There is little doubt that the 21-st century is a game of survival of the fittest. In this age of geo-tagging, constant connection and unlimited Wi-Fi, it seems like it is only those with the biggest marketing budget that are the ones we know. Thankfully, there are some exceptions to the rule. With such a plethora of wonderful wineries in California, no one would consider you an ignoramus if some of the smaller vineyards fell off your radar (that’s what we’re here for). Of course, there is the big, (Screaming Eagle), the bold (Sine Qua Non) and the beautiful (Robert Mondovi), but what about the producer who just gets on with making fantastic wine year after year with little publicity?

A rich history precedes Draper’s arrival at Ridge’s helm; originally planted in 1885 by a retired San Franciscan doctor, the Californian winery enjoyed modest success throughout much of the 19th and early 20th-century. Fast-forward to 1959, when the estate was sold to four scientists who purchased the high altitude (1,300-2,700 feet), isolated vineyard, studied the soil and planted what would go on to become their legendary, signature wine. That year’s Monte Bello Cabernet was among California’s finest wines of the era. Paul Draper joined a few years later and Ridge Vineyard’s fate was sealed.

Championing single blend vineyards, Draper took the estate’s experiment wine to critical success. Ridge was sold to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in 1986, although Draper remains with the company and eventually instituted sustainable farming techniques. Ridge Vineyards shifted to 100% organic farming techniques by 1999.

Ridge Vineyards produce a huge spectrum of wine for all pockets and palettes. The estate produces close to 100,000 cases annually, but it is still their Monte Bello that shines brightest. Perhaps one of the only Californian wines that has proven to age, vintages from the 1960s and 1970s are very popular among collectors (and very scarce).

However, if you are really looking for an idiosyncratic addition to your portfolio, the 1971 Eisele was only produced once and is as rare as hen’s teeth. The last sighting of a bottle at action was in 2014 and sold for over $1,000.