would be a nice touch, especially for guests who are purchasing to take home. Overall, the winery has a wonderful setting, beautiful surroundings, and a great vibe. With a few improvements to guest arrival coordination, service flow, and small hospitality details, it could be an exceptional experience. read more

Quality/Quantity - Our friends are members here. So the first 4 tasting were complimentary. Had such a good time catching up with our friends, I forgot to take more pictures, sorry. Anyway, we ordered the following - Cheese, crackers, pate, sparkling water (that never came), etc. All prepackaged snacks. Here for the company, not the food. Ambiance - Enjoyed the outdoor space and views. Too bad all the outdoor furniture was put away due to the winter season. Got the best table in the winery, next to the outdoor patio, thank you. A view and fresh air! Plenty of parking. Two restrooms in the parking lot, cool. More unisex restrooms inside. Service - Surprising below average, especially since our friend is a member?!?! Made a comment about our Dubai chocolate that we brought for our friends. Made sure our friends did NOT open and eat it. She could have said it much better. Rushed us to leave even before our 1.5 hours was up! Cut our tasting 15 minutes short. So we went to Vidovich Vineyards next (see 5 star review). So much more welcoming, I might even become a member there. The door greeter was friendly and welcoming. Price - As a group, we bought 3 bottles of wine to-go and a bunch of snacks to eat during our wine tasting. We spent a few hundred $$$$. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1962 with your history going back to 1885. We plan on visiting your other wineries since our friend has access, and hope for a better experience. read more

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A freind and I went to the Ridge Winter Soiree - a member event in February. This was on a Thursday and 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. read more

Reservations are easily made and prepaid online! Love everything about this vineyard except for the drive up. It's not a scary drive but can make people car sick. The views are beautiful once you are up there. It's so lovely up there, we seen a couple of hummingbirds while doing our tasting. The wine itself is amazing! Always been a fan of ridge wine and every wine that we tried was great! I was a club member at a couple of vineyards in Napa and usually love Napa cabs, but the Zinfandel here were good! The cab here was also one of our favorites. The staff here were kind and explained the wine and history in great detail. Will definitely revisit! read more

Ridge Vineyards - Monte Bello - Wineries Near Me - Cupertino, California

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I've been to so many wineries, and the Cupertino venue at Ridge Vineyards is one of the best I've ever seen, with gorgeous, commanding panoramic views over Silicon Valley (and you can see the Apple Spaceship / Apple Park). They also have so many areas on the winery grounds at various elevation levels to hang out. The views alone are worth the drive up the mountain! It's one of a small group of long-established estates whose roots reach back to the late 19th century, with the first vineyard planted in 1885! They've built a long, prestigious legacy of having its wines served at White House state dinners and other major political events. read more

We actually discovered Ridge while in Oslo, Norway - we had a glass of Pinot Noir at a wine bar there and it was phenomenal. Come to learn that the vineyard is an easy 35min drive from our home! So we booked a tasting (tastings are by reservation only) to *hopefully* also buy a bottle of this pinot noir that we fell in love with! We learned that their pinot noir is made in very small batches, and not a single one on the menu this time of year - sure, I'm disappointed, but we're also here to try their other wines. Our tasting menu included a chardonnay, a 100% zinfandel, their geyserville (~70% zin), and their estate cab. every single wine was fantastic! I would have purchased one of each if they weren't so expensive. Ridge Vineyards has fantastic wines and I highly recommend them. I took off 1 star because they seem to be all about exclusivity, in that they really push memberships. at every opportunity, they are mentioning all the things their members get that non-members don't get - from wine lists (an entire front and back menu of wines), to free tastings and exclusive events. Perhaps because of this, the vibe (from patrons and employees alike) feels... a bit uppity. I don't think you can purchase by the glass (although, to be fair, I did not ask - but there are no by-the-glass prices listed anywhere), which is part of the winery experience that I enjoy - have a tasting, then sit back with a glass and enjoy some more time. Overall, we did enjoy our time at Ridge. The employees are very knowledgeable and informative, and very attentive. And *most importantly* the wine is fantastic! read more

Ridge Vineyards - Monte Bello - Wineries Near Me - Cupertino, California

Super friendly & knowledgeable staff. Generous pours. Large selection. By appointment only tastings. Many different areas to lounge. The views were amazing! Windy road to get there. read more

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You must come here for Nick's Picks. Best bartender around with all amazing wines!!! read more

Ridge Vineyards - Monte Bello - Wine membership options - Wineries Near Me - Cupertino, California

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Absolutely a beautiful setting on a lovely summer afternoon! The wines were exceptional and the cheese and charcuterie plates were welcoming. Met some nice people that added to the delightful experience. Yes, it's at the top of a steep road but that's what makes the views spectacular! read more

The narrow winding road up to this winery is not for the faint of heart. We luckily ordered an Uber driver who also stayed and waited 2.5 hrs while we did our wine tasting. According to the host, other Uber/Lyft drivers only do drop off and didn't want to come back for pickup and patrons had to order taxis down. So plan your rides accordingly or have a designated driver in your party. The view was absolutely gorgeous and the private tasting room was very spacious. Our tasting room attendant was very knowledgeable and easy going. The lady in training also was very friendly and helpful as well. Our experience was enjoyable and not rushed at all. The charcuterie went well with all the wine we tasted. We bought 4 bottles of the Monte Bello and a few other ones. My mom bought a case of their Grenache Blanc. We had a lovely time celebrating my Mom's 80th birthday here. read more

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We had a wonderful tasting experience with Nick. The wines were very good and he explained the regions and blends very well. The winery has several tiers of areas to visit that we weren't able to explore bc of the winter weather, but I look forward to coming back to visit again. read more

Amazing service from the moment you walk in to the end of your visit, the people at Ridge Winery are interested in making your wine experience extraordinary! Ridge Winery in California is definitely a place to visit when you enjoy tasting different varieties of wine. Each time I visit I enjoy chatting and taking the tour with their CEO. The Healdsburg area is also a wonderful place for great food and a relaxing country to sit back and get away from the busy city. read more

I made reservation for Ridge on the very day we were planning on going and we were able to book it by calling in as the online Tock portal didn't allow same day reservation. The drive up is curvy and there are some pathways where it was scary for two cars to go side by side. Once we reached the top, it was beautiful with fog covered San Jose city visible from above the clouds. We were seated by Russ who was amazing and went over their wine information and seated us at the bar with the most amazing views out the window. I loved their Library worth 40$ for a pour that you can add onto the tasting experience. We were poured some extra wine for a walk up to the edge near the entrance and Russ helped answer our questions about the vineyard and the history. Will definitely revisit just for the views! read more

Ridge is so beautiful and I would come back again and again. Perfect place for a date or to bring family or a quiet group of friends. Very beautiful vineyard which was explained to us while waiting for our table/section, and once seated, our wine expert Adele was amazing and knowledgeable. The wines you try with the $75 tasting are mostly Zins, all wonderful and you can do horizontal/vertical tastings as well. You can try their Montebello for an extra $40. It is a private vineyard with organic grapes and you really feel special at Ridge! Highly recommend over the other winery's I have tried in the area. Do be mindful there is no service in the area but there is WiFi at the winery itself. read more

Ridge Vineyards - Monte Bello - Wineries Near Me - Cupertino, California

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Drove up Montebello Road to visit Ridge Vineyards on a beautiful sunny Saturday day. Gorgeous wines, spectacular views, and great service. Carolyn greeted us as we walked into the tasting room. We had a table in the VIP room and she gave us a history of Ridge wines, their vineyards, their partners and explained the different varietals. It was an excellent experience. Although the steep drive may be a challenge, there is plenty of parking in the their lot and the wines are worth the experience. There are also tables and chairs for you to enjoy the panoramic views. Thank you Carolyn! read more

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Solid good wine and service is execllent. Their zin's are probably one of the best in California if not the best. The estate is beautiful as well. read more

Used to be a great place, but their member services have really gone downhill. Just a source of frustration now.

Lucky Me! Not only do I adore Ridge Vineyards wine, but a friend who is a member invited me to a wonderful food/wine pairing event where the food was creative vegetarian and the wines yummy. Please see my photos. Situated in the Cupertino hills, the winery offers beautiful views, plenty of shade, seating/tables, and the pourers are friendly. Parking is limited and carpooling is encouraged, but there was parking staff on hand to maximize the available space. Because we brought food to snack on, the assistant manager kindly explained that no picnicing will be allowed after today as many people do not clean up after themselves causing the staff to do extra clean-up. Too bad. With the heat abating in its intensity, the event was a comfortable time with friends. read more

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Come to listen to the staff telling the story of the Judgement of Paris and enjoy the amazing view of the valley. For $30, taste the famous 2012 Monte Bello. I personally find it very smooth but am a bit disappointed at the light aftertaste. Our host Nick was funny and attentive in managing our tasting experience. All tasting requires appointments and are indoor seating. Lots of blooming flowers around the estate including roses and California poppy. read more

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World renown wines, rotating tasting menu, friendly service, great views. I love bringing my friends here, and I always pick up a few bottles. Ridge never fails to disappoint! WINE TASTING - Tasting menu rotates monthly, typically showcasing a Chardonnay (Estate or Montebello), one or two Zins, a Rhone, and a Cab. The number of wines they make is so extensive there is always something fun to try! - There is always a monthly spotlight wine, which has additional discount on it - They have 3 wine programs, including one specifically for Estate Chard/Cab, Zins, and the world famous Montebello (Bordeaux blend). For me the wine club is totally worth it because I come for tastings monthly. Members cover 4 tastings - Some of my favorites are the Montebello Chard (great complexity, long aging potential), and the Lytton Estate Syrah (dark fruits, great balance, lamb, yum!) LOCATION, SERVICE, ETC. - This is one of two of their tasting rooms. The other is at the northern end of Sonoma - Booking is super easy online (Tock) - In the summer, there is plentiful of covered outdoor seating. In the winter, they have two indoor seating rooms - All the staff are very knowledgeable in providing background on the wines - When I bought a bottle with a faulty cork (not their fault, things happen with natural cork), they were very accommodating in replacing it with no questions asked - The complementary sesame breadsticks are awesome! read more

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Ridge. Perfect name for a winery that creates vino that is so exquisite, and has views to match. Many people think Napa, Sonoma, and the like, make the best wine in California. However, Ridge is a front runner when it comes to fine wines as well, and their grounds display a picturesque destination for a picnic. read more

members for almost 30 years. Drove 2 hr to get to monte bello to be told they are not dog friendly( unlike Healdsburg ). offered a splash they could serve in the parking lot. what a joke. cannot even tell you how much we have spent o er the years at Ridge. it is ending now. cancelling over poor customer service. read more

Amazing wine tasting experience! I highly recommend this place. The view is spectacular!

Amazing views! And an average experience overall. I'm small so the pours for me were perfect (seeing I'm light weight) but my partner did complain about the amount of pours and lack of attention. This is my first winery in the South Bay region so I have nothing to compare it to. So I may update later in regards to that. But in comparison to Napa/Sonoma it falls in the mid-range. We booked an appointment here to try their cab, but I enjoyed the Syrah a lot more than both their cab and Monte Bello pours! Ended up purchasing the Syrah. Might come back to try their first Pinot release. read more

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Its always a great experience here. Nice selection of wines and the scenery is fantastic

FOOD: N/A SERVICE: 5 AMBIANCE: 5 VALUE: 5 Ok, I am partial to this winery because they make great wines. I discovered this place while riding my bike up and down Montebello road. To my great surprise, their wines are very good. I have been their wine club member (Montebello Collector) for almost 10 years. Being a member, entitles you to some great prices and pre-release vintage at great savings. Another benefit is that you can go taste their wines at any time for free! They also host member only events, which I can attest is better than any winery in Napa/Sonoma. Get one of the best wine tasting experience at a location with one of the best views of the Bay Area, here at the Ridge. Oh, and enjoy some of the best and highly rated wines. read more

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Went for a drop in on mother's day last year, in lytton springs. We had our children with us. Club member for 30 years. I was met at the door, saying my children were not welcome, but my dog was OK? WTF. I said I'll just pick up my shipment. " did you call ahead?" No, it's a club pick up, same as I've done for 20 years. Major attitude, unfriendly staff. It's was like they were actively trying to work as little as possible. 3 staff parked behind the bar doing nothing. We ended up at Mozzocco, kids welcome , rose for my wife. Ridge, thanks for nothing. Revise your 5 year old covid BS family unfriendly policy. read more

We spent a lovely afternoon at Ridge. Our host was very interactive and spent a lot of time sharing the history of the winery and specifics on each wine we tasted. The drive up here is steep and windy but it's worth it! read more

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Had an incredible time tasting early on Saturday. Our server, Cynthia (I do hope I got the spelling right) was so friendly and helpful. We had their standard offerings with two adds-ons and the add-ons are absolutely worth it. Bookings open 72 hours in advance and they go fast. The tasting area isn't very big, and tables for four are limited. Standard safety protocols are followed and everyone is really nice. The property itself is gorgeous with amazing views, I highly recommend you allocate some time to wandering around and some photos. read more

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We had a very enjoyable wine tasting at Ridge yesterday. The very windy ride with so many twists and turns to the vineyard may not be for the faint of heart; once there, the beautiful environment and breathtaking panoramic view immediately put you in a good mood. We tasted 4 wines (1 white 3 reds) to start with, in addition the featured wine of the month, a couple of add-on's and perhaps one or two more. The staff that served us were very friendly, knowledgeable, very patient with all the questions and offered good recommendations. We also liked the fact that they followed good Covid protocols. Around 4:30pm, although still sunny it was getting a chilly, we left for home, happy with our purchase. It was our very pleasant first visit ; we shall be back. read more

Ridge Vineyards - Monte Bello - Wineries Near Me - Cupertino, California

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This winery was spectacular! I loved their assortment of wines and friendly and spacious outside decor! Every separated seated area had a canopy and reminded me of a little private enclosure from some some magic desert island! Be aware of rattlesnakes and no dogs allowed! I definitely can't wait to go back! read more

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Really pretty vineyard! I did the tasting and was happy with the selection. It was a bit gloomy out when I went (it is pretty high up in the mountains!) but our host was super fun and did a great job of explaining the wines and telling stories of the vineyard! read more

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"There are thousands of wines that can take over our minds. Don't think all ecstasies are the same!" -- Jalaluddin Rumi Wine is indeed a unique pleasure. And Ridge better understand that there are thousands of wines out there ;-) My last visit was not as stellar as previous outings. I think maybe success could be going to the winery's head. Or maybe its the clientele, the dot com boom has erased the "secret" of Ridge and now made it fashionable. The end result is tasting with people who are chasing the latest thing, not understanding the history or qualities that make Ridge special. Or maybe it is the fact you can't even buy a Ridge wine glass, regardless if one is a Monte Bello collector member, or if one's friend is celebrating their birthday. Disappointing visit, not as special as before. Their wines are still recommended but not young like they serve them here. Let them age a bit... read more

Had a wonderful experience at Ridge with Josh as our host! He was so knowledgeable and was able to answer our questions in a way that we could really understand. I now can differentiate and identify some of the more intricate differences when wine tasting thanks to Josh! He even went out into the vineyard and picked a few grapes for us to try as part of the explanation he was giving us. And of course the wine was fantastic! Thanks so much for a great time! read more

We have been Ridge members for awhile now, It's our Go-to winery for visitors, great wine, beautiful property (tasting reservations required, no kids, pets or picnics). 2022 Ridge Rosé Lytton Estate is delicious. read more

Ridge Vineyards - Monte Bello - a bottle of ridge lytton's rose - Wineries Near Me - Cupertino, California

The view here is absolutely insane! It is located all the way up at the top of a mountain and the road is very windy but worth the wait! Be careful and do not drink and drive. Service is very personable and gave us extra tastings which is so sweet of them. I have some favorite wines from here and overall would come back here for some exclusive new wine tastings. read more

Take this review with a grain of salt** I do not like Zinfandel whatsoever however, I do like the estate Cabernet Sauvignon and think it's great for the price. Pure mountain cab. If more of their wines were in the cab category I'd be a member here for sure. Anyway, quality of wine is great. Pricey overall. Staff is very knowledgeable but on the serious side too. Definitely worth a visit for the wines and views alone. read more

Great wines and service in beautiful setting. Israel and David were so knowledgeable and friendly,