Producers and lovers of Zinfandel come together at the annual Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Grand Tasting to celebrate Zinfandel in all its glory. According to the Wine Institute, the earliest recorded use of the name comes from a Boston vineyard nursery that advertised Zinfandel for sale in 1832. California would love to claim the grape as its own, coming close to designating it the official state grape before finding out its history traveling throughout the world. Whether its called Primitivo, Crljenak Kaštelanski, Tribidrag or colored inky black or white, this grape satisfies palates from around the globe. Below are some of the producers who have an extensive history with the grape that I had the pleasure to visit with at the Grand Tasting. from as well as being ones you should reach for the next time you’re thirsty for some great Zinfandel.

Carol Shelton Wines

Carol Shelton Wild Thing Zinfandel — Carol attended UC Davis, where she originally planned to study poetry

This Queen of zin is a living legend as she has worked with such great winemakers as André Tchelistcheff at Buena Vista and Rodney Strong Vineyards in Sonoma along with a 19 year career as winemaker at Windsor winery where she produced 45 different wines. Since 2000 she has been winemaker and president of her own company, Carol Shelton Wines where she crafts wines featuring some of the best Zinfandel vineyards throughout California. Her wines consistently over deliver for their price and are some of the smartest wine buys you can make. Some of my favorites include the Karma Reserve zinfandel blend which is full of black and blue fruits along with cinnamon spice. The Wild Thing Zin blend, sourced from 60 year old vines in Mendocino and the Monga Zin, sourced from 1918 planted Jose Lopez Vineyard in the Cucamonga Valley are some of my personal favorites.

Dry Creek Vineyard

Dry Creek Vineyard has a long history with Zinfandel. It was the first winery to feature “Old Vine” on a label of Zinfandel with its 1987 vintage. Now many wineries use this term to highlight old vineyard sourcing. The Heritage Vines Zinfandel is named after the desire to preserve old vine vineyards in Sonoma County. Cuttings from a pre-prohibition vineyard, Mazzoni Ranch, are grafted onto rootstock that will ultimately produce old vine character while still being a young vine. Small amounts of Petite Sirah or Carignane are usually blended in for additional complexity. This is such a high quality consistent wine for this winery with rich black fruits that don’t become too intense or baked. This leaves room for some fresher red fruits to come forward along with bright acidity for a refreshing finish.

Chase Cellars

Vitner Katie Hayne Simpson. In 1902 and 1903 the vineyard was replanted to Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.

If I had to choose just one wine to take home here it would be the 2016 Hayne Vineyard Zinfandel from Chase Cellars. Purchased in 1872, the property is looked over in its 5th generation by Katie Hayne Simpson, the great great granddaughter of the original owners. The vines are over 115 years old, dry farmed, head trained and producing some of the most sought after Zinfandel in St Helena. The range of fruit complexity and depth is staggering, with blueberry and tart blackberries exploding and bursting together along with violet aromas and a rich full bodied texture.

Martinelli Winery

Regina Martinelli is the 4th generation to work in wine, representing a family that has been farming their estate vineyards for more than 135 years. She has taken on consumer outreach for the family business, helping run fun programs like wine cruises, overseeing the remodeling of the tasting room and showcasing the family wines at fun events like this. The wine she is holding is the 2016 Giuseppe & Luisa Zinfandel, named after their great grandparents and winery founders. Planted with cuttings from the 65 degree (at its max) Jackass Hill, the original planted by Giuseppe, and the steepest non terraced vineyard in Sonoma County. Definitely a big brawny blacked fruited Zin with strawberry jam, good acidity for balance and silky tannins that provides a great long finish.

Bill Easton founder Terre Rouge and Easton Wines — Terre Rouge & Easton Wines founder Bill Easton, one of the original Rhône Rangers who pioneered Rhône varietals in the Sierra Foothills. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhône Rangers in 2016.

Easton Wines & Terre Rouge

For many people, winemaker Bill Easton represents Amador County in the Sierra Foothills better than anyone. The region, often too underrated and overlooked, has given him some great quality to work with as some of the largest quantity pre-prohibition Zinfandel vines grown in granite and volcanic soils are here. His Zinfandel isn’t as flashy at the start compared to the soft high alcohol style prized by many today but they will open your eyes to how graceful Zinfandel can age.