Haraszthy Family Cellars Amador County Zinfandel 2009
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This wine is an excellent compliment to red-sauce pasta dishes, grilled beef and roasted chicken with Mediterranean herbs.
Other Vintages
2013-
Wilfred
Wong
Haraszthy Family Cellars was founded in 2008 by Val & Vickie Haraszthy. Val is a 5th generation California winemaker and the great-great grandson of General Mariano Vallejo and Agoston Haraszthy.
General Vallejo founded Sonoma in 1835 - the last Mexican Commandant of Northern California prior to statehood. On June 14, 1846 he was arrested at his home by the bear flaggers – a disgruntled band of settlers revolting against Mexican land policies. The rebels produced a crudely drawn bear flag replacing the Mexican flag and proclaiming California a sovereign republic.
Agoston Haraszthy founded Buena Vista Winery in 1857, considered the first commercial winery in California. He traveled throughout Europe in 1861 and collected hundreds of different varietal grape cuttings which gave rise to the California wine industry.
Bearitage wines are all produced from grapes grown in Lodi, California. They are well made, delicious and offer an extremely good value for the price. Val makes Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blend, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
Originally a source of oenological sustenance for gold-seeking miners of the mid-1800s, the Sierra Foothills was the first region in California to produce wines from European grape varieties. Located between Sacramento and the Nevada border, this area’s immigrant settlers chose to forgo growing the then-ubiquitous Mission grape and instead brought with them superior vines from the Old World to plant alongside mining camps.
Zinfandel has been the most important variety of this region since its inception, taking on a spicy character with brambly fruit and firm structure. Amador and El Dorado counties, benefiting from the presence of volcanic and granite soils, are home to the best examples. Bold, robust Rhône Blends and Barbera are also important regional specialties.