Winemaker Notes
ZINFANDELIC is a tribute to the unique California wine varietal - Zinfandel. It is also a tribute the California movement & culture of the 1960s - Flower Power, Haight Ashbury, Summer of Love, Rock & Roll, etc. The label is reminiscent of rock posters of the sixties era.
The zinfandel vineyards are situated at a higher altitude in Amador County in California at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains – also known as Gold Country. The vineyards were sustainably farmed from old vines of approximately 40 years old.
Zinfandel has always been the quintessential California wine. Taking on the characteristics of the regions where it’s grown, the flavor of a California Zin is like the flavor of California itself. It’s free love in a bottle, with a vibe all its own - at times mellow, others bold or even spicy. But it’s always, dare we say, groovy
With a label inspired by the psychedelic rock posters of the 1960s, Zinfandelic captures the spirit of Zinfandel, California’s quintessential wine. Zinfandelic's labels are a reflection of the posters that captured that era - Flower Power, Haight-Ashbury and Psychedelic Rock. Just as the hippy cultural movement was making its way out of California and into the rest of the world, so too was Zinfandel wine. While you might not be able to go back in time to the Summer of Love, enjoy California through a wine that captures the spirit of a memorable generation.
Zinfandelic is a collection of Zinfandel wines from seasoned wine veteran Daniel LeFrancois. Each wine is an expression of the soil and climate from where it was sourced. The high altitude old vines of the Sierra Foothills are expressed through an earthier wine with bramble vine notes. Lodi, the "Zin Capitol of the World," features lush fruit flavors. While Mendocino's coastal influence delivers a robust, full-bodied Zin.
Explore California through California's quintessential grape.
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.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel is often thought of as California’s flagship grape. And it fact it owns this title by having the ability to adapt to the states’ many microclimates and landscapes, producing unique expressions of the grape throughout. Zinfandel thrives in California’s Central Coast, as well throughout Sonoma County, parts of Napa Valley, the Sierra Foothills, Lodi and Paso Robles.
Zinfandel was born in Croatia and later made its way to southern Italy where it became known as Primitivo. The astute imperial nursery of Vienna collected specimens of the vine and acted as the source of its journey to New England, carried by George Gibbs circa 1829. Eventually, making its way to California around the Gold Rush of 1849, Zinfandel found its new home, parading the true American spirit.
In the Glass
Zinfandel commonly expresses powerful notes of dark plum, blackberry, sweet spice, dark chocolate and licorice. Very ripe examples may express a hint of dried fruit like raisin, fig or prune. But Zinfandel grown in cooler, coastal zones often expresses red fruit, black pepper and fresh herbal characteristics of juniper and menthol.
Perfect Pairings
Zinfandel is a powerfully flavored wine, mingling happily with bold food like brisket, lamb shanks, pork ribs or anything barbecued. More delicate Zins work with pork, lamb curry and even Ceasar Salad or Salad Nicoise.
Sommelier Secret
Thanks to its popularity both for home winemaking and as communion wine, many Zinfandel vines were able to survive prohibition, leading to the abundance of "old vine" Zinfandels. These low-yielding, ancient vines tend to produce wine that is deeply concentrated, delicately perfumed and decidedly complex.