Luxury Zinfandel
September 19 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
$150 – $175
Photo by Craig Lovell – https://fineartamerica.com
United States, 1885. Grover Cleveland was sworn in for his first term as POTUS, the Washington Monument was dedicated, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York harbor, and the first Zinfandel vines were planted on steep, rocky limestone slopes in Paso Robles.
Many 100+ year old Zinfandel vines planted across California are still thriving, and used to make some of the state’s most compelling wines. Wines made from these legendary vines are distinctive, complex and imbued with history. Old vines produce lower yields, and their grapes have more concentrated flavors and tend to communicate terroir more effectually because of their long-established presence in the soil.
Zinfandel changes character significantly depending on whereabouts in California it’s grown. But classic Zinfandel – spicy, peppery, brambly-briary and fruity – has no equal. Its charm is in its rustic exuberance. It has soul. “At harvest time, growers bring the Cabernet in new trucks and ride fancy cars. The Zinfandel arrives in a motley assortment of old 1940s and 1950s-era vehicles, and the growers are just as earthy and uncomplicated. That only happens with Zinfandel.” notes Tom Mackey, of St. Francis Winery in Sonoma County.
Many of you who participated in past Zin events have asked for a high-end Zin tasting and here is your event!
We are fortunate that wine expert and entertaining speaker, Eric Miller, agreed to find some luxury bottles and prepare an elegant tasting of wines from the most succulent, spicy and delicious Zinfandel grapes.
Eric’s thoughts as he prepares this event for us: “I have only been drinking wine for 70 years, since I didn’t start drinking wine until I was 6, but I am trying to catch up. Living in Europe I could drink alcohol when I was tall enough to reach the bar top.
When we returned to New York State a person could drink at the age of 18, so I had opportunity to taste American wines. Smell and taste drove me crazy. I collected wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rioja, Tuscany, Chile, Cyprus, everywhere, when I could afford them. I didn’t know how to verbalize it but my go-to wine became Zinfandel. Big, ripe fruit, dry, full bodied, delicious. My father was hoping more for me.
The wheels of wine have certainly turned. Red Zin just about disappeared a while back as its big White sister took center stage. And then, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, came the R’s—Ridge, Ravenswood, Rafanelli, BBQ and a hot tub.
This was not sophisticated or costly enough, so California poured on the French oak, science and technology. Then came the honorable list of significant producers too long to mention. Then came the miles of vineyards needed to manufacture blah, good, better, best Zins, and my world changed again. Prices rose and fell, wineries began to call their Zins “Crljenak Kaštelanski”, and a truly elite class of Zinfandel began to establish itself among the apostles of Zinfandel.
Sir Joel Peterson calls some of the current iteration “food wines”. (Let’s talk about that.) Just about every Zin in the lux category lights me with a passion similar to yesteryear. I believe my exuberant lover is well into its most magnificent stage and my goal is taste as many as we can together.”
Join us September 19th at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg to learn how old, gnarled vines make great wines! More event details forthcoming in the next newsletter, including the food pairings. Please email the Treasurer any allergy alerts.
Reservation deadline September 16th. You may make reservations via the Shoppe Page of this website. Trust us—you want to be there—you deserve this special treat!
Members—$155
Patrons—$150
Nonmembers—$175
