Arista Winery
Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley
Ritchie Vineyard is without a doubt one of California’s Grand Cru Chardonnay sites. For nearly 50 years, Kent Ritchie has cultivated this unique slope in the Russian River Valley, yielding legendary wines. We’re privileged to work with the vineyard’s oldest and highest block, one of the earliest Chardonnay plantings in the area. These ancient vines produce small but intense clusters annually, resulting in consistently balanced, intense, and poised wines
Kent Ritchie has farmed his namesake vineyard since the early 1970s. Located at the intersection of Eastside and Trenton Roads, it sits on a bench where the Russian River,
Santa Rosa Plain, and Laguna de Santa Rosa meet. Cool coastal fog and abundant sun, combined with sandy Goldridge soils, make it ideal for Chardonnay—mostly planted to Old Wente Selection, prized for low yields and intense flavor.
- Region
- California: Russian River Valley
- Appellation
- Russian River Valley
- Varietal Composition
- Chardonnay
- Aging
- 12 months of fermentation and aging in barrel, followed by 6 months in stainless steel.
- Alcohol
- 14.54%
Aromas of white peach, preserved lemon, crushed oyster shell, and spring blossoms lead into a finely etched palate layered with green apple, lime oil, and stone fruit. There’s a gentle creaminess from the lees, but the wine’s core is all about purity and precision. As it unfolds in the glass, deeper notes of chamomile, baked citrus, and a wisp of salted caramel emerge — a nod to the site’s signature richness, kept perfectly in check by the vintage’s structure.
James Suckling
97 Points
2023
"Aromas of nectarines, apricots and sliced pears. The plush, generous midpalate is nicely framed with textural acidity and sweet, gentle oak flavors of caramel in the finish. Rich yet balanced and satisfying. Old Wente clone from a 50-year-old vineyard. Drink or hold."
— Courtney Humiston, 2026
Wine Advocate
97 Points
2023
"The 2023 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is stunning! The nose is bursting with wafts of peach, lemon drop, crème brûlée, flint and jasmine, and spice from its maturation in 40% new French oak is well integrated. The full-bodied palate is equally rich and tense, balancing highly concentrated, hedonistic flavors with vibrant, shimmery acidity, and it has a very long finish. It should be long lived in the cellar."
— Erin Brooks, 2026
