1990 Frog's Leap Winery Zinfandel, 1.5ltr

Frog’s Leap is a 135-acre estate in Rutherford. It was founded in 1981 by John and Julie Williams and Larry Turley. The owners named the estate after the product once raised on the property -- frog legs bound for upscale restaurants in late 19th century San Francisco. At first the estate focused on Sauvignon Blanc, then other wines were added. In 1994 Turley left to focus on his own wines, and John and Julie Williams moved Frog’s Leap to Rutherford. Frog’s Leap was an early advocate of organic farming and in 1988 became the first certified organic winery in Napa Valley. Today it is also a leader in energy conservation and the estate runs its operation on solar power. Besides Sauvignon Blanc, the estate produces Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and other wines. Current production is about 60,000 cases annually.

Napa Valley AVA is the most famous winemaking region in the United States and one of the most prestigious in the world. With nearly 43,000 acres of vineyards and more than 300 wineries, it is the heart of fine wine production in the United States. Winemaking started in Napa in 1838 when George C. Yount planted grapes and began producing wine commercially. Other winemaking pioneers followed in the late 19th century, including the founders of Charles Krug, Schramsberg, Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyards. An infestation of phylloxera, an insect that attacks vine roots, and the onset of Prohibition nearly wiped out the nascent Napa wine industry in the early 20th century. But by the late 1950s and early 1960s Robert Mondavi and other visionaries were producing quality wines easily distinguishable from the mass-produced jug wines made in California’s Central Valley. Napa Valley’s AVA was established in 1983, and today there are 16 sub-appellations within the Napa Valley AVA. Many grapes grow well in Napa’s Mediterranean climate, but the region is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay is also very successfully cultivated, and about 30% of the AVA’s acreage is planted to white grapes, with the majority of those grapes being Chardonnay,

Zinfandel is a black-skinned grape, but 85% of the wine produced is made into a rosy “White Zinfandel.” Red Zin is far more complex and bold, while still being light-bodied. It grows in popularity as winemakers continue to experiment with new styles and blends.