It’s all of.18 acres, but it’s a block of great significance. .18 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, planted in 1949. The last .18 acres of Monte Bello to be harvested. As The Knoll Goes, So The Whole Goes. Meaning, for Monte… Read More ›

Monte Bello
Cinch Up Your Chin Straps, It’s On! #Harvest2012 Nears The End …
#Harvest2012 is very rapidly wrapping up; Monte Bello may be finished as soon as today! What occasioned all this sudden rapidity was the onset of very warm weather; suddenly, we couldn’t seem to pick fast enough. I had the chance… Read More ›
#Harvest2012: Pump It Up!
I work at Monte Bello. Accordingly, much of my material for this blog has, as its point-of-origin, the mountain. That said, my colleagues to the north — at Lytton Springs — are wonderful about feeding me images, videos, and stories…. Read More ›
Why Hello There, Amazing Wine Lunch!
– – A truly unbelievable line-up, I have to say. The 1999 Geyserville was one of the most delicious library Zinfandels I have ever had … Some brief notes, Haiku style: 2010 Ridge Vineyards Geyserville A bounty of fruit; a house built over… Read More ›
#Harvest2012: The Rhones Are Coming!
If you were visiting the Monte Bello Tasting Room on Sunday, and you happened to be up on our knoll at about 2pm in the afternoon, you would have gotten quite the visual treat. Looking down on the road below, you… Read More ›
#Harvest2012: The Historic Rousten Ranch!
Of the four Historic Vineyards on Monte Bello, the Rousten Ranch is probably the least-known experientially, and the most mercurial reputationally. Nestled between Jimsomare (well-known amongst Ridge aficionados for producing legendary Cabernet and very-limited-production pre-Prohibition Zinfandel) and the old Torre property (currently… Read More ›
#Harvest2012: Sampling
After all, it’s called HARVEST. Meaning, the whole thing is named for that which is being done. Harvesting happens at Harvest. And we tend to think of Harvest in terms of clear, proscribed roles. Harvesting happens at Harvest, Harvesting is… Read More ›