Nestled in the heart of Oregon’s Ribbon Ridge American Viticultural Area (AVA), Ridgecrest Winery boasts a heritage deeply intertwined with the region’s pioneering vineyards. Their wines offer a captivating taste of this legacy, showcasing the unique terroir and winemaking expertise.
Ridgecrest Winery represents a blend of tradition and innovation, charting a course that honors its past while embracing the future of Oregon winemaking.
In August 2025, we had the pleasure of visiting Ridgecrest Winery. Having admired their wines under the Chehalem Wines label for years, we were eager to experience their new Ridgecrest wines firsthand after enjoying samples at recent local events.
Ribbon Ridge, located in the northwest corner of the Willamette Valley AVA, stands as the valley’s smallest sub-AVA. Despite its size, it’s renowned for producing some of the area’s most exceptional wines, especially Pinot Noir.
While Ridgecrest excels in Pinot Noir, they also produce remarkable wines from less common grape varieties in Oregon, such as Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, and Gamay Noir. This demonstrates their commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring the full potential of their terroir.
Ridgecrest’s philosophy is centered on creating exceptional, estate-grown wines that celebrate their rich history while embracing a forward-thinking approach to winemaking.
Table of Contents
- About Ridgecrest Winery
- Ridgecrest Wines
- Wine Tasting at Ridgecrest
- Visiting Ridgecrest Winery
- More Oregon Wine
About Ridgecrest Winery
Harry Peterson-Nedry, the visionary founder of Ridgecrest Winery, and his family planted the first vineyard in Ribbon Ridge in 1980. Overcoming initial skepticism from locals who questioned planting grapes so far west in the Willamette Valley, Peterson-Nedry remained steadfast in his vision.
A decade later, his dedication culminated in the establishment of Chehalem Winery. Building on a foundation of experience and experimentation, Chehalem focused on Pinot Noir and earned numerous accolades, becoming a leading winery in the region.
As Chehalem expanded, Peterson-Nedry yearned for the intimacy of his early winemaking days, crafting small-batch wines from smaller vineyards. In 2018, he sold his stake in Chehalem and returned to the site where it all began to dedicate himself to producing cellar-worthy Pinot Noir wines. Collaborating with his winemaker daughter, Wynne, they established Ridgecrest Winery.
Ridgecrest Winery embodies a commitment to sustainable practices, working in harmony with the land to produce wines that reflect the unique character of Ribbon Ridge. The winery’s location within the Ribbon Ridge AVA is crucial to its identity. The unique soil composition, elevation, and microclimate contribute to the distinct flavors and aromas found in Ridgecrest’s wines. Ribbon Ridge is known for its marine sedimentary soils, which impart a minerality and complexity to the wines. The cooler climate allows for a longer growing season, resulting in grapes with balanced acidity and intense fruit flavors.
The Peterson-Nedry family’s deep connection to the land and their meticulous attention to detail in the vineyard and the winery are evident in every bottle of Ridgecrest wine. They are dedicated to crafting wines that express the true essence of Ribbon Ridge, showcasing the region’s potential to produce world-class wines.
Their commitment to quality extends beyond the winemaking process. Ridgecrest Winery also strives to provide exceptional hospitality, creating a welcoming and educational experience for visitors. Guests can enjoy tastings in a cozy setting, learn about the winery’s history and winemaking philosophy, and explore the beautiful vineyards.
Ridgecrest Winery represents a new chapter in the story of Oregon wine, combining a rich legacy with a passion for innovation. Their dedication to quality, sustainability, and hospitality makes them a must-visit destination for any wine lover exploring the Willamette Valley.
Ridgecrest Wines
During our visit, we had the pleasure of tasting an impressive selection of Ridgecrest wines:
- 2023 Estate Chenin Blanc ($36)
- 2024 Estate Grüner Veltliner ($30)
- 2023 Estate Chardonnay ($48)
- 2023 Estate Gamay Noir ($36)
- 2022 Wind Ridge Block Estate Pinot Noir ($60)
- 2022 RR Pinot Noir, Estate Reserve ($90)
2023 Estate Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc thrives in France’s Loire Valley, where it is used to produce both dry and sweet white wines. However, this grape variety is not widely planted in the Willamette Valley. Ridgecrest’s exceptional Chenin Blanc may change that.
While many Chenin Blanc wines are known for their high acidity, Ridgecrest’s 2023 vintage is dry and pleasantly acidic. It offers subtle minerality, with notes of citrus, stonefruit, and honeydew, culminating in a satisfyingly round finish.
We first sampled this wine at a local wine festival and eagerly anticipated another taste during our vineyard visit. If you seek a delicious alternative to Chardonnay or Pinot Gris, consider adding this to your list.
2024 Estate Grüner Veltliner
Although primarily an Austrian variety, Grüner Veltliner is gaining popularity in the Willamette Valley.
Ridgecrest’s 2024 vintage incorporates three fermentation vessels: stainless steel, neutral French oak, and a concrete egg. This combination creates a Grüner with rich aromas of minerality, cut grass, honey, and quince. The palate reveals signature citrus flavors, along with sweet apple, pear, white pepper, and the bright acidity characteristic of Grüner Veltliner.
We particularly enjoyed this wine!
2023 Estate Chardonnay
When I first moved to Portland 30 years ago, Pinot Gris dominated Willamette Valley white wines. Today, Chardonnay reigns supreme. Ridgecrest’s 2023 Estate Chardonnay represents their first vintage of this varietal and embodies the style prevalent in this region: dry, slightly flinty, and neither heavy nor buttery.
This Chardonnay offers hints of green apple, lemon zest, caramel, and a subtle herbaceousness. It is well-balanced with a pleasantly creamy finish.
Is it ready to drink now? Absolutely.
Can it be stored for future enjoyment? Also, yes!
2023 Estate Gamay Noir
I’m a fan of a good Gamay. As the primary grape of Beaujolais, France (Read about our wine tasting in Beaujolais, France here), it is known for producing fresh, fruit-forward wines. Thankfully, more Oregon vintners are now producing Gamay.
We sampled the Ridgecrest 2023 vintage. The fruit immediately captures your attention with flavors of cherry and raspberry. Notes of spice and smoke add complexity, along with noticeable tannins. While not as light as a Beaujolais Nouveau, this is not Ridgecrest’s intention. Instead, this wine will likely mellow with age, similar to cellar-worthy Beaujolais wines like Moulin-à-Vent or Morgon.
2022 Wind Ridge Block Estate Pinot Noir
We then moved to the Pinot Noir portion of our tasting, beginning with the 2022 Wind Ridge Block Estate. From the first sip, it was clear why Ridgecrest has its roots firmly planted in Pinot Noir.
This special blend showcases several different clones from the estate, resulting in a fresh and fruity wine with signature cherry and raspberry notes. Aromas of baking spices and oak add to the richness, while bright acidity provides balance. It is enjoyable now and will likely age well for the next decade.
2022 RR Pinot Noir, Estate Reserve
Crafted using the best barrel selections from the vintage, this Pinot is rich and velvety. Aromas of dark red cherry, blackberry, and earthiness are prominent, while flavors of plum and spice, along with vibrant acidity, add complexity.
The structure of this wine was still somewhat tight, but with a few years of aging, expect it to round out and intensify in both body and finish.
Wine Tasting at Ridgecrest
A visit to Ridgecrest offers a warm and personal experience. This isn’t a formal, large winery where you’re seated at a table and left on your own. Instead, it takes place in a cozy converted home adjacent to the vineyards, where you can immerse yourself in the history and the surrounding landscape as you savor the wines.
Our host, Andrew, went above and beyond to share the story behind each wine and address all our questions. He even gave us a brief vineyard tour to provide context for the wines we were sampling. We observed another group receiving the same warm welcome, indicating that this is standard practice rather than an exception.
You can choose from three tasting options:
- Estate Tasting – Rotating collection of wines. $30/person.
- Library Tasting – Taste and compare library wines dating back as much as 15 years. $75/person.
- Vineyard Tour and Lunch – Walking tour + lunch + wine. $120/person. Reservations required.
These tastings are either free or discounted with a wine club membership and/or bottle purchases.
The tasting room is open from 11am to 4pm every day, except Saturdays during the fall and winter. Reservations are recommended.
Visiting Ridgecrest Winery
Ridgecrest Winery
20440 NE Ribbon Ridge Road
Newberg, OR 97132
503-789-4350
March through August – Thu-Sun 11am-4pm or by appointment.
March through August – Thu-Sat 11am-4pm or by appointment
Book a reservation
More Oregon Wine
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