April 18, 2026
First green on the Chardonnay block this morning, a touch ahead of last year. Mountain microclimates above the fog, ocean-cooled on the seaward side. If a cold night lands we'll be out before dawn.
2026 Vintage
Ridge Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains, USA
About this Crew
Revealed on enrollment
Winemaker
Rugged ridgeline vineyards above the fog, famed for age-worthy Cabernet and Pinot alike. The estate behind this lot is named only to enrolled members; until then you're backing the region, the style, and a verified track record — not a label.
The history.
The first vines here went in before the appellation lines were drawn. We still farm a handful of those old blocks on franciscan shale, sandstone, and decomposed granite, and rebuilt the cellar around them, not the other way round.
What this vintage is showing so far.
“Bud break came on schedule this year. Mountain microclimates above the fog, ocean-cooled on the seaward side — I'm watching the canopy after last week's weather. Fruit set looks even.”
— the winemaker, updated this month
Philosophy.
I farm for the place, not the score. Franciscan shale, sandstone, and decomposed granite under Chardonnay. Native ferments, restrained oak, and the patience to bottle late rather than thin.
The year ahead
Every shipment, every sample, every pick.
Real dates as they're known. Updated as the vintage progresses.
May 2026
Flowering update
Fruit set, first yield estimate.
August 2026
Verijuice ships
Pressed from green fruit, shipped to every member.
September 2026
Pick expected
Livestream from dawn. Date confirmed 48 hours ahead.
December 2026
Post-ferment sample
Your wine at its youngest, weeks after pressing.
March 2027
First barrel sample
A pull from the vessel where your wine lives.
May 2027
Blend trial
Vote on the final cuvée with the Crew.
August 2027
Bottling
Livestream from the bottling line.
October 2027
Wine arrives
Your bottles, allocated pro-rata to your vines.
May 2026
Flowering update
Fruit set, first yield estimate.
August 2026
Verijuice ships
Pressed from green fruit, shipped to every member.
September 2026
Pick expected
Livestream from dawn. Date confirmed 48 hours ahead.
December 2026
Post-ferment sample
Your wine at its youngest, weeks after pressing.
March 2027
First barrel sample
A pull from the vessel where your wine lives.
May 2027
Blend trial
Vote on the final cuvée with the Crew.
August 2027
Bottling
Livestream from the bottling line.
October 2027
Wine arrives
Your bottles, allocated pro-rata to your vines.
Meet the current Crew
37
members
8
cities
7
countries represented
5 yrs
average tenure in wine
No individual profiles — privacy matters inside the Crew. You'll meet each other once you're in.
How it's priced
By the vine.
The winemaker sets the price per vine. Buy as few as 5 — choose how many in the next step. Your bottles are allocated pro-rata to your vines.
Ridge Chardonnay
Priced by the vine · 5-vine minimum
$95 / vine
From $475 · 5 vines · USD
- A share of the lot, by the vine (5-vine minimum)
- Samples across the season: verijuice, post-ferment, barrel, finished wine
- A vote at every fork — pick date, oak, where the blend lands
- Your bottles at release, allocated pro-rata to your vines
- Livestream access to every moment
182 vines left
Pickup or ship
How your wine reaches you.
Swing by the tasting room when the next shipment is ready. Free. For everyone else, ship is the default and equally smooth.
Ship to my address
Standard carrier, adult signature required. Flat fee per shipment. You can switch the destination per shipment at any time.
Ships to: US
Choose at signup. Switch per shipment anytime.
Recent updates
From the rows.
April 4, 2026
Pruning finished — weeks of work, every cut by hand. The old vines on franciscan shale, sandstone, and decomposed granite still look sharp going into the season.
March 22, 2026
First Crew welcome letter went out today. I read every note that came back — clear your calendar for the verijuice ship in summer.
Join this Crew.
One year of your life, inside one vineyard's year. You'll follow the winemaker from bud break to bottle.