Saucelito Canyon? Not very large, but seems to fit the description.
The correct answer has not been provided yet.
“What is the largest contiguous old-growth, own-rooted Zinfandel vineyard in California?”
Size of some of the suggested vineyards:
· “Stampede”: 1.5 acres
· “Deaver” (aka “Circa Old-Vine Vyd”): 14 acres
· “Saucelito Canyon”: 3 acres
Hint: The largest contiguous, own-rooted, ancient-growth vineyard is found in Lodi AVA.
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Jessie’s Grove??
That’s what I was thinking 
They’re the oldest in Lodi
They also have the oldest tortoise.
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I haven’t seen Dogtown mentioned yet.
Lizzy James
DeLuca Ranch in Lodi
Maggie Family has some large vineyards E of Lodi.
Paging Tegan!
I threw the Besson St. George in just because no one guessed, but it’s gotta be in the Delta, on either the Contra Costa side or closer to Lodi. After that, I am out of ideas. Most of the ones I am familiar with have been guessed (was Big Break in there?).
The correct answer has not been guessed.
"What is the largest contiguous old-growth, own-rooted Zinfandel vineyard in California?"*
Hint: The vineyard’s owner is named in the Lodi Wine Grape Growers Directory.* “Old-growth”: older than 75 years.
Soucie Vineyard
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“What is the largest contiguous old-growth, own-rooted Zinfandel vineyard in California?”
ANSWER
“Peirano Estate Vineyard”
“…‘My first decision was whether to keep the Zinfandel, which is perhaps the largest single block of 100-year-old natural-rooted, head trained Zinfandel left in California - or the world.’”
- Lance Randolph, Peirano Estate
Quotation from A Zinfandel Odyssey by Rhoda Stewart
The largest block of contiguous old-growth, own-rooted Zinfandel belongs to Peirano Estate Vineyards (80 acres, planted in the early 1880s).
I contacted the winery, and they confirmed the assertion (without any “perhaps”).
Peirano Estate Vineyards website:
Planted in the early 1880’s, Peirano Estate was one of the first vineyards in Lodi.
Lodi Winegrape Commission Blog
“At Peirano, the Power of Believing – and the Famous Red Shorts”
by Randy Caparoso
April 25, 2012
I had to double-check to the accuracy of my answer, as two or three submitted responses seemed plausible. However, IF anyone is able to disprove this claim, please share how you were able to determine otherwise.
So how did folks know it would have to be in Lodi and not somewhere else? Since Drew said “not in Sonoma”? Or are own-rooted vineyards more likely there due to fewer pests or less investment or ???
Own rooted had to grow in sand which does not support things like phylloxera. Sac River Delta area is where the sandy soil is.
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*** Update * I believe I WAS WRONG!!!**
![[oops.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/1/1f129ddad071ffe5db6c99817c3cab666035a70a.gif "oops"){kind=small}
Shocking - I know - that one could be taken in by the supposed inviolability of “proprietary research” and the influencing effects of a business’ self-promotion.
The answer of California’s largest old-vine, own-rooted, dry-farmed, 100% Zinfandel vineyard is up in the air while I try to validate its qualifications.
The acreage is not the sole factor: vineyard nominations must be understood to be:
· planted over 40 years ago,
· an overwhelming proportion of Zinfandel vines,
· planted on their own roots,
· receive no irrigation during the fruiting season.
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Although Rancho Cucamonga AVA’s “José Lopez Vineyard” does not satisfy all of the OP question’s criteria, loosely speaking, it likely is the largest own-rooted, dry-farmed, old vine planting of California Zinfandel.
Planted circa 1918 in the sandy soils of Fontana, California, there are approximately 350 acres of Zinfandel and 6 acres Grenache.
Satellite images of the “Lopez Vyd” appear to show that a section recently was uprooted. This southwest parcel is destined to become a residential property.
Historic Vineyard Society profile: “Lopez”
Hi Drew, our 9 of 53 Zin Acres are on St. George Rootstock, therefore not own rooted. 2 of those 9 acres are an original planting from 1910s that my great grandfather planted. Love the trivia!
Chris Morisoli
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