Zin Blending at Ravenswood – You can do this too!

For Passport Sonoma Valley, I focused on some of the out-of-the-way locations or lesser-known labels this weekend. My first stop was blending at Ravenswood, the No Wimpy Wines folks.What better place to blend Zin? The seminar was included as part of my Passport ticket – making it a great value from the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance. But Ravenswood offers blending every week; find out more here.

Peter Griffith, host of Blending Seminars at Ravenswood

“Have a hearty breakfast,” read the email from Peter at Ravenswood. I did that at Schellville Grill with the aptly named “Carneros Scramble.” I picked up my Passport and glass at Sebastiani. Then I headed to Ravenswood’s rustic winery at the end of a canyon hidden behind the town of Sonoma. I arrived just in time for Peter Griffith’s 11am Blending Seminar.

Thanks to the work of Ravenswood, both in winemaking and marketing, a Zinfandel renaissance took place in the wine world. They produce and bottle an astounding 700,000 cases, as well as bottling for Clos du Bois and others at their Quarry Winery on Highway 121.  About 80% of the trucks rolling out of there daily are bringing Ravenswood’s Vintners Blend Zinfandel to most of the 50 states and beyond.

A serious blending moment

Our seminar table was set overlooking the vineyards — with Carignane and Petite Sirah – the same wines Ravenswood uses for blending their Zinfandel. Peter explained we would be noticing the acid characteristics (from the Carignan), and the tannins and structure (from the Petite Sirah). Our task was to note how the smallest change in proportions would result in a very different wine. Four of us blenders were all set with our wines, pipettes and datasheets.

Seven blends later, I had an “aha” moment with a formula of 17ml Zinfandel, .5ml Carignan, and 2.5ml Petite Sirah.  Peter took that up to bottle proportions, we corked and sealed the bottle. Voila! I had my own Zinfandel blend to take home and share with a friend.

The blenders hung out under the arbor to taste some single vineyard designate Zins with Peter. 2007 Dickerson Vineyard Zinfandel went great with the local cheeses and fruit we shared. Dickerson vineyard is on Zinfandel Lane, west side of Napa Valley. It’s a small, limited production vineyard. Ravenswood has been producing Dickerson Zin exclusively since 1982.  My favorite descriptors for the Dickerson are Mexican mole sauce flavor and a briary aroma. In contrast, we tasted 2007 Big River Zinfandel from over 100-year-old vines in Alexander Valley for a rich cassis, jammy, plummy experience.

Walking out through the tasting room, I ran into Uncle Bob. Bob hosts summer Wednesday evening wine and food pairings in the Ravenswood lounge or out on the patio. Another best-kept secret in and around Sonoma. RSVP recommended!