Who Makes California's Best Zinfandel?

Ah, Zinfandel, it's sort of California's own. There's quite a history to Zinfandel that was very mysterious until about 30 years ago. The short version is Zinfandel comes from a rare Croatian grape that took off in Italy as Primitivo and in California as Zinfandel.

So who are some of the top producers? Let's take a subjective look.

 

Zinfandel vines in early winter along Lytton Springs Road
in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County

First, the disclaimers. 

• There are styles of Zinfandel going from tannic, dry, needing age ones to big, blast of red fruit and high alcohol ones. Everyone will have their favorite style, meaning not everything here will be to your liking. If you are buying "blind" without knowing the regions or producers, then look at the alcohol content found on the label to make your best guess.
  
  
• Not every single Zinfandel ever made by these producers will be great, but they are overall consistent with putting out good ones. There is nothing better than a great Zinfandel!
  
  
• The following wineries all make enough so that you stand a chance of finding theirs at a local wine shop. They all make several Zinfandels.
  
  
• Believe it or not, I haven't tasted all of these wines! I have tasted at least one Zin at some time or another from each of these wineries. Some of it is reputation or scouring the Internet for what other amateurs and the professional wine writers have to say. 

The producers that rock Zinfandel

Bedrock Wine Company, Sonoma
Lots of old vine Zinfandels (something cherished by zinheads), minimal intervention winemaking, each vineyard shows distinct terroir.

Bella Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley
Fruit forward, but with a lot of complexities not found in other ripe Zins.

(Robert) Biale Vineyards, Napa
Fruit forward, ripe, fresh acid, low tannins. The best known Zinfandels from Napa.

Dry Creek Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley
They make many Zins from many different vineyards. They show balance and ageability.

Limerick Lane Cellars, Russian River Valley
Old vines, slightly cooler Russian River growing area, minimal intervention showing distinct terroir.


Mauritson Wines, Dry Creek Valley
All their wines are quite good, but what makes them outstanding is their Rockpile appellation Zins. They show the wild berry and rocky components that make Rockpile a unique growing area.

Quivira Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley
Intense, balanced, spicy Zins

Ridge Vineyards - Lytton Springs, Dry Creek
Complex, structured to age, can be rustic, and earthy.

Seghesio Family Vineyards, Healdsburg
Lots of old vines, balanced, spicy, fruity. They have a long history with Zinfandel.

Storybook Mountain Winery, Napa
Depth, structure, balance, as in not overripe like many Zins. Wines you can enjoy today or in several years.

Turley Wine Cellars, Napa
Intense, concentrated. Well known producer with loyal fans.

From the oldest Zinfandel
vineyard in the U.S.

 

Where Zinfandel does best (also subjective)

The sweet spot for Zinfandel is Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley, and Amador County's Shenandoah Valley (in the Sierra Foothills). There are plenty of other pockets of great Zin outside these two appellations. There are no Amador wineries on the list above because they're all pretty small and unlikely to have much distribution.