2010 Rosenblum Abba Vineyard Syrah

Rosenblum Cellars was founded in 1978 in Alameda County. The winery is unusual in that it is located in the East Bay just across from San Francisco. It was founded by Kent Rosenblum, a veterinarian with an interest in wine, and today the business is still run by the Rosenblum family. The winery makes a large selection of wines sourced from grapes grown in virtually every region of California, from Sonoma and Paso Robles, to Contra Costa, Santa Barbara and Mendocino. Rosenblum makes about 50 wines a year. They are known for Zinfandels, Rhone-style reds and whites, and dessert wines. Many of the wines are vineyard-designated.

Sierra Foothills AVA is in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and it includes parts of eight counties. With total acreage of 2.6 million acres, and nearly 6,000 vineyard acres, it is one of the largest appellations in California. Wine grapes were planted in the foothills during the Gold Rush in the mid-19th century and the appellation was officially recognized in 1987. There are five sub-appellations within the Sierra Foothills region, and more than 100 wineries, most small and family-owned. Zinfandel is the most successful wine grape in this region, though Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are also planted.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.