Behind the Cork™ - Ridge Three Valleys Red Blend

2018 Ridge Three Valleys Sonoma County ($30)

Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1959 when four Stanford Research Institute engineers—David Bennion, Charles Rosen, Hewitt Crane, and Howard Zeidler—purchased a mountainside property on the Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. 

While winemaking on the site dated back to 1885, the partners produced their first small vintage of "Estate" Cabernet in 1959 and officially re-bonded the winery for the 1962 vintage.

Ridge Three Valleys red blend is produced from 70% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 12% Carignane and 4% Mataro (a.k.a. Mourvedre).

The “Three Valleys” name comes from the fact that the grapes came from vineyards in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Sonoma Valley.

Each lot of grapes was fermented for nine days on their skins followed by aging for 10 months in oak.

This 2018 Ridge Three Valleys red blend is medium ruby in color with aromas of dark fruit and dried herbs. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has rich black and red fruit flavors including black berry, black plum, raspberry and a hint of strawberry and red cherry. Although a 2018, it still had good tannin and medium acidity. It was a bit jammy with soft, smooth sweet-fruit flavor (not sweet, but invoking sweet fruit flavors).

Ridge is a dependably great winery and this 2018 Ridge Three Valleys red blend lives up to the Ridge reputation. A wonderful fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Pinotage

Pinotage 🍷

Photo by Wolfgang Lendl on Wikimedia Commons

Pinotage is a relatively young grape variety with a fascinating backstory.

It was created in 1925 in South Africa by Professor Abraham Izak Perold, the first professor of viticulture at Stellenbosch University. Perold wanted to combine the elegance of Pinot Noir with the hardiness and productivity of Cinsault that is known in South Africa as Hermitage. The grape gets its name from a blend of its parents: Pinot (Noir) + hermitage = Pinotage.

While Pinotage has been experimented with in small amounts in countries like the United States (California), New Zealand, Canada, and Brazil, it remains overwhelmingly tied to South Africa.

Pinotage typically has bold aromas of ripe blackberries, black cherries, and dark plums. Unique earthy and rustic undertones of leather, tar, and cured meat frequently define its signature profile.

On the palate, juicy flavors of fresh red raspberry and blackberry blend seamlessly with warm baking spices. A subtle hint of sweet tobacco and subtle oak spice often lingers on the smooth, structured finish.

Many entry-level Pinotages are meant to be enjoyed immediately, but higher-end Pinotages, often aged in oak barrels, have great aging potential. Well-crafted bottles can easily improve and evolve in the cellar for 5 to 10+ years.

Decant these wines for 60 minutes before serving.

Server Pinotage in a large-bowled red wine glass (such as a standard Bordeaux or Burgundy glass) at 60 to 64 F.

Behind the Cork™ - Craggy Range Pinot Noir

2025 Craggy Range Pinot Noir ($32.99)

Established in 1998, Craggy Range is a family-owned estate that revolutionized New Zealand wine by matching specific grapes to unique terroirs.

This 2025 Craggy Range Pinot Noir is made from over ten distinct clones that were hand-harvested. The grapes were then destemmed (85%) prior to fermentation in a combination of open top stainless steel tanks and French oak using indigenous yeasts. The many different Pinot Noir clones are vinified separately and then blended. The wine ages 7 months in French oak barriques, 15% new, before being fined, coarse filtered and bottled in late 2025.

This Craggy Range Pinot Noir is pale ruby in color with delicate aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and cranberry, with a subtle note of dried herbs. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has flavors of black and red cherry and strawberry. It has soft tannins that result in a smooth and easy mouth-feel. It finishes with touches of sweet jam.

The 2025 Craggy Range Pinot Noir rivals many of the best Pinot Noirs from California and Oregon. If you are a Pinot lover, I think that you’ll really enjoy this one. It’s affordable and attainable, making it a perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Craggy Range Winery via Kobrand Wine and Spirits

A Tour of Wine Grapes: Pinot Noir Part 2

Pinot Noir 🍷

Photo by Ursula Brühl, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) on Wikimedia Commons

Last time we looked at the Pinot Noir grape and the various countries where it is grown. Now, let’s look at two specific countries — the U.S. and New Zealand.

🇺🇸 The United States: Coastal Coolers

In the U.S., Pinot Noir thrives primarily in California and Oregon, relying on marine fog and ocean breezes to cool the delicate vines.

  • Russian River Valley (Sonoma County): A natural funnel for Pacific fog, this legendary region produces luxurious, universally loved wines. They are famously lush, silky, and fruit-forward—bursting with ripe red cherry, plum, and signature undertones of warm baking spices like cola and nutmeg.

  • The San Luis Obispo & Paso Robles Corridor: This area highlights a dramatic contrast on California’s Central Coast. The Edna Valley AVA is a cool-climate paradise where an east-west valley funnels freezing ocean air to create an extended growing season. It yields remarkably balanced, mineral-driven Pinot Noirs with vibrant acidity. Just a short drive inland sits the significantly warmer Paso Robles AVA—famous for bold Cabs—where Pinot Noir is rare, robust, and riper. Central Coast wine projects, like Cakebread’s Bezel, masterfully bridge this gap by basing operations in Paso Robles while sourcing their vibrant Pinot Noir grapes from the frigid vineyards of Edna Valley.

  • Willamette Valley (Oregon): Accounting for over 70% of Oregon's production, this cool, maritime region draws frequent comparisons to Burgundy. Its Pinot Noirs are celebrated for elegance and complexity, striking a beautiful balance between tart red fruits (cranberry, currant) and savory, earthy notes of forest floor and truffle.

🇳🇿 New Zealand: Southern Hemisphere Spark

New Zealand masterfully bridges the gap between old-world elegance and new-world fruit intensity. Intense southern sunshine paired with dramatic day-to-night temperature swings produces vibrant, medium-bodied wines known for exceptional purity and crisp acidity.

  • Marlborough: The nation’s largest producer delivers bright, linear expressions bursting with tart raspberry, fresh cherry, and a clean herbal lift.

  • Martinborough: A boutique wine region at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island, famous for producing world-class, savory, and structurally complex Pinot Noir.

  • Hawke's Bay: Located on the North Island, this historic region is typically warmer and famous for bold blends, but its cooler coastal and elevated river valley sites yield fantastic Pinot Noir. These wines are exceptionally approachable, delivering ripe red berry profiles, floral aromas, and significantly softer, subtler tannins.

  • Central Otago: The world’s southernmost wine region features a rugged, continental climate that yields robust, powerfully structured wines rich with dark berry fruits, silky tannins, and distinct notes of wild thyme.

Behind the Cork™ - Bezel Pinot Noir

Bezel Pinot Noir ($29.99)

This Pinot Noir is part of the “A Tour of Wine Grapes” series.

Bezel Wines is a fresh wine adventure from the well-known Cakebread Family of wines.

Since 1973, they’ve been making wine in Napa Valley at Cakebread Cellars in Rutherford, California. But with Bezel, they’re venturing out of Napa to discover the hidden treasures of California wine country on the Central Coast.

In this case, the Bezel Pinot Noir was crafted in Paso Robles using Pinot Noir grapes from the Edna Valley, a cool-climate region renowned for its outstanding, elegant Pinot Noir. It spent 8 months aging in French oak.

This Bezel Pinot Noir has a medium ruby hue, with aromas of cherry and raspberry, along with some floral hints. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine offers flavors of black cherry and plum, complemented by bright acidity and medium-high tannin. It concludes with a light touch of sweetness.

Bezel Pinot Noir is part of the wonderful Cakebread family of wines. It’s delicious, reasonably priced, and widely available. It’s a fantastic choice for the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Bezel Winery via Kobrand Wine and Spirits