Jeff Runquist Wines was founded in 1997 by Jeff and Margie Runquist. In 1995 Jeff crushed ten tons of zinfandel from the Massoni Ranch in Amador’s Shenandoah Valley and in 1997 he released 700 cases of that Zinfandel under his own label. In 2006 Jeff and Margie purchased a small five acre walnut orchard on Shenandoah Road in Amador. In…
Zinfandel of the Month is a regular feature on Zinfandel Chronicles. Keep in mind that although the Zinfandel of the Month might be an older bottle, the current vintage will be one you can find at retail or via the mailing list. The June Zinfandel of the Month is the 2015 Once & Future Wine Zinfandel Frank’s Block Teldeschi Vineyard. I chose this…
Welcome to the latest installment of The Week in Zinfandel. If I missed your post or story please send me a link and I will be sure to include it next week. Randy Caparoso writes Lodi 101 (For True-Blue Lodi Wine Lovers). Shelby Vittek writes Four American Producers Rediscovering White Field Blends. Marissa Ross writes White Zin is in, Again:…
In 1979, Joyce Black and Jerre Sears purchased a one-of-a-kind property at the top of Howell Mountain. In 1997, Joyce and Jerre began producing very small quantities of estate-bottled Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel for their new Black Sears label, a few hundred cases per vintage. For twelve years, winemaker Ted Lemon called the Black Sears winery home, producing both the…
Ravenswood was founded in 1976 by Joel Peterson. The winery is a pioneer in producing single vineyard Zinfandels from some of Napa and Sonoma’s most treasured vineyards, including Dickerson, Old Hill, Cooke and Belloni. I used to visit Ravenswood in the summer, when they released their single vineyard wines. Back in the day they also served delicious barbecue on the deck out…
Welcome to the latest installment of The Week in Zinfandel. If I missed your post or story please send me a link and I will be sure to include it next week. Dallas Wine Chick writes For the Love of Lodi: A Region All About Multi-Generational Farming, Winemaking and Families. Reverse Wine Snob writes Delighting in the Dry Creek Valley.…
Hartford Family Winery was founded in 1994 as a result of Don and Jennifer Hartford’s appreciation for the wines, the people, and the unique vineyards near their Russian River Valley home. Located in the Sonoma County town of Forestville, the winery is about 15 miles from the cool Pacific Coast. Jeff Stewart is the Hartford Family Winemaker. The 98-year old…
Bedrock Wine Co. was founded by Morgan Twain-Peterson in 2007 and focuses on small production wines from many of California’ s most treasured and historic vineyards. The lineup of wines at Bedrock is expanding rapidly, but I think the best of the best are the ancient vineyard Zinfandels and Field Blends, Morgan is clearly passionate about. Carlisle Vineyard, planted in…
Welcome to the latest installment of The Week in Zinfandel. If I missed your post or story please send me a link and I will be sure to include it next week. Randy Caparoso writes Why Ancient Vines are so Wise, and you should not Miss ZinFest’s Phenomenal Zinfandel Blind Tasting. Stephen McConnell reviews the 2017 T-Vine Zinfandel Russian River…
Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1962. Paul Draper joined the winery in the late 60’s and was the driving force at Ridge for the next 50 years. Eric Baugher is the current winemaker. When I first became interested in Zinfandel the buzz was always around the Three R’s of Zinfandel: Ravenswood, Rosenblum and Ridge. 30 years later Ridge is still…