2020 Cline Family Ancient Vines Zinfandel ($16) Fred Cline founded Cline Family Cellars in 1982 in Oakley, California, which is part of Conta Costa County. With this 40th year vintage, they have created the special anniversary bottle design shown ...
2017 Rombauer El Dorado “Twin Rivers” Zinfandel ($42) Rombauer’s El Dorado (“the golden”) Vineyard is located 1,650 feet above sea level in the Sierra Foothills of El Dorado County, California. Its sandy soils, high elevation, and warm days and co...
2013 Dry Creek Old Vine Zinfandel Reserve ($35) The inspiration for Silvia Cellars began in 1885 on a family owned vineyard in Sicily. Striving to create quality wine for his dinner table, Nonno Silvia shared a passion for vendemmia (harvesting) ...
2016 Rockpile Winery Zinfandel ($47) This Rockpile Zinfandel is produced by Mauritson wines in Heldsburg CA. The Rockpile Ridge Vineyard is located at nearly 1,200 feet in elevation in the Rockpile appellation. This vineyard has sweeping sun exp...
2013 Alexander Valley Vineyards Primitivo ($45) This week’s Behind the Cork™ feature is a special one. During my last visit to Alexander Valley Vineyards I had the pleasure of spending time in the tasting room with Denise Gill, their Tasting Room ...
2017 Artezin Old Vine Zinfandel ($16) This handcrafted Old Vine Zinfandel from winemaker Randle Johnson comes from northern California’s Mendocino County. Johnson has been the man behind Artezin’s wines since their inception in 2002. The vision ...
2016 PARS Old Vine Zinfandel ($8) This was a recent unexpected fine. I really enjoy the wines of Amador County and that’s what caught my eye about this one. And, at $8, I had to give it a try. The grapes of Amador County didn’t let me down. This ...
California’s Gold Rush of the 1850s included the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. As fortune seekers flocked to the Sierras to prospect for gold, small wineries also began to appear. But the decline of gold mining in the late ...
Zinfandel is a very popular California wine. One that can take on two very different flavor personalities. Zinfandel that is grown in warm places usually results in grapes that get very ripe and produce big jammy “fruit bomb” flavors. High alcohol...
2015 1000 Stories Zinfandel ($18) I’ve had my eyes on this one for a while now. It differentiates itself by noting on the front label that it is “Bourbon Barrel Aged.” Aging wines in oak barrels is common, but I’ve not seen a wine aged in Bourbon...
2016 Artezin Old Vine Zinfandel ($18) This Zinfandel comes from California’s Mendocino County that has a climate with warm days and cool evenings that provides for great growing conditions and optimal ripening. Winemaker Randle Johnson, who has be...
2013 Tobin James Ballistic Zinfandel ($14) Tobin James is one of the larger producers in Paso Robles. Located on the east side of Highway 101, this winery has a salon-style tasting room and a fun atmosphere. The Ballistic Zinfandel is one of thei...
2014 Manzanita Creek Cloud Buster Zinfandel ($10)  Another good one from Sonoma’s Manzanita Creek. This Cloud Buster is labeled as a Zinfandel varietal as it should be since it is produced wit...
Often, you’ll see the words “Old Vine” on the label of a Zinfandel. But what does it really mean and does it equate with a better wine? First, you need to realize that “Old Vine” is not a regulated term. It can appear on any bottle of wine. Most in...
2013 Fife Creek Vineyards Russian River Valley Zinfandel ($10) This was a recent find of a Russian River Valley Zin that doesn’t break the bank. This Zin tends toward being light for a Zinfandel. It’s almost leaning toward a light-bodied wine, alm...
It’s always fun to find and try new and different wines. And, when it comes to exploring “Old World Wines” it can be even more of an adventure. That’s what happened to me when studying the shelves of Italian wines. I came across a completely unknown ...