varietal: Zinfandel

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Sierra Foothills

Retail Price: $25

Tasting Notes: A bold full-bodied spicy-pepper laden Zinfandel that is still kept in check by nice vanilla notes and a luscious texture. A wine for a true hedonist. The rich, ripe red fruit and pepper are built to stand up to bold and powerful dishes.

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Napa Valley

Retail Price: $35

Tasting Notes: Made by the talented and funny John Williams. I love his approach, making wines of place that are true to the soils they come from. 100% dry-farmed. Williams has also been farming organically since 1988. Frog’s Leap Zinfandel is layered with boysenberry, fleshy strawberry and a small touch of spice. Williams also blends in Petite Sirah and Carignan, bringing more depth and structure. A steal al the price!

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Dry Creek Valley

Retail Price: $35

Tasting Notes: Blockbuster old-vine Zin. Dense and full-bodied with lots of black raspberry, black cherry and spice. It has the ability to be cellared for five years. Grill up a T-bone and enjoy.

Country of Origin: California

Appellation: Sonoma County

Retail Price: $36

Tasting Notes: Classic Zinfandel flavors with a nose of chocolate, baking spice, plums and blueberry make this wine a real crowd-pleaser. The palate has a touch of heat with notes of blackberries, acai berries, plums, cloves and blueberry jam. Soft tannins make this a very food-friendly wine. This Zinfandel doesn’t need huge proteins to stand up next to big tannins; pair with BBQ, hard cheeses or even a great dark chocolate dessert!