National Zinfandel Day

Zinfandel Day is the third Wednesday each November. Here are some good ‘ol Zinfandel facts for a bit of conversation over the turkey (and wine) tomorrow afternoon/evening: Zinfandel is considered California’s heritage grape, there are some vines in Sonoma and Amador County that are 100+ years old, and…

California wine country landscape in autumn

Sonoma Cabernet

When it comes to California Cabernet Sauvignon, it is true that Napa Valley is King.  Between the sheer amount of plantings, savvy marketers, big names, and the “Judgement of Paris” Napa will long hold the bulk of the market value for California Cab.  But with a similar Mediterranean…

Silhouette of California state with "CA" written, overlaid on a photo of wine grapes hanging from a vine

CA Zinfandel

Prior to 1998, CA Zinfandel was the most widely planted grape in the state.  Post-prohibition many common people believed it to be a native California grape until DNA testing results came in (and an assist from a little information filled invention called ‘the internet’) showing it to be…