1976 Fetzer Lake County Zinfandel

Fetzer is a large estate in Mendocino County. It was founded in 1968 when Barney and Kathleen Fetzer and their sons bought a ranch and converted a barn into a winery. By the 1980s the family had acquired additional land and was producing large quantities of numerous wines, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to Syrah and White Zinfandel. In 1992 Fetzer was purchased Brown-Forman Corp. and in 2011 Fetzer was purchased by Vina Concha Y Toro. Over the decades Fetzer has been a leader in green practices and organic wine production. Today the estate makes a large portfolio of wines and retains its commitment to environmental sustainability.

North Coast AVA includes California’s most prestigious sub-appellations and vineyards. The three million acre area includes vineyards in six counties north of San Francisco and nearly 50 sub-appellations. The Napa Valley and Sonoma County AVAs are just two of the renowned sub-appellations included in the North Coast designation, which also includes the AVAs Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Stag’s Leap and Rutherford, which are all among the most acclaimed wine producing districts in California. The North Coast AVA designation is generally used for wines made by blending grapes grown in several counties or AVAs. The appellation includes part of the counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Solano and Lake.

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.