About this Event
Join us for a special evening with Ridge Vineyards featuring 4 wines, artisan cheese pairings, discussion, and 10% off bottles to go.
Ridge Vineyards is one of California's most iconic and historic producers, renowned for its vineyard-driven wines and legendary Cabernet Sauvignon. This evening will explore the unique character of Ridge through a curated selection of wines paired with artisan cheeses.
Stoa's Wine Director, Adam Reinart, will guide guests through the tasting, discussing Ridge's history, vineyard sites, winemaking philosophy, and what makes these wines so distinctive.
Featured Wine Lineup
- 2025 Heringer Chenin Blanc
- 2023 Frediani Valdiguié
- 2022 Lytton Springs
- 2023 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Each wine will be thoughtfully paired with an artisan cheese to explore how different varieties, textures, acidity, and tannin interact with food. The cheeses are curated by Tony Princiotta — a cheesemonger's cheesemonger, with three decades spent teaching Angelenos about cheese.
🍷 Supplemental Monte Bello Tasting
Want to experience one of California's most famous wines? For an additional $40 per person, guests can add a pour of the legendary 2022 Monte Bello.
Why Monte Bello is special
A 140-year-old mountain vineyard. In 1885, San Francisco physician Osea Perrone planted vines high on Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains and built a limestone winery into the mountainside. He made the first Monte Bello in 1892, and Ridge still makes the wine in that same cellar today.
The wine that beat France — twice. At the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris, the 1971 Monte Bello went up blind against top Bordeaux and finished fifth. Thirty years later, at the 2006 anniversary rematch held in Napa and London, judges on both continents ranked that same 1971 Monte Bello first overall. Few wines anywhere have a better case for how beautifully they age.
A different kind of California Cabernet. The vines climb from 1,600 to 2,700 feet on limestone soils close to the Pacific. That elevation, cool ocean influence, and rare limestone give Monte Bello a structure, freshness, and mineral edge that set it apart from riper Napa Cabernet. It is often compared to great Bordeaux as much as to other Californian wines.
Only the best barrels make the cut. The vineyard is divided into 55 blocks that are picked and fermented separately. Each lot is then tasted blind, and only the finest are blended into Monte Bello. Guests in the main tasting will already have tried the Estate Cabernet from the same mountain, which makes this side-by-side one of the best ways to taste what Ridge's rigorous selection really means.
The 2022 vintage. A third year of drought and a heat wave during ripening cut yields sharply. To keep the tannins polished, Ridge fermented the grapes as whole berries, then aged the finished blend (86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc) for 21 additional months in new oak. Critics have been effusive: 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck, 97 from Decanter, 97 from James Suckling, and 96 from both Wine Advocate and Vinous. It is built to evolve for two decades or more.
Bottles of the 2022 Monte Bello sell for roughly $250 to $325 at retail, when you can find them. This supplement is a rare chance to taste one of America's most celebrated wines, alongside expert guidance, without committing to a full bottle.
The Monte Bello tasting is supplemental and is not included in the standard event ticket.
What to Expect
- 4 Ridge wines
- Artisan cheese pairings curated by Tony Princiotta
- Guided tasting and discussion with Adam Reinart
- Exploration of Ridge's vineyards, history, and winemaking philosophy
- Optional 2022 Monte Bello tasting for an additional $40
- 10% off featured Ridge bottles to go (event-only)
Whether you're a longtime Ridge fan, a California wine enthusiast, or simply curious to explore the wines of one of the state's most respected producers, this evening is designed for great wine, exceptional cheese, and thoughtful conversation.
Details
📍 Location: Stoa Wine Bar 🗓 Date: 9/30 ⏰ Time: 6:00 PM 🎟 Tickets: $75 per person 🍷 Includes four Ridge wines + artisan cheese pairings + guided discussion ⭐ Optional 2022 Monte Bello pour: +$40 per person 🛒 10% off featured Ridge bottles to go (event-only)
Space is limited, so we recommend reserving early.
Make a reservation for dinner afterward and continue the evening with another bottle from our wine list. 🍷
Event venue & nearby stays
Stoa Wine Bar & Market, 4210 Via Marina, Marina Del Rey, United States
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