Oak Farm American Zinfandel 2022

Alcohol: 15.5%

Grapes: 85% Zinfandel (9% of which is Primitivo), 15% Petite Sirah

Localization: Lodi, CA, USA

Tasting Notes: Rich and structured, this Zinfandel presents aromas of red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, and then some notes of leather, tobacco and dark chocolate. It is a full-body wine, with a dry and long finish.

Notes: The Zinfandel, Primitivo and Petite Sirah grapes were harvested early in the morning, brought to the winery and de-stemmed into tanks. The wines fermented separately for about two weeks with daily pump-overs until dry, then they were pressed and transferred into oak barrels. After 16 months of aging, the Zinfandels, Primitivo and Petite Sirah were combined together and bottled.

The Domain: Oak Farm Vineyards is a family owned and operated estate winery located in Lodi CA.

The property was originally home to William DeVries and his wife Cornelia Crowe, which William acquired in 1860. At the time, the area was called "Elkhorn Township". DeVries was a wheat farmer, raised cattle, and even became Justice of the Peace. The beautiful colonial style home was built by William in 1876. The property has been largely renovated with great attention to its’ heritage. The ranch was known throughout the San Joaquin Valley as one of the most magnificent and beautiful pieces of property within the state. DeVries was an enthusiastic lover of trees, particularly of oaks, and on the home ranch, he never allowed a tree to be cut unless it was a menace. Today, many of the property’s enormous oaks still stand, along with the DeVries family burial plot.

The Panella family purchased Oak Farm in 2004. As a third generation California Farmer, Dan undertook the task of replanting the property’s 60 acres of vineyards in 2012. Dan leads a talented building a diverse portfolio of wines made up of 14 different grape varieties as well as selectively sourced grapes.