An alligator, four dogs and a giant buzzard are just a few of the creatures greeting you along the way. Seven-tenths of a mile in, after passing a fork that winds uphill to the ridge vineyard, was the tile-roofed residence and Wing Canyon Vineyard winery nestled in a grove of redwoods and madrones.

Bill and Kathy Jenkins have been making wine here for over 30 years, sourcing grapes primarily from their steeply sloped, dry-farmed ridge vineyard. The wines are made in small lots and feature rich, concentrated and intense flavors, with dark red fruit, hints of Mount Veeder chaparral and spice, with firm, ripe tannins.