"Fall into Great Zins!"

The goals of the Total Locals Club are two-fold: first, to give you a chance to enjoy wines from more of our artisan wineries on a regular basis, and second, to offer themes and varietal flights within each shipment.

For this collection then, we offer our annual assortment of outstanding Sonoma County Zinfandels, from four of our wineries. These wines span a wide range of approaches to making Zinfandel here in the county, and this time around include a Zin Port for dessert! As always, we have selected wines that we know will exceed your expectations for quality and value.

We are also including a copy of the new publication Winecountry.com, a phenomenal guide to wine country lifestyle, cuisine, quaffing and visitation, which we think you will enjoy. We especially enjoy sharing it with you, as it has been a labor of love for both Locals Owner Carolyn Lewis and Tasting Room Manager Taylor Poff. Visit the website by the same name if you would like to subscribe to this bi-monthly publication.

The history of Zinfandel is fascinating and still being fully rediscovered. The vine originally comes from Croatia, a grape called crlejenak kastelanski. Italians brought the grape to their country and called it primitivo. It is not clear exactly how Zinfandel came to the United States, but it arrived in the early 1820’s and by the early 20^th century, was one of the leading grapes in red wine blends with mis-located names like “Burgundy” and “Chianti”. (Chianti wines, for instance, technically come from a specified growing area in Italy, and are usually focused on the Sangiovese varietal.)

Certainly Zinfandel was a favorite of the Italians who settled and planted wine grapes in Sonoma County. The name Zinfandel first appeared in 1832, and truly reflects a winemaking style and identity that is uniquely American (for instance, typically using American rather than European oak for the barrels), along with the varietal grapevine.

Today this varietal enjoys a tremendous resurgence, and rivals Cabernet Sauvignon for popularity. In our local area, numerous old-vine plantings (some more than 110 years old) have been brought back to life. They are valued for the rich, intense flavors that come from the small amounts of more intense fruit that old vines produce. Today’s Zinfandel wines offer tremendous appeal, match effortlessly with a broad variety of fine and casual foods from grilled lamb to Mexican, and in the case of old-vine Zins, are a chance to taste living history.

We hope that you enjoy comparing the different outcomes of matching this varietal with the unique soils and microclimates of Sonoma County. Ed ora peril vostra godimento!*

*And now for your enjoyment!

Your October Total Locals collection starts with the Peterson Winery 2001 Zinfandel, Bernier Zinyard, Dry Creek Valley ($25 / $20). Alcohol 13.4%, 200 cases produced. Varietal Content: 95% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah. 5% new American oak, 95% 2-4 year old French oak.

Why call it a Zinyard? Many vineyards are planted to more than one varietal. Yet growers Paul and Yael Bernier knew they wanted only Zinfandel grapes growing on their special hillside vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley. The fruit from this distinctive single acre reflects their artisan growing efforts, matched with Fred Peterson’s artful wine-making.

If you enjoy a Zinfandel for a great sip, this is the wine. Though it pairs beautifully with food, it shines for its light pinotesque fruit. This Zin is silky and smooth in nature, while a little Petite Sirah adds complexity, an earthy dimension, a bit of body, and extends the finish of this gorgeous wine. With delicious, subtle spice on finish, this one saves the best for last! This easy-to-drink Zinfandel would also be an ideal match for pork tender-loin in a tart cherry sauce.

Peterson Winery 2000 Zinfandel, Bradford Mountain, Dry Creek Valley ($25 / $20). Alcohol 14.4%, 400 cases produced. Varietal Content: 98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah. 25% new French & American oak barrels, 75% 1-4 year old French & American oak.

Peterson Winery produces four Zinfandels (we always pour two), and here we mark the debut of the coveted Bradford Zin at Locals. This is ultimate in Peterson Zinfandels, made with fruit from the Bradford Mountain Estate Vineyard where Fred Peterson lives.

Deep and smooth, this luscious wine has a rich dry nose like a Cabernet Sauvignon, and moves elegantly across the palate. With strawberry on the nose and tip of the tongue, deeply concentrated berry flavors from profound mountain fruit shine against a backdrop of black pepper, creamy vanilla, toasty oak and a hint of mineral quality. Culminating in a disciplined move across the palate, complex flavors drive towards slightly sweet cherry fruit and oak on the finish. Sheer elegance in a classy Zinfandel.

Crane Canyon Cellars 2000 Zinfandel, Elsbree Estate, Russian River Valley ($24 / $19.20). This wine offers a deep, brooding yet graceful texture and near-decadent flavor. The Elsbree Vineyard is in Windsor at the base of picturesque Russian River Valley foothills. 14.8% alcohol, 750 cases produced.

This is the first Estate Zinfandel from Crane Canyon, which recently medalled at the California State Fair. The Elsbree Vineyard is situated on a gorgeous south-facing hillside. The vines enjoy a perfect microclimate for Zinfandel, just beyond the eastern reach of early morning coastal fog, but benefiting from the warmth of the southern slope. Production was limited to less than 2 tons per acre, resulting in a wine of deep richness and wonderful complexity.

A deeply opaque color invites you to this richly extracted wine, which exhibits great

varietal character. Rich layers of dark fruit are accented by toasted oak and vanilla, and embraced by the smooth tannins. Jammy raspberry bramble and cherry flavors are balanced with delicious spice. We love it with a steak…enjoy with or without your favorite fall foods!

Martin Family Winery 2002 Zinfandel, Red Rooster, Dry Creek Valley($29 / $23.20). Alcohol 15.5%, 294 cases produced. 60% French oak, 40% American oak, 50% new oak.

Vibrant, dramatic fruit from 81 year-old vines drives the fresh fruit character of ripe blackberries, juicy cherries and plum in this fruit-forward Zin. The fruit flavors are matched with bright aromatics of toasty coconut and bananas, along with other sweet flavors from fresh, first year oak barrels.

Lighter in body for a Martin wine, a wonderful wealth of rich flavors bursts in your mouth as the wine moves across your palate. Supple, round tannins and undertone aromas of tobacco and chocolate make this Zinfandel a unique treat. Serve with Plum Pork perhaps? No matter how you drink it, enjoy!

Martin Family Winery 2002 Zinfandel, Three Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley ($26 / $20.80). Alcohol 15.3%, 921 cases produced. 48% Red Rooster Zinfandel, 37% Crazy Horse Zinfandel, 10% Rattlesnake Rock Zinfandel, 3% Petite Sirah, 2% Carignane. 60% French oak, 40% American oak, 50% new oak.

Powerful, jammy fruit that you might know from the renowned Martin Rattlesnake Zinfandel is matched with complex flavors from the fruit of two other old-vine vineyards, including the Red Rooster Zinfandel just mentioned. Along with sweet cherry on the nose, aromatics that again come from fresh oak barrels, enjoy the smooth ride across your palate to a long spicy finish.

Eric Ross Winery 2000 Old Vine Zinfandel Port, Occidental Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($32 / $25.60). Alcohol 15.5%, 150 cases produced.

This standout Port wine is always a Locals favorite. Awesome old-vine fruit is matched with less brandy and less sugar than is typical in California. This approach creates a wine that is more enjoyable now than most Ports, as the lighter style and quality fruit match enjoyment at a younger age.

Unlike a sweet late-harvest Zinfandel that spoils quickly after the bottle is opened, you can enjoy this wine again and again over a month or even more, thanks to the preserving effect of sugar and brandy in this fortified wine.

Lighter in body, brooding and dark in attitude, the slightly smoky old-vine fruit will win over even folks who think they don’t like port wines. A nose of licorice and anise matches chocolate unbelievably well…have you tried our Chocolate Pasta with a Raspberry Cream Sauce?

That’s it for this collection. Your next selections will be ready in January. We will be focusing on our diverse selection of Pinot Noirs, Winter Pinot Warmth, all offering quality quaffing as we weather winter.

The holidays are coming, and LOCALS has some great gift ideas for you and yours! Our custom signed bottle program will be available ONLY to our Wine Club Members, and we have lots of fun merchandise (discounted for you as well!). Perhaps you have friends or family who might enjoy one of the Total Locals collections you have enjoyed…we will ship (if legal) and include a gift card too!

We are always interested in hearing from you, so feel free to share your comments with us at our Tasting Room, or by sending an e-mail to yummy@tastelocalwines.com.

Remember, in addition to your 20% discount available any time, an extra 5% discount is available for 45 days from shipment or notification. When you taste these wines, and find ones you love, all the more reason to enjoy and share some more!

—Your Friends at Locals Tasting Room