Greetings!

The last of the four founders of Ridge Vineyards, Dr. Hewitt Crane,
passed away on Tuesday, 6-17-08.

The other three, Dr. David Bennion, Dr. Charles Rosen, and Mr. Howard
Zeidler passed away earlier. Several years ago, the winery was sold to
the Japanese company, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. Paul Draper has remained
as winemaker, where he has been for many years.

I worked closely with all four of the founders, beginning in 1956 at
Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International) in Menlo Park CA.
The four were research engineers at SRI.

It was Ridge that put Zinfandel on the map and treated it as a varietal
in its own right.

earle
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________________________
Earle Jones •
380 Conil Way
Portola Valley CA 94028
Home: *650-854-1489
Cell: *650-269-0035

Earle Jones wrote:
> Greetings!
>
> The last of the four founders of Ridge Vineyards, Dr. Hewitt Crane,
> passed away on Tuesday, 6-17-08.

Sad news, Earle. I remember vividly hearing of Dr. Bennion's untimely
death. And now all four of those SRI engineers who back in '58 were
looking for land to camp on on the Monte Bello Ridge are gone...

Mark Lipton


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