2004 Seghesio Family Vineyards Sonoma

The Seghesio family has been making great Zin for over 100 years. The 2003 wine won an F&W American Wine Award, and this one is even more refined.

The Seghesio Story begins in 1886 when Edoardo Seghesio departed his family’s vineyards in Piedmonte, Italy for a new life in America. Like so many immigrants, he was drawn to Northern Sonoma County and the Italian Swiss Colony, to follow his passion for winemaking. The “colony,” as it was known, hired immigrants for three year stints, providing room and board and then, a lump sum at the end of those three years enabling employees to buy land or set up a business in their new home.

Soon, Edoardo rose through the ranks to winemaker. Yet, he yearned for home. The Colony’s manager repeatedly encouraged him to stay and finally, it was his niece and the opportunity to purchase land that convinced Edoardo to remain. That young girl, Angela Vasconi and Edoardo were married in 1893. In 1895, they purchased a modest home in northern Alexander Valley, less for the home than the surrounding 56 acres Edoardo recognized as ideal vineyard land. They planted the “Home Ranch” that year to what has become our family’s lifeline – Zinfandel.

When Grandfather Edoardo first planted Zinfandel on our Home Ranch in Alexander Valley in 1895, Zinfandel was known as the "boss" grape in Sonoma County.  It earned its popularity by thriving in the California sun and providing good color and sugar at harvest. To the many Italian immigrants in Sonoma County, Zinfandel was reminiscent of the fruit-driven wines of their homeland.  Because wine was an everyday part of the family meal and, the fact that Zinfandel is drinkable within a year of harvest, it became preferable over varietals that need years of aging.

This wine comes primarily from four estate vineyards: Home Ranch, San Lorenzo and River Road in Alexander Valley, and Cortina in Dry Creek Valley.  Several of these sites have produced Zinfandel for over a century, while the newer sites benefit from proprietary clones and the most advanced viticultural practices. Yields are kept at or below 4 tons per acre.

Every year, we bring in approximately 35 lots of Zinfandel averaging 25-30 years in age. Each of these lots is produced under the careful eye of our winemaker, Ted Seghesio.  The best of these lots are selected to make Sonoma Zinfandel.  A small amount of Petite Sirah is added to the wine for added complexity.  The result is a tantalizing black raspberry and classic briary flavored wine with a balance of components for which Seghesio wines are known.