Story Winery Picnic Hill Zinfandel 2013
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Story Winery was originally founded by Dr. Eugene (Gene) and Ann Story in 1973. After acquiring the land and existing vineyards in 1969, Gene and Ann had a goal of eventually opening a winery and expanding the existing 20 acres of vineyards–some of which date back to 1894. Meanwhile, Gene continued his practice as a noted veterinarian in Sacramento. Story Winery was one of the first post-Prohibition bonded wineries in the Shenandoah Valley in 1973 (the other was Montevina). During a visit to Story Vineyards in 1991, Bruce and Jan Tichenor met Ann Story Ousley, who happened to be running the tasting room that fateful day. When someone in their tasting party mentioned that Story would be a nice little winery to own, Ann replied "well, it is for sale." Four months later, Bruce and Jan purchased the winery.
At the time, both Bruce and Jan were pharmacists and pharmacy managers for Long's Drugs in San Jose. Both had been practicing pharmacists for nearly 25 years. They decided to sell all they had to pursue the wine business, learning from Ann and her second husband, John Ousley, as well as countless others in the Shenandoah Valley. They continued to grow the winery as well as champion the cause for premium Zinfandel. In 2013, they decided to pass day-to-day operations over to their daughter and son-in-law, Tina & Rob Campbell.
As President of Story Winery, Rob oversees production, sales and marketing. Tina continues her career in corporate communications and helps manage behind the scenes details of the winery. Their goal, like that of their predecessors, is to produce premium wines which express the best of the region.
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.
