Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesThe fruit for this ripe red came from dry-farmed, head-pruned grapevines planted over a century ago in the Contra Costa County AVA, which is situated directly east of the San Francisco Bay and is part of the Central Coast AVA. Bright, ripe wild strawberry engages with cinnamon-spiced cedar as tomato leaf and iron round out the plush and bold textural profile with an underlying grace.
A large Northern California appellation centered on the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Francisco Bay AVA falls within the larger Central Coast AVA. The smaller appellations of Livermore Valley, Pacheco Pass, San Ysidro District and Santa Clara Valley AVAs fall within the San Francisco Bay boundaries, and all produce high-quality Central Coast wines.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured it’s title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the states’ 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, which sourced a journey 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.