Cool vineyard, where exactly is this?
^
Southwest of the intersection of Boyes Blvd and Arnold Drive (and south a bit, they plopped houses into the middle of it).
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To add on a bit about “Maggie’s Vineyard” (aka “Casa Santinamaria”):
The Drunken Cyclist
“Even More Legendary Zinfandel Vineyards”
by Jeff Kralik
July 29, 2020
"Back in February, I wrote an article for ZAP, the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers, and I interviewed several people about what exactly makes a vineyard ‘legendary’.
"Based on these conversations and a bit for research, first and foremost, the vineyard needs to have a bit of a history of producing great fruit that leads to fantastic wines. Second, legendary Zinfandel vineyards tend to be old (another adjective that needs a bit of unpacking since it can refer to vineyards planted any time during the last century).
"Last, there needs to be some demand for the fruit that is produced by the vineyard, but that is also a bit fraught with complexity since some legendary vineyards are either wholly-owned or sourced by a single winery…
“2018 Rock Wall Wine Co. Zinfandel Reserve Zinfandel Maggie’s Vineyard, Sonoma County, CA: Kent Rosenblum, a legendary figure in California Zinfandel, leased Maggie’s Vineyard in the Spring of 2018, excited about the fruit produced by the vineyard planted in 1901. Sadly, Mr. Rosenblum died a mere six weeks before harvest that year. Thus, the harvest, vinification, and certainly grief, fell on the shoulders of his daughter Shauna Rosenblum. The fact that she sent this wine out to me for review was moving enough, but then I tasted the wine. Regardless of the backstory, whoa. Shauna intimated that she aims for a more reserved Zin (probably more so than her father) and thus picks the fruit at lower Brix and lower pH. The result? Whoa…”.
The following blog entry discusses an online meet-up hosted on ZAP’s Facebook page. One of the three winemakers who participated was Ms Shauna Rosenblum. She related the experience of working in the vines at “Maggie’s Vineyard” in 2018. As I am unable to provide a functioning link to the livestream, I am including the following blog article.
Should you wish to view the ZAP Facebook streamed tasting/Q&A, you must access the Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Facebook page, and select the July 16, 2020, livestream entitled “Legendary Zinfandel Vineyards”. The discussion focuses on “Maggie’s Vineyard” around the 18-minute mark. Good luck!
My Vine Spot blog
“Rock Wall Wine Co. 2018 Maggie’s Zinfandel: ‘Did She Just Say Grilled Avocado’?”
by Dezel Quillen
August 10, 2020
Some extra information about “Maggie’s Vineyard” and the old vineyards on the Western edge of Sonoma township:
· Historic Vineyard Society profile: “Casa Santinamaria”/“Maggie’s Vineyard”
· Adjacent to “Maggie’s Vineyard” is a tiny plot of Alicante Bouschet, Valdigue, and Mourvèdre, with only 23 surviving vines, on Liquid Amber Road. The grapes go into Source & Sink’s wines.
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I should have guessed that Williams Selyem would fire off another YouTube video highlighting its ancient viticultural holding - the esteemed “Saitone Vineyard”, planted in 1895 and located in the Santa Rosa Plains area of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley.
According to the following webinar, the winery is now producing two new “Saitone” bottlings, in addition to its Zinfandel and Carignan varietals. Named for the original vineyard owners (Antonio and Maria, respectively), a red and a white field blend are being offered exclusively to visitors of the “Saitone Vineyard”:
Williams-Selyem YouTube webinar:
“Saitone Vineyard New Releases”
March 18, 2021
Session starts at 4:34
· 17:13 mark: “Maria’s Field Blend” White Wine: Palomino, Muscadelle, and Muscat
· 22:48 mark: “Antonio’s Field Blend” Red Wine: Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Zinfandel
· 35:35 mark: “Saitone Vineyard” Carignan
· 40:50 mark: “Saitone Vineyard” Zinfandel
Williams-Selyem website:
Historic Vineyard Society website profile: “Saitone Vineyard”:
https://historicvineyardsociety.org/vineyard/saitone
Press Democrat
“Williams Selyem Buys Historic Zinfandel Vineyard”
by Bill Swindell
August 9, 2016
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Saitone is an exceptional vineyard - really beautiful red fruit. Right in the heart of the Piner Olivet RRV sweet spot.
The Williams-Selyem tour of the vineyard is highly recommended.
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The Wine Women nonprofit organization has a website that includes two interview sessions with famous Zinfandel wine industry professionals:
Wine Women blog
ZAP! Pt 1: Brenae Royal & Brennan Stover"
by Marcia Macomber
Interviewer: Lisa Adams Walter
Show date: February 14, 2020
Interview Link: Wine Women - ZAP! Brenae Royal & Brennan Stover - Radio Misfits Podcast Network
“Wine Women Radio goes to ZAP! We had the pleasure of sitting down with some of the best viticulturists and vineyard managers who oversee the farming and care of 1000s of acres of zinfandel vines throughout California. On this show we meet Brenae Royal, vineyard manager of the famed and historic Monte Rosso, above Sonoma Valley in the Moon Mountain District, and Brennan Stover, vineyard manager at Turley Wine Cellars in Paso Robles, overseeing ancient vines in challenging growing conditions…”.
Wine Women blog
“ZAP! Pt 2: David Gates & Jake Neustadt”
by Marcia Macomber
Interviewer:
Show date: February 21, 2020
Interview Link: Wine Women - ZAP! David Gates & Jake Neustadt - Radio Misfits Podcast Network
"…Tune in to learn about Ridge’s Croatian ‘Pribidrag’, part of Zinfandel’s long history. We also got to hear David’s take on climate change, developments in sustainable, and organic farming, and what he’s learned from his younger colleagues. David’s enthusiasm for learning from recent UC Davis graduates under his supervision was reflected in the stories we heard from his many past and present viticulture colleagues whom we got to meet and interview at ZAP!—including our next guest: Jake Neustadt, Viticulturalist and Vineyard Manager at Bedrock Wine Co.
Wine Women website:
https://winewomen.net/
The remaining two sessions from Wine Women’s ZAP! interviews, plus a bonus HVS podcast:
Wine Women blog
“ZAP! Pt 3: Kyle Lerner, Harney Lane”
by Marcia Macomber
Show date: February 28, 2020
Podcast link: Wine Women – ZAP! Kyle Lerner, Harney Lane Winery - Radio Misfits Podcast Network
Wine Women blog
“ZAP! Pt 4: Joel Peterson, Once and Future Wine Co.”
by Marcia Macomber
Show date: March 6, 2020
Podcast link: Wine Women – ZAP! Joel Peterson, Godfather of Zinfandel - Radio Misfits Podcast Network
Wine Women
“Historical Vineyard Society at Sonoma’s Best”
Podcast Link: Wine Women – Historical Vineyard Society at Sonoma’s Best - Radio Misfits Podcast Network
7:30 – Lynn Wheeler, Winemaker, Edith & Ida
17:00 – Emily Rasmussen, Historical Vineyard Society
26:00 – Joel Peterson, Once & Future Wine
39:00 – Andrew Nalle, Vintner/Winemaker, Nalle WInery
50:00 – Christopher Sawyer, Sommelier
1:06 – Mike Officer, Vintner/Winemaker, Carlisle Winery
1:15 – Todd Jolly, Wine Director, Sonoma’s Best
The Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP!) organization has launched a new online tool for travelers planning visits to culturally important Zinfandel vineyards across California:
The Zinfandel Trail website:
https://zinfandeltrail.com/trail-map/
Grape Experiences blog PR Newswire
“Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Launches The California Zinfandel Trail”
"…GRASS VALLEY, Calif., Mar. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ –
"Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) is announcing that it will officially launch The California Zinfandel Trail starting March 29, 2021. Zinfandel lovers and the Zinfandel-curious will now have a powerful new tool to explore wineries and plan custom itineraries. This new platform is designed to boost tourism and raise interest in wineries that produce America’s time-honored heritage wine, Zinfandel.
"‘Consumers and wineries alike will benefit from this fast track connection directly to Zinfandel winemakers, featuring small production artisanal wines that are available to consumers only by visiting the winery in person or virtually,’ according to ZAP Executive Director, Rebecca Robinson. ‘So many of these wines are from historic vineyards and come with wonderful, colorful family stories that are the fabric of American agricultural heritage,’ she continues.
"Mindful of travel restrictions due to the COVID 19 pandemic, virtual visits and tastings have been made available, in addition to the traditional in-person winery tastings and experiences. Visitors should contact wineries in advance about their latest visiting policies and experiences.
"The Zinfandel Trail website includes an easy to use interactive map of California’s Zinfandel wineries for plotting and planning itineraries to vineyards across California. Here, visitors can explore Zinfandel winery experiences by region, such as vineyard and winery tours, specialized tastings, picnicking, food service, and pet-friendly policies. In addition to winery listings are featured winery to winery routes with beautiful Zinfandel vineyard images, regional travel blogs, points of interest, and winemaker stories.
"In addition to the California Zinfandel Trail mapping website, ZAP is also creating virtual tours and tastings offered for sale to those wanting to sniff, swirl, and sip while enjoying a themed tour on Zoom hosted by travel experts. The first three-part series will begin in late April with a tour of Sonoma Valley, followed in May by sessions on Women in Wine, and, in June, Vineyard Tours.
Virtual Tour dates:
· ‘Sonoma Valley Zinfandel Tour’
Thursday, April 29, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. PDT
HOST: Tim Zahner, Executive Director, Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau
· ‘Women in Wine Zinfandel Tour’
Thursday, May 27, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. PDT
"HOST: Lauren Mowery, Travel Editor, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
· ‘Zinfandel Vineyard Tours’
Thursday, June 24, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. PDT
HOST: Paul Rubio, award-winning travel journalist AFAR, Conde Nast Traveler, and more
"The virtual sessions will provide photographic essays, interactive discussion, and in-depth guided tastings from three wineries based on each theme - the next best thing to visiting the wineries and vineyards in person.
“Visit zinfandeltrail.com to learn more about the virtual sessions and secure your spot…”.
Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP!) website:
https://zinfandel.org/
I posted the question semi-jokingly (referencing the Williams-Selyem video in my post). Mr Mangahas states, in his introduction of the “Fannuchi-Wood Rd Vineyard” Zin, that there are six other old Zinfandel plantings around Wood Rd.
In the video, he never actually names the vineyards that he specifically had in mind. Thus, know-it-all Drew began to compile a mental roster of at least 9 other vineyards (moving South from Wood Rd towards Guerneville Rd). I failed to really listen carefully to the qualifiers in his original statement.
Thus I presumed that other enthusiasts would end up tallying half of the old Zin plantings in the RRV if left unchecked. Sorry for leaving y’all hanging…
Here’s the full context of Mr Mangahas’ count:
· There are “6 other really famous vineyards” ON Wood Rd (turning right off of Fulton Rd, if heading South from Fulton, CA, past River Rd);
· Mr Mangahas made wine from 4 of the other sites while employed as winemaker at Hartford.
So…excluding “Fannucchi-Wood Road” from the count, there are 6 really famous old vineyards on Wood Road.
Then the other is Highwire. My brain kept telling me that it was in Piner as part of Papera but it’s really on Wood Rd as a former part of Chelli/Fannuchi which run in succession. I was confusing it with Hartford Vineyard.
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Chris and Morgan put out a 3-hour, 2-part podcast interviewing Will Bucklin of Old Hill this week. Well worth a listen!
Edit: This is the Bedrock Wine Conversations podcast
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Aren’t Chelli and Highwire the same vineyard?
https://www.hartfordwines.com/vineyard/highwire-vineyard
Likewise aren’t Arata and Dina’s the same vineyard?
https://www.hartfordwines.com/vineyard/dinas-vineyard
So, as you go west on Wood Rd from Fulton Rd, to the north you encounter Arata/Dina’s, Chelli/Highwire, Belloni, then Hartford.
On the south side of the road, across from Belloni is Rue (now called Croix estate vineyard), then as you continue west, Fanucchi (which is partly across the road from Hartford).
Excluding Fanucchi, that’s still only 5 vineyards. What am I missing?
Hartford has made wine from Arata/Dina’s, Chelli/Highwire, Hartford and Fanucchi. The other 2 (that they haven’t made wine from afaik) are Rue/Croix and Belloni.
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Fanucchi - Belloni, Tomato - Tomahto, I’ve toured the damn places and still can’t get it right.
Arata/Dina’s, Chelli/Highwire, Belloni and Rue/Croix were supposedly all one vineyard originally.
Hartford has a habit of giving their own names to vineyard bottlings. They call their bottling of the Maffei vineyard Jolene’s vineyard, after the owners Joanne and Arlene Maffei.
Others who make it just call it Maffei. This vineyard is on the west side of Olivet Rd about 1000’ north of the Saitone vineyard.
Drew, if you’re reading this check out this abandoned vineyard northwest of the Maffei vineyard:
The street address appears to be 2101 Oakwild Ln:
This is south of St. Francis’ Giovanetti vineyard.
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St Francis buys their fruit but the Vineyard is definitely owned by the Giovanetti’s Chuck being a friend of mine.
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Right, that’s what I meant, and it’s their flagship zin.
Next time you see him, please ask him if he knows what’s up with the abandoned vineyard.
Perhaps there is an error in Mr Mahangas’ recollection (although I find that highly unlikely).
Is there a famous non-Zinfandel vineyard on Wood Rd?
Do you mean this parcel…?
Parcel Details below in Spoiler
Sonoma Assessors Office
APN# 057-040-011-000
2220 OAKWILD LN SANTA ROSA CA 95401-3857This plot has virtually no information available online to indicate its use in grape-growing. It is privately owned.
Wood Rd is only a mile and a half long and the last 1/2 of it is rural residential. All the vineyards are on the first 3/4 mile straightaway.
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Robert Rue!
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