Dec 30, 2022
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Greenwood Ridge Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Allan Green |
| Web site | www.greenwoodridge.com |
| Link to this site |
This winery dates to 1980 and is known as the home of the annual California Wine Tasting Championships held every year since 1983. The winery's tasting room on Highway 128 is fashioned from the wood of a single 400-year-old redwood tree, is a valley landmark and can be easily spotted by the colorful flags waving in the breeze at the entrance and the large solar panels on the roof and next to the winery. The tasting room was designed by Aaron G. Green, a San Francisco architect who was an associate of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Father of Allan Green, the winery's owner. Allan's collection of canned wines (400+), which are displayed in the tasting room, is the largest of its kind in the world.
The weathered winery is located on the top of Greenwood Ridge, seven miles from the tasting room. It has sharply angled roof lines and Arts and Crafts-style windows. The winery was completed in 1986, six years after Allan first started making wine under the Greenwood Ridge label.
Green graduated from college with an art degree in 1971, the same year his parents bought 275 acres on Greenwood Ridge. He became a viticulturist in 1973, when the family purchased an adjoining vineyard. Green adopted innovative pruning and trellising techniques to balance the effects of the cool climate and long growing season.
A small amount of Pinot Noir are made from the winery's 16-acre vineyard on Mendocino Ridge at 1,400 feet above sea level, and is sold on the website. The Pinot Noir is consistently fine, reasonably priced and sells out yearly. The wines are bottled with a unique etched design on the front instead of a label. When Green's father died in 2001, Allen introduced a large stylized dragon to his bottles as a tribute. Frank Lloyd Wright had given the elder Green a dragon sculpture that Wright's wife rigged up to breathe fire from atop the rock on which it was mounted. That dragon is now displayed at the Wright estate Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The tasting room in Philo is open daily. Picnic grounds are available. Production is about 2,500 cases annually.
Articles About Greenwood Ridge Vineyards
2014 California Value Priced Honorable Mention All-Americans (10.2 12/22/2014)
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot (Pt I) (7.18 5/26/2009)
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot Festival: After the Smoke Clears (8.16 6/8/2010)
Anderson Noir Valley: Trade Tasting (9.8 6/24/2012)
Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival (9.26 6/23/2013)
Mendocino Ridge: California’s Best Kept Secret Source of Spectacular Wines (9.8 6/24/2012)
More Anderson Noir Valley Pinot (9.8 6/24/2012)
Pinot Briefs (9.21 3/23/2013)
Press Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (9.44 7/28/2014)
Press Tasting of Current Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Releases (10.34 7/24/2016)
Results of Exclusive Press Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (Mendocino Fairgrounds) (11.6 7/8/2017)
Wineries in Anderson Valley and Mendocino Ridge* (6.60 6/9/2008)
Reviewed Wines
2014 Greenwood Ridge Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.47, TA 0.65, 100 cases, $30. Native
yeast fermentation. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 35% new and bottled unfined.
·
Moderate garnet
color in the glass. Alive with flavors of oak-kissed cherry. Flavors of bourbon-soaked cherries, brown spice and
graham. Nicely composed with supportive tannins and a brilliant finish that goes on and on.
Score: 92.
Reviewed July 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2013 Greenwood Ridge Hundred Point Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc.,100 cases, $50, screwcap.
·
Moderately light reddish purple hue in the glass. Aromas of cherry, fermenting grapes, hollow barrel and baking
spice lead off. The mid weight charge of fresh cherry and black raspberry fruits grab hold and persist through a
generous finish. The silky texture is noteworthy, and some cinnamon spice enhances the flavor experience.
Score: 91.
Reviewed July 24, 2016
ARTICLE »
2012 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 300 cases, $30.
Aged 8 months in French oak.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Shy aromas of darker
fruits. A forward-drinking wine with discreetly concentrated flavors of black cherry, black raspberry
and earthiness. Good lift and harmony with a juicy finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed July 28, 2014
ARTICLE »
2010 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., pH 3.76, TA 0.63, 250 cases,
$30. Released January 2013. The Mendocino Ridge Estate vineyard is only six miles from the Pacific. Wine
has been made from this site for more than 30 years. Aged 8 months in French oak barrels.
·
Moderately light
garnet color in the glass. Perfumed with cherries, clove, redwood, and sandalwood. Light in weight and
delicate, with a core of red cherry fruit underlain with notes of oak and spice. Easy to drink and highly
approachable. Decent (+).
Reviewed June 23, 2013
ARTICLE »
2010 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Hundred Point Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., pH 3.76, TA
0.63, 50 cases, $50, released January 1, 2012. Inaugural release of this bottling. The name comes from a
rocky promontory on the nearby Mendocino coast where, legend has it, one hundred ships have been
wrecked. Aged 8 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
·
Medium reddish-purple hue in the glass. Slightly
confected aromas of fresh raspberries with hints of baking spice, brioche and vanilla. Elegant and soft on the
palate, offering a discreetly concentrated core of well-ripened red cherry and raspberry fruit caressed by supple
tannins, and finishing with a cherry calling card. Very good.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Hundred Point Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 50 cases, $50, screw cap.
·
Medium reddishpurple
color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of fresh black
cherries, dark red berry jam, caramel and spice. Medium weight, luscious
dark red fruits wrapped in svelte tannins, elegant in composition, finishing
long and aromatic. I like this wine for its delicacy, purity of fruit and
transparency.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.68, TA 0.62, 300 cases, $30, screw cap. Released
June 2011. Aged 8 months in French oak.
·
Medium reddish-purple
color in the glass. Aromas of fresh strawberries, cherries, spice and
oak cask. Respectable flavors of red berries which persist on the
intensely fruity finish. The fruit is mildly compressed by firm and
slightly astringent tannins. Over delivers for the price. Good (+).
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2007 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., 875 cases, $30. Barrel for 8 months. Estate
bottled.
·
Moderate color. Clean aromas of mineral-infused
cherries and berries, with some wooded forest in the
background. Demure ripe strawberry and cherry flavors with a
hint of vinous spice rack, sandalwood and smoke. Light and
silky in the mouth with a memorable persistent raspberry note
on the finish. Plenty of Pinot bang for the buck.
Reviewed May 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.69, 875 cases, $30. Released in the
winter 2009. Aged 8 months in French oak barrels. Very cool
etched bottle.
·
Brimming with black cherry essence in the
aromas and flavors with a hint of mocha and savory herbs.
The fruit really clings to the palate through the vibrant finish.
Mild but well-structured tannins give the wine a presence. Year in and year
out, one of the best values in Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, or any North
American Pinot Noir for that matter. Highly recommended.
Reviewed June 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Greenwood Ridge Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 750 cases, $27.
·
This is a
vivid wine with appealing red berry fruits and a swirl of spice. Refreshing, easy to drink, and a
steal at this price.
Reviewed June 9, 2008
ARTICLE »
2014 Greenwood Ridge Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.47, TA 0.65, 100 cases, $30. Native yeast fermentation. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 35% new and bottled unfined. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Alive with flavors of oak-kissed cherry. Flavors of bourbon-soaked cherries, brown spice and graham. Nicely composed with supportive tannins and a brilliant finish that goes on and on. Score: 92. Reviewed July 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2013 Greenwood Ridge Hundred Point Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc.,100 cases, $50, screwcap. · Moderately light reddish purple hue in the glass. Aromas of cherry, fermenting grapes, hollow barrel and baking spice lead off. The mid weight charge of fresh cherry and black raspberry fruits grab hold and persist through a generous finish. The silky texture is noteworthy, and some cinnamon spice enhances the flavor experience. Score: 91. Reviewed July 24, 2016 ARTICLE »
2012 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 300 cases, $30. Aged 8 months in French oak. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Shy aromas of darker fruits. A forward-drinking wine with discreetly concentrated flavors of black cherry, black raspberry and earthiness. Good lift and harmony with a juicy finish. Score: 90. Reviewed July 28, 2014 ARTICLE »
2010 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., pH 3.76, TA 0.63, 250 cases, $30. Released January 2013. The Mendocino Ridge Estate vineyard is only six miles from the Pacific. Wine has been made from this site for more than 30 years. Aged 8 months in French oak barrels. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Perfumed with cherries, clove, redwood, and sandalwood. Light in weight and delicate, with a core of red cherry fruit underlain with notes of oak and spice. Easy to drink and highly approachable. Decent (+). Reviewed June 23, 2013 ARTICLE »
2010 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Hundred Point Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., pH 3.76, TA 0.63, 50 cases, $50, released January 1, 2012. Inaugural release of this bottling. The name comes from a rocky promontory on the nearby Mendocino coast where, legend has it, one hundred ships have been wrecked. Aged 8 months in 100% new French oak barrels. · Medium reddish-purple hue in the glass. Slightly confected aromas of fresh raspberries with hints of baking spice, brioche and vanilla. Elegant and soft on the palate, offering a discreetly concentrated core of well-ripened red cherry and raspberry fruit caressed by supple tannins, and finishing with a cherry calling card. Very good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Hundred Point Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 50 cases, $50, screw cap. · Medium reddishpurple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of fresh black cherries, dark red berry jam, caramel and spice. Medium weight, luscious dark red fruits wrapped in svelte tannins, elegant in composition, finishing long and aromatic. I like this wine for its delicacy, purity of fruit and transparency. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.68, TA 0.62, 300 cases, $30, screw cap. Released June 2011. Aged 8 months in French oak. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of fresh strawberries, cherries, spice and oak cask. Respectable flavors of red berries which persist on the intensely fruity finish. The fruit is mildly compressed by firm and slightly astringent tannins. Over delivers for the price. Good (+). Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2007 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., 875 cases, $30. Barrel for 8 months. Estate bottled. · Moderate color. Clean aromas of mineral-infused cherries and berries, with some wooded forest in the background. Demure ripe strawberry and cherry flavors with a hint of vinous spice rack, sandalwood and smoke. Light and silky in the mouth with a memorable persistent raspberry note on the finish. Plenty of Pinot bang for the buck. Reviewed May 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Greenwood Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., pH 3.69, 875 cases, $30. Released in the winter 2009. Aged 8 months in French oak barrels. Very cool etched bottle. · Brimming with black cherry essence in the aromas and flavors with a hint of mocha and savory herbs. The fruit really clings to the palate through the vibrant finish. Mild but well-structured tannins give the wine a presence. Year in and year out, one of the best values in Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, or any North American Pinot Noir for that matter. Highly recommended. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Greenwood Ridge Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 750 cases, $27. · This is a vivid wine with appealing red berry fruits and a swirl of spice. Refreshing, easy to drink, and a steal at this price. Reviewed June 9, 2008 ARTICLE »