Palo Alto, CA – April 19, 2022 – Ridge Vineyards, the largest grower of organically certified wine grapes in Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, was awarded “Best Fine Wine Producer in the Americas” at The Golden Vines,™ the inaugural event held at Annabel’s in London.
“The use of XylPhi-PD™ is a huge step forward for vineyards combating Pierce’s Disease” says Kyle Theriot, Director of Vineyard Operations for Monte Bello Estate (Ridge Vineyards). “The bacteriophage directly targets the Xylella bacteria that cause PD, keeping vines alive and productive, and prolonging the need for a complete replant.” John Olney, Ridge’s COO and Head Winemaker, noted “Ridge is committed to the production of wines from exceptional vineyards. We rely on traditional winemaking to reveal the unique characteristics of these outstanding sites.”
About Ridge
Ridge produced its first vintage of Monte Bello in 1962, and two years later its first zinfandel. Since that time Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, searching California for those rare and exceptional vineyards where climate, soil, and variety are ideally matched. Ridge calls their approach to winemaking as “pre-industrial,” believing modern additives and industrial processing can limit the true quality of fine wine.
About The Golden Vines™
The Golden Vines™ is a non-profit organization that recognizes the ‘star performers of the fine wine industry.’ Further, it raises funds for The Gerard Basset Wine Education Charitable Foundation with the aim of funding diversity and inclusion-related wine education, including the headline Taylor’s Port Golden Vines Diversity Scholarships worth £55,000 each for two students studying for the Master of Wine or Master Sommelier programs. The 2021 Gerard Basset Global Fine Wine Report was based on a survey of wine professionals operating in 55 countries worldwide.
About A&P Inphatec
A&P Inphatec, LLC, is commercializing XylPhi-PD,™ the first product to prevent and treat symptoms of Pierce’s disease in grapevines. XylPhi-PD™ was registered in April 2019 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Biopesticide Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD).
