1999 Sebastiani Old Vine Zinfandel

Sebastiani Vineyards of Sonoma was founded in 1904 by Samuele Sebastiani, a Tuscan immigrant who worked as a stone mason in the Sonoma hills before buying land for vineyards. His winery supplied wine to San Francisco until Prohibition, which the winery survived by making sacramental wine. By the 1960s and 1970s the family-run business was one of the largest winemakers in California and was known primarily for sweet, bulk wines. Various members of the family have left over the years to start their own winemaking ventures and today the estate is owned by Bill Foley of Foley Family Wines. The estate makes a broad portfolio of wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Zinfandel, Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah.

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.