January 27, 2007 (Winewaves.com) - Thousands turned out for the 16th annual ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) Zinfandel tasting on Saturday at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Photos copyright Jerry Hall.
The baguettes table is looking very good as the Trade tasting just gets underway, just after 10 AM (PST).
The spread of cheeses, breads and grapes soon after the doors opened for the Trade tasting.
The spread of cheeses, breads and grapes soon after the doors opened for the Trade tasting.
Vance Sharp III is Proprietor of Sharp Cellars and a true Zinfandel enthusiast. He is pictured conveying his enthusiasm for one of many Trade tasters. Sharp Cellars is located atop a mountain above the historic Sonoma Plaza, and his Zinfandel vineyard is organically farmed. Sharp Cellars Zinfandels retail for between $45 and $115.
At the Steele Wines table, Jess Hollar, Wine Club Manager and Bill Bishop, National Sales Manager were happily pouring Steele Clear Lake Zinfandel and Writer's Block Zinfandel.
A crowd shot from above at Building #2 taken before 11 AM (PST). The Trade tasting was really just getting started.
A crowd shot from above at Building #2 taken before 11 AM (PST). The Trade tasting was really just getting started.
A number of excellent Zinfandel offerings were flowing freely at Rosenblum Cellars very popular table.
The Zinfandel was flowing even behind the table at Rosenblum's very popular station.
Don & Sons debuted the excellent value Plungerhead line of Zinfandels and gave away clever lip balms to be worn around the neck. Richard Bruno is the Head Winemaker. August Sebastiani is shown doing the pouring, and he says he is a "distant" relation to the winery family. Winewaves has reviewed many Don & Sons wines, most recently Aquinas Pinot Noir and Cabernet.
Delicato Vineyards John Garaventa (Brand Manager) and Bethany Browning (P.R. Director) show off their new label, Twisted Old Vine Zinfandel, which puts a hearty Zin in a Magnum (1.5 Liter) bottle and retails it for under $15.
Mike Hendry of Hendry Ranch Wines was pouring barrel samples of the excellent Block #7 Zinfandel 2005 which is due to be released very soon.
Mike Hendry of Hendry Ranch Wines discusses the winegrowing philosophy of their family ranch in the Napa Benchlands.
Phillip and Cheri Marcucci of Marcucci Farms Fava Brothers Zinfandel alongside their winemaker, Raphaël Brisbois.
Cheri Marcucci proudly shows off her Marcucci Farms Fava Brothers Vineyard Zinfandel, which retails for $36. Cheri and her husband, the fourth generation of six to farm their Russian River Valley land. They also produce Olive Oil and Vinegar.
The Meeker Vineyard has a sense of humor. That's Walrus John Lennon and Hound Dog Elvis playing pool on the label of 11th Rack Zinfandel, a very nice and fun offering that retails for $14.
The Four Vines Winery table was crowded with people wanting a taste of Biker Zin.
Ron Mencarino and his Wife proudly display their Abundance Vineyards Lodi Zinfandel, recently reviewed by Winewaves. The Mencarino family has been farming in Lodi for generations, and began growing grapes in 1961. Much more recently they began making and marketing their own wine rather than just selling the grapes to other producers. This is a story repeated several times over at ZAP this year.
Ed Killian of Chateau Souverain discussed the move his winery is making to the historic Asti Winery property a few miles north of their previous Healdsburg, CA location.
Barefoot Cellars invited everyone to do a little gaming while enjoying a pour of their Zinfandel.
Elisheva Gur-Arieh, Proprietor of C.G. Di Arie Vineyard and Winery proudly pours one of his Zinfandels from Mt. Aukum, CA in the Shenandoah Valley.
Sourdough baguettes were wrapped in napkins and piled high all day near the entrance. After all, you need to clear your palate and keep all that Zin from going to your head.
Don & Sons clever advertising just never quits, as this truck parked conspicuously shows. Le bon vin de la Napa Valley is one of their newer brands, not even a Zinfandel. They did however pour their new Zinfandel brand called Plungerhead at the event.
Chris Lynch of Mutt Lynch Winery pours the popular Portrait of a Mutt Cuvee Zinfandel.
Serious tasting was taking place at the very popular Rosenblum Cellars table.
At the Perry Creek Vineyards table, Zin Man! was the popular pour. Perry Creek is located in Fair Play, CA, in the up and coming El Dorado Hills appellation.
Sailboats and wine tasters take advantage of a break in the weather at Fort Mason in San Francisco on Saturday January 27, 2007.
