Ripken Vineyards & Winery

The Ripken family proudly embraces their identity as an artisan “barnista” winery that’s anything but ordinary. With a lively, eclectic style that’s quirky, esoteric, and even wacky, they promise one thing—never boring or weird. Ripken Vineyards & Winery is the perfect adventure for wine lovers eager to explore non-traditional varieties and extraordinary flavors.

Their motto? “No Boring Wines!” because their creations are crafted with passion and conviction.

Taking the road less traveled, they cater to those with a taste for the unique—explore the joys of Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Carmine, Petit Verdot, Alicante Bouschet, Tempranillo, Graciano, Souzao, Touriga National, Grenache, Mourvedre, Montepulciano, Barbera, Dolcetto, or Corvina. Whether as blends or varietals, each wine offers a new experience.

Producing small batches under 100 cases, they employ classic techniques: gentle crushing, barrel fermenting whites, select yeasts, hand punchdowns, lees stirring, long barrel aging, and bottle aging.

Their mantra? “These wines were made one bucket, one barrel, one bottle at a time.”

In grape growing, they focus on flavor maximization, perfect irrigation, sunlight exposure, full ripeness, moderate crops, and rich organic soil. This meticulous attention yields full-flavored wines with excellent mineral content, beautifully balanced and delightful to drink.

As Lodi’s 60th winery, they crushed their first vintage in 2003 but are no strangers to viticulture. As third-generation growers since 1950, they’ve been cultivating rootstock and collecting varietal clones for forty years. It’s truly a family affair!