In Northern California, near Sacramento, you’ll find a place where “you can’t escape the grape”: Lodi, the Zinfandel capital of the USA. Lodi’s Mediterranean climate produces over a hundred different grape varieties within the region’s sprawling 100,000 acres of vineyards – more than Napa, Sonoma, and Lake County combined!
What’s an “Old Vine”? Well, grape vines can grow for over 120 years. After about 20 years, vines start to produce smaller crops - leading to more concentrated, intense wines. In the U.S., the most common use of the term is on Zinfandel grapes, because in California, vineyards planted in 1895 are still bearing small amounts of prized Zinfandel fruit!
The essence of Pinot Noir is direct and thoughtful; it’s a medium-bodied, complex wine which has ample fine grained, mouth-coating tannins and a long lingering finish. Black cherry and raspberry with herbs, dark spice, and earthy notes. Silky texture and balanced acidity make this very food-friendly. Brimming with fresh red cherries, strawberries, fresh cut roses and a little bit of wet earth, with age Pinot Noir also develops complex earthy and mushroom characteristics.
The famous thick, gnarled and twisted old Zinfandel vines of Lodi in California’s Central Valley contribute to intense concentrated flavours in the grapes. The wine is deep and rich, with bold, zesty aromas and ripe berry fruits on the tongue. Robust and exciting, it bursts with a spiciness that is met head on by the premium French oak.
Zinfandel pairs magnificently with beef and you can hardly go wrong with a charcoal-broiled ribeye steak, steak au poivre, filet mignon or other grilled meats. Old Vine Zins also do well with hearty dishes like spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna. Likewise, Italian sausages with green peppers and onions pair beautifully with all styles of Zinfandel. And cheese? Well, Zinfandel helps cheeses shine! Try it with strong and rich cheeses like Blue, Feta, Stilton, Double Gloucester, Aged Gruyere, Havarti, Gorgonzola, Parmesan and Cheddar.
Originally from Croatia, Zinfandel is considered California’s “heritage grape”, believed to have been first planted in California in the 1850’s! Until Cabernet Sauvignon passed it in 1990’s, it was the most widely planted red grape in California.
White Zin to the rescue! In 1972, Sutter Home famously created their extremely popular White Zinfandel. While some wine lovers consider this an “entry level” wine, we have this pink pleaser to thank for today’s wonderful old-vine Zins. Its popularity ensured that Zinfandel vines were not grafted over when red Zin fell out of favor in the late ‘70s.
In Northern California, near Sacramento, you’ll find a place where “you can’t escape the grape”: Lodi, the Zinfandel capital of the USA. Lodi’s Mediterranean climate produces over a hundred different grape varieties within the region’s sprawling 100,000 acres of vineyards – more than Napa, Sonoma, and Lake County combined!
What’s an “Old Vine”? Well, grape vines can grow for over 120 years. After about 20 years, vines start to produce smaller crops - leading to more concentrated, intense wines. In the U.S., the most common use of the term is on Zinfandel grapes, because in California, vineyards planted in 1895 are still bearing small amounts of prized Zinfandel fruit!
The famous thick, gnarled and twisted old Zinfandel vines of Lodi in California’s Central Valley contribute to intense concentrated flavours in the grapes. The wine is deep and rich, with bold, zesty aromas and ripe berry fruits on the tongue. Robust and exciting, it bursts with a spiciness that is met head on by the premium French oak.
Zinfandel pairs magnificently with beef and you can hardly go wrong with a charcoal-broiled ribeye steak, steak au poivre, filet mignon or other grilled meats. Old Vine Zins also do well with hearty dishes like spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna. Likewise, Italian sausages with green peppers and onions pair beautifully with all styles of Zinfandel. And cheese? Well, Zinfandel helps cheeses shine! Try it with strong and rich cheeses like Blue, Feta, Stilton, Double Gloucester, Aged Gruyere, Havarti, Gorgonzola, Parmesan and Cheddar.
Originally from Croatia, Zinfandel is considered California’s “heritage grape”, believed to have been first planted in California in the 1850’s! Until Cabernet Sauvignon passed it in 1990’s, it was the most widely planted red grape in California.
White Zin to the rescue! In 1972, Sutter Home famously created their extremely popular White Zinfandel. While some wine lovers consider this an “entry level” wine, we have this pink pleaser to thank for today’s wonderful old-vine Zins. Its popularity ensured that Zinfandel vines were not grafted over when red Zin fell out of favor in the late ‘70s.
