Chez Francois presents
A California Wine Dinner with Ridge Vineyards
Thursday July 23, 2026 • 6:30 p.m.
Join us Thursday July 23 as we welcome the iconic Ridge Vineyards at Chez François. This event will feature ten wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Sonoma Valley.
From Monte Bello to Geyserville and Lytton Springs, Ridge Vineyards works with some of the most iconic vineyard sites in the history of American wine. But while many sommeliers and oenophiles are enamored by the winery’s expressive Bordeaux-style blends and Zinfandels, some might not be aware of just how far back this winery’s history goes.
From the conception of the Monte Bello vineyard in the 1800s to the Judgment of Paris, there’s a lot that went into the brand that Ridge is today. Still, throughout its rich history, the winery has been committed to sustainability, low-intervention winemaking, and crafting wines that express the full potential of a single vineyard site — which is why it’s had a devoted following for its over 60 years of production.
Though most consumers are probably familiar with the concept of natural wine, Ridge always followed its own particular, low-intervention winemaking philosophy spearheaded by winemaker Paul Draper. Being a vineyard-focused winery, Ridge’s approach starts with the land. Since its early days, Ridge has been dedicated to working with sustainably farmed vineyards, and it is currently one of the largest growers of organically certified grapes in Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
As of 2022, the winery’s estate vineyards are 100 percent organic- certified. When it comes to winemaking, Ridge minimizes the use of additives in an effort to achieve the highest-quality wine. The team looks to the techniques used in the finest 19th- century
California wineries and Bordeaux estates. Along these guidelines, Ridge works with natural yeasts from the vineyard, bottles with minimal sulfur, and does not use any commercial enzymes or nutrients.
Heirloom Tomato Napolean Salad, Petit Arugula & Comté Cheese
Layered heirloom tomatoes with Comté cheese, topped with petit arugula salad, herb vinaigrette dressing
Rose “Lytton Estate”, Ridge Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, California, 2025
Ohio Sweet Corn & Cheese Souffle & Roasted Red Pepper Herb Brunoise
A blend of Ubriaco and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Ohio Sweet Corn, oven baked in a ramekin and topped with roasted corn nuts and roasted red pepper herb brunoise
Chenin Blanc “Heringer”, Ridge Vineyards, Clarksburg, California, 2025
Grenache Blanc, Ridge Vineyards, Paso Robles, California, 2024
Oxtail Raviolis, Truffle Butter Sauce
Raviolis filled with oxtail, garnished with wild mushrooms finished with a red wine Espanol sauce, with shaved aged Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese.
Red Blend “Geyserville”, Ridge Vineyards, Sonoma County California, 2023
Red Blend “Three Valleys”, Ridge Vineyards, Sonoma County California, 2023
House Cured Kurobuta Pork Belly, Pork Zinfandel Reduction
Seared Black Berkshire pork belly simmered in its natural juices, served over braised yams topped with a pork Zinfandel reduction, sweet potato curl.
Zinfandel “Paso Robles”, Ridge Vineyards, Paso Robles, California, 2023
Zinfandel “Pagini Ranch”, Ridge Vineyards, Sonoma Valley, California, 2023
Zinfandel “Lytton Springs”, Ridge Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, California, 2023
Char-Grilled Texas Wagyu Hanger Steak Provençale, Demi-Glace de Viande
Wagyu Hanger Steak, tomato and eggplant Provençale mélange with fine herbs, Demi-glace de viande.
Cabernet Sauvignon “Estate”, Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mtns, California, 2023
Cabernet Sauvignon “Santa Cruz Mtns”, Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mtns, California, 2023
Raspberry Sorbet, Italian Meringue & Raspberry Coulis
Raspberry sorbet served over a white génoise cake topped with caramelized Italian meringue raspberry coulis and seasonal mint.
$175/Per Guest
Tax and gratuity not included.
All pricing reflects a cash & check payment. A 2.99% non-cash/check adjustment is included in all other forms of payment.
Trip Advisor
Tonight’s Wines
Marietta Rosé “Old Vine”, Marietta Cellars, California, 2024
The 2024 Marietta Old Vine Ranch Rosé is a crisp, Provençal-style blend from California’s McDowell Valley estate. Priced around $18, it offers vibrant aromas of ruby grapefruit and orange sorbet. Made from organically farmed, head-pruned vines, 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache Gris, and 25% Grenache Noir.
Chenin Blanc, Aperture, Sonoma Valley, California, 2024
“The 2024 Chenin Blanc was matured for six months, mostly in stainless steel, with smaller portions of used French oak and concrete. It has pure, ringing aromas of peach, pear and green guava, beeswax, spice and floral perfume. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegantly styled with tempered ripeness, a softly mouth-coating texture, linear acidity and a long finish. 1,010 cases were made.” – 93 Points, Erin Brooks, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
Sauvignon Blanc, Cliff Lede, Napa Valley, California, 2024
The lovable 2024 vintage of this Sauvignon Blanc offers complex hints of lime sherbet, honeysuckle, lemon curd, and orange blossom that are fragrant and complex. The flavors and aromas are built on a fleshy, succulent frame, with notes of nectarine, pear, and ripe honeydew melon. Harmonious with a thread of acidity on the finish, this vibrant wine dazzles with its refreshing appeal.Blend: 77% Sauvignon Blanc, 23% Sémillon 92 Points Wine Enthusiast
Chardonnay “Hyde Vineyard”, Ramey, Russian River, California, 2023
So well layered, delicious and vibrant, combining a rich texture with full, ripe fruit flavors and wonderful accents of lemon curd, flint and baking spices. A great wine from a great vineyard in an outstanding vintage. While generous and full-flavored, it also retains great balance, minerality and a slight sense of restraint in the vivid acidity. Fresh and compelling. Drinkable now and best from 2030. (JG) 99 Points James Suckling
Pinot Noir, “Sanford & Benedict”, Racines, Sta. Rita Hills, California, 2018
“This is silky, polished and stately. A blend of one block planted in 2008 as well as a portion of the original 1973 plantings, it both amplifies the style found in the Tyler bottling and supplies a greater level of nuance and character. The higher percentage of stem-inclusion, new French oak and time in barrel that sums up the Racines style, all come together perfectly to show off a dark, more brooding character from this timeless, definitive vineyard. “ 95 Points Decanter
Pinot Noir “Stargazing”, Summer Dreams, Sonoma Coast, California, 2021
Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the 2021 Pinot Noir Stargazing has bright cherry and darker raspberry notes supported by classy oak, peppery herbs, and spicy nuances. It’s medium-bodied, fresh, focused, has fine tannins, and a great finish. It picks up some complex sassafras and floral notes with time in the glass. There’s so much to love here. 95 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Pinot Noir “Goldrock Estate”, Paul Hobbs, Russian River, California, 2022
The 2022 Paul Hobbs Russian River Pinot Noir delivers black fruit flavors, black tea, and redwood forest aromas. From the remote area of Annapolis, the 2022 Pinot Noir Goldrock Estate pours a youthful magenta hue and is a bit more reserved, but as it begins to open in the glass, it reveals notes of bright mixed berries, wild raspberries, blood orange, and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, it’s bright and mouthwatering on the palate, with a juicy feel to flesh out the midpalate and a lovely, sanguine, salty finish. It’s going to be a fantastic, savory wine to drink over the coming 10-15 years. 96 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Cabernet Sauvignon “Rhythm”, Cliff Lede, Stags Leap District, California, 2022
Only the second vintage of this new wine made from grapes grown on Cliff Lede’s valley floor vineyard. Concentrated and elegant, with both red and black fruit, a linear feel to the texture and good, fine-grained tannins to back it up. Also iron, cocoa and graphite come out in the glass. Great balance, a medium to full body and an appetizing sense of subtlety and restraint. Drink now or hold. (JG) 95 Points James Suckling
Fortunate Son “Dreamer” Cab, Oakville, California, 2021
100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 30–32 months in ultra-tight grain French oak barriques. The wine displays a shimmering, lucid ruby colour. Gorgeous, dusty, dark berry fruit unfolds with an incredible panoply of mulled Christmas spices and warm berry pie compote. Full-bodied and texturally defined, framed by a core of ultra-fine tannins with added dark berry fruit depth. It is a meal unto itself but better paired with roasted meats drizzled in rich plum sauce and accompanied by prosciutto-wrapped figs. 97 Points Decanter
Cabernet Sauvignon “Coombsville”, Paul Hobbs, Coombsville, California, 2022
A delicious, layered, chocolate- and cherry-scented wine that entices you from the first sniff and pulls you through a rich palate and a lingering finish. So luscious, balanced, vivid and deep, showing the silky tannins and cool fruit notes of this southern Napa district. Contains 6% petit verdot, 2% cabernet franc and 4% merlot. Aged in 53% new French oak. Drinkable now, but best from 2030. 96 Points James Suckling
Syrah “Relentless”, Shafer, Stags’s Leap District*Napa Valley, California, 2022
The 2022 Relentless is another superb wine from Shafer in this brutally challenging year. Deep and explosive to the core, the 2022 is seriously impressive. There’s a center of strength here that is palpable. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, cloves and blood orange all build into the deep, resonant finish. This is so impressive. 90% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah. 95 Points Vinous
Red “Lithic”, Keplinger, Amador County, California, 2022
Power meets finesse in this blend, which offers distinctive aromas of black olive and black raspberry, with accents of licorice and pepper. The flavors are layered and complex, delivering notes of blackberry, crushed rock and espresso. The tannins are big but ripe. A Blend of 49% Mourvèdre, 32% Grenache, 23% Syrah . 94–97 Points
Red “George”, Crane Assembly, Napa Valley, California, 2022
A 50/50 blend of old-vine Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, the 2023 ‘George’ opens slowly like an old story retold by someone who knows every detail. Aromas of cardamom, clove, and mocha unfold into violet, plum, and blackberry, framed by savory herbs and dusty minerality. The palate is polished yet generous, with dark cherry, spice, and a cedar-laced finish carried by supple tannins. 95–98 Points