Situated within the Mendocino Ridge AVA, Manchester Ridge Vineyards is almost a northern extension of the true Sonoma Coast appellation. This ideal stretch between Sonoma Coast and Mendocino is home to several famous vineyards, including the Manchester Ridge, that seem to hit the sweet spot for Pinot Noir thanks to the unique microclimate. A high elevation vineyard at over 2,000 feet, lying only three miles from the coast, Manchester Ridge Vineyards tower above the fog and frost threat and bathe in afternoon soon until maritime breezes cool the fruit around mid-day. The well-drained soil and microclimate deliver an ideal environment for small, concentrated berries that retain their freshness and deliver a sense of place that is truly distinct.

 

Richard Berridge has become known as a craftsman of terroir-driven, old world Burgundian varietals in new world locales as of late. He came by his astute knowledge of terroir and the vine honestly. With a bachelor’s degree from Berkeley and a master’s from Harvard in landscape architecture, Richard became one of the original founders of Duckhorn Vineyards in 1976 and, over the years, has contributed his expertise to some of the most famous estates in California. He started Richard Berridge Wines with an eye towards showcasing the incredible potential of carefully chosen cool-weather sites in Sonoma and Northern California. With the talent of his winemaking team, Greg LaFollette and Virginia Lambrix, Richard Berridge Wines consistently delivers age-worthy Pinot Noir of incredible balance that exemplifies what Northern California’s cool sites are truly capable of and today’s 2009 single-vineyard bottling of Manchester Ridge is no exception. For those of you who enjoyed Berridge’s Gap’s Crown bottling that we offered recently, this is a wine you do not want to pass up.