United States · California

Ramey

Ramey Wine Cellars is a Healdsburg-based producer founded in 1996 by David Ramey — one of California's most influential winemakers, having worked previously at Chalk Hill, Dominus, Matanzas Creek, and Rudd — specialising in single-vineyard Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from benchmark Napa and Sonoma sites. The Chardonnay programme anchors the estate's critical reputation: Hyde Vineyard (Carneros), Rochioli Vineyard (Russian River Valley), Ritchie Vineyard, and Platt Vineyard Chardonnays consistently earn 93–96 points and represent some of California's finest white wines. The Cabernet programme — centred on Larkmead Vineyard, Pedregal Vineyard, and the Annum blend — earns equally strong scores at 93–96 points and provides a serious Napa red dimension. Ramey was among the first California winemakers to emphasise whole-cluster pressing for Chardonnay, extended barrel fermentation, and restrained new oak use, creating a house style that has influenced a generation of producers. The Rochioli Vineyard Chardonnay is particularly prized — accessed through the Rochioli mailing list relationship — and trades at premium within the Ramey range. With 522 lots averaging $82 per bottle, Ramey offers accessible prices for the critical standing, reflecting production volumes larger than ultra-boutique producers and a philosophy of quality at sustainable scale rather than artificial scarcity.