Zinfandel is the heartbeat of California wine. Planted in the mid-1800s by Italian and Croatian immigrants—and carried west by Gold Rush settlers—it has endured heat, drought, phylloxera, and Prohibition, yet continues to thrive in the state’s sun-drenched soils. From the rugged hills of Sonoma to the rolling plains of Lodi, these old vines tell stories of resilience, place, and craft. This collection celebrates producers who honor Zinfandel’s past while shaping its future—wines that are bold, brambly, and unmistakably Californian.
ROBERT BIALE ZINFANDEL ‘BLACK CHICKEN’ 2023
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The Biale family has been synonymous with Napa Valley Zinfandel since the 1930s, when Aldo Biale famously sold “Black Chicken” Zinfandel over his party-line phone during Prohibition – a coded request his neighbors used to order wine from the family ranch. Today, Robert Biale carries that legacy forward with a house style defined by precision and restraint. The 2023 “Black Chicken” captures the essence of Oak Knoll—vivid red fruit, spice, and lift balanced by the structure and poise that have made Biale a benchmark for modern Napa Zinfandel. |
DAY BY EHREN JORDAN ZINFANDEL ‘SONOMA COUNTY’ 2022
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After decades of crafting some of California’s most lauded wines, —including his tenure as head winemaker for Turley Wine Cellars from 1996-2013— Ehren Jordan brings a deft, minimalist touch to his DAY label. His Sonoma County Zinfandel offers clarity and freshness—a nod to the grape’s roots as a food wine rather than a powerhouse. Leaning toward red fruit and earth, it’s an elegant, refreshingly pure expression of Zinfandel’s versatility. |
DASHE CELLARS ZINFANDEL ‘VINEYARD SELECT’ 2022
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Michael and Anne Dashe have long championed Zinfandel made with intention and finesse. Their “Vineyard Select” brings together fruit from Contra Costa and Clarksburg, blending approachability with serious depth. It’s a layered, beautifully balanced red that favors nuance over sheer power—a hallmark of Dashe’s thoughtful, terroir-driven approach. |
GREEN & RED ZINFANDEL ‘CHILES CANYON’ 2023
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Nestled in the steep, rugged hills of eastern Napa, Green & Red has quietly produced some of the region’s most distinctive Zinfandels since the 1970s. The Chiles Canyon bottling reflects both elevation and intent—dark-fruited yet graceful, with mountain freshness and savory complexity. For over 35 years, Alice Waters has poured Green & Red Zinfandel by the glass at Chez Panisse, a testament to the wine’s timeless appeal at one of California’s most iconic restaurants. |
HENDRY VINEYARDS ZINFANDEL ‘BLOCK 7 & 22’ 2022
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At Hendry, family and farming are inseparable. The estate’s meticulously mapped vineyard blocks have yielded site-specific bottlings since the 1970s, each a study in terroir. Block 7 & 22 showcases Zinfandel of substance and polish, with black cherry, spice, and mineral tension underscored by the precision that defines every Hendry wine. |
JOSEPH SWAN ZINFANDEL ‘ZEIGLER VYD’ 2018
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One of the Russian River Valley’s great traditionalists, Joseph Swan Vineyards has long been revered for its elegant, age worthy Zinfandels. From old vines in the rooted in the heart of the appellation, the Zeigler bottling embodies the quiet power and aromatic lift that define the Swan style. With age, it reveals layers of dried rose, red fruit, and earth—a timeless expression of balance and authenticity. |
MARTINELLI ZINFANDEL ‘GIUSEPPE & LUISA’ 2023
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The Martinelli family’s deep roots in Russian River Valley viticulture date back to the 1880s, and their old-vine Zinfandel remains among California’s finest. The “Giuseppe & Luisa” bottling is lush yet poised—dense with dark berry fruit, spice, and savory undertones that speak to a century of farming the same hillsides with unbroken dedication. |
SANDLANDS ZINFANDEL ‘LODI’ 2023
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Tegan Passalacqua’s Sandlands project celebrates California’s forgotten vineyards and heritage varieties. His Lodi Zinfandel, sourced from the own-rooted Kirschenmann Vineyard planted in 1915, channels brightness and restraint. Silky, floral, and mineral, it’s a reminder of how expressive old-vine Zinfandel can be when handled with gentleness and precision. |
THE TERRACES ZINFANDEL ‘NAPA VALLEY’ 2022
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From their terraced estate overlooking the Silverado Trail, Timm and Sharon Crull craft Zinfandels that blend mountain intensity with classical balance. The 2022 release is generous and structured, its dark fruit and spice framed by freshness and lift. A distinctly Napa expression that bridges richness and refinement. |
TURLEY ZINFANDEL ‘OLD VINES’ 2023
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No name is more synonymous with Zinfandel than Turley. Their “Old Vines” cuvée draws from over 20 vineyards across the state, many planted more than a century ago. The result is quintessential Turley—rich yet balanced, brimming with dark fruit, spice, and energy. It’s a living archive of California’s viticultural past, bottled with vitality and purpose. |
