07/04/2026
Tasting these wines has always been an honour and a privilege. Great vineyard locations were elemental to these world-changing wines, but also a great wine maker who knew the land like the back of his hand. Paul Draper grew up on a farm outside Chicago, but after living in Italy and France he developed an interest in wine. In the mid-’60s, Draper set out to start his own small winery in the Coast Range of Chile with a vineyard of old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon. After returning to the States, he joined Ridge Vineyards as the winemaker in 1969. Draper helped create Ridge’s renowned reputation for beautifully crafted wines and helped maintain it for decades. He retired in 2016 at 80 years old, after a decorated, 47-year career as Ridge’s winemaker.
