Winemaker Notes
Loved for its inky, brambly, fruit-driven wines, the Primitivo grape actually has Croatian origin. Primitivo landed in Italy in the late 1800s and became an important variety in the hot, dry, southern region of Puglia. Here it was named from the Latin word, primativus, meaning "first to ripen." Somm Secret—No one knew Primitivo and Zinfandel were the same until 1994 when DNA profiling at UC Davis finally revealed the link. The grape goes by the name of Tribidrag in Croatia and is a parent to Plavac Mali.
Situated in northern Mendocino County, the Redwood Valley appellation sits at about 200 feet higher than the surrounding areas and is directly west of Potter Valley. The AVA is ideal for less common grape varieties such as Barbera, Carignan, Valdiguie and Viognier among California’s other usual suspects.