California’s great old vine Zinfandel vineyards

[M_Dildine]

Not done wading through the data yet, but here is the list as of Fri. p.m. Hope to get back to this manana.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed, please keep that knowledge flowing!

Aida, Napa, NEED DATE
Aldo’s, Napa, NEED DATE
Alegria Vineyards, RRV, 1890
Angeli Ranch, Alexander, NEED DATE
Bacchi Ranch, RRV, 1909
Bacigalupi, RRV, 1920
Barracia, Sonoma Valley 1892
Bedrock, Sonoma Valley, 1888
Belloni, RRV, 1920
Big River, Alexander, 1893
Black Chicken, Napa, NEED DATE
Black Sears, Napa Howell, NEED DATE
Buchignani Ranch, Alexander, 1955
Carlisle, RRV, 1927
Casa Santinamaria/Maggies Reserve, Sonoma Valley, 1890’s
Chauvet, SV, NEED DATE
Ciapusci, Mendocino, 1878
Cortina, Dry Creek, NEED DATE
Cullinane Vineyard, SV, 1930’s
Dickerson, Napa, 1930
Dina’s (Chelli), RRV, 1910
Dogtown, Lodi, NEED DATE
Dolinsek Ranch, RRV, 1910
Duarte, Contra Costa, 1899
DuPratt, Mendocino, 1916
Dusi Ranch, Paso, 1923
Eschen-Rinaldi, Amador, 1910
Esola, Amador, 1910
Falleri, Napa, 1920
Fanucchi-Wood, RRV, 1910
Fava Ranch, RRV, 1922
Forchini, RRV, 1910
Fredericks, Sonoma Valley, NEED DATE
Frediani, Napa, 1920
Galleano, Cucamonga, 1925
Gamba, RRV, 1900
Gambogi, RRV, 1909
Geyserville, Alexander, 1880
Gold Mine Ranch, Dry Creek, 1914
Grandpere, Amador, 1900
Hale’s, Dry Creek, 1955
Hartford, RRV, 1910
Hayne, Napa Howell, 1903
Highwire, RRV, 1913
Jackass Hill, RRV, 1899
Jimsomere, SCM, 1900
Jolene’s, RRV, 1928
Limerick Lane, Sonoma, 1911
Lion Oaks, SCV, 1899
Lopez, Cucamonga, 1918
Lorenzo’s, Dry Creek, 1909
Lubenko, Amador, 1910
Lytton Springs, Dry Creek, 1900
Mancini, RRV
Mancuso/ Morse/ Lasseter Ranch, Sonoma Valley, 1919
Martinellli Road (Jackass), RRV, 1880
Massoni, Amador, 1910
Mazzoni Ranch, Alexander, 1910
McElarney and Smith, Sonoma, 1888
Mettler, Lodi, 1907
Mohr-Fry, Lodi, 1930
Montafi Ranch (Tom Feeney), RRV, 1926
Monte Rosa, Sonoma, 1890
Monte Rosso, Sonoma Valley, 1886
Moore “Earthquake”, Napa, 1906
Mounts Ranch, Dry Creek, 1952
Nalle, DCV, 1910’s
Nervo, Alexander, 1899
Old Crane, Napa, 1880s
Old Hill Ranch, Sonoma Valley, 1880
Pagani Ranch, Sonoma Valley, 1910
Palisades, Napa, NEED DATE
Papera Ranch (Carlo’s), RRV, 1934
Pedroncelli, Dry Creek, 1927
Perli, Mendocino, 1899
Pesenti, Paso, 1923
Ponzo, RRV, 1952
Puccioni, Sonoma, 1904
Recetti, Mendocino, DATE?
Rossi Ranch, Napa, NEED DATE
Rossi Ranch, Sonoma Valley, 1910
Royal-Tee, Lodi, 1899
Rue Vineyard, RRV, 1910
Saitone, RRV, 1895
Salvador, Contra Costa, 1890’s
Samsel, Sonoma Valley, 1890s
Sausal Vineyard, Alexander, 1890’s
Savannah-Chanelle (Congress Springs), SCM, 1897
Scherrer, Alexander, 1912
Seghesio, Sonoma, 1902
Shaw, Sonoma, 1882
Soucie, Lodi, 1916
Stellwagen, Sonoma Valley, 1899
Teldeschi Ranch, Dry Creek, 1885
Tofanelli, Napa, 1929
Tollini, Mendocino, 1924
Twin Pines, RRV, 1900
Two Acres, RRV, 1910
Ueberroth, Paso, 1899
Valsecci, Napa, NEED DATE
Vellitini Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, NEED DATE
Vigneto di Evo, RRV, 1898
Vogensan, DCV, NEED DATE
Von Weidlich, RRV, 1937
Weiss, SV, NEED DATE
Wellington, Sonoma Valley, 1892
Winberri, RRV, 1905
Woodside, SCV, 1910
York Creek, Napa, 1935
Zampatti, Sonoma, NEED DATE
Zeni, Mendocino, DATE?

[Tegan_Passalacqua]

Weiss and Fredricks are the same vineyard, planted in 1937, Zampatti planted in 1915, Dogtown planted in 1944. Aida and black sears were both planted in the 1970’s. The old petite syrah at Aida planted in the early 1900’s was ripped out to plant merlot about 2000, so they’ve got that going for them. There is an old block of Cinsault planted in Lodi “Bechtold” that was planted in the 1880’s. This vineyard, along with Dogtown, Salvador and ueberroth are all planted on their own roots. I thought it may be nice and geeky to include this.

[M_Dildine]

@bretrooks

My mother-in-law works at Field Stone Winery on 128 in Healdsburg, and they claim a date of 1894 for their estate petite syrah vineyards. Not sure what the formal vineyard name is, though.

http://www.fieldstonewinery.com/about/index.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nice Brett, they call it the Field Stone Estate Vineyard. As you mentioned they’ve been growing Petite there since 1894.

[M_Dildine]

@Tegan Passalacqua

Weiss and Fredricks are the same vineyard, planted in 1937, Zampatti planted in 1915, Dogtown planted in 1944. Aida and black sears were both planted in the 1970’s. The old petite syrah at Aida planted in the early 1900’s was ripped out to plant merlot about 2000, so they’ve got that going for them. There is an old block of Cinsault planted in Lodi “Bechtold” that was planted in the 1880’s. This vineyard, along with Dogtown, Salvador and ueberroth are all planted on their own roots. I thought it may be nice and geeky to include this.

Tegan, extremely nice and exceptionally geeky! Thank you!

[M_Dildine]

Here is the latest list of California’s old vine treasures. I randomly chose 55 years as a cut off point, which establishes the date at 1955.

There are a couple of suggested vineyards that I couldn’t document that are not yet included.

Aldo’s, Napa, NEED DATE
Alegria Vineyards, RRV, 1890
Angeli Ranch, Alexander, NEED DATE
Bacchi Ranch, RRV, 1909
Bacigalupi, RRV, 1920
Barracia, Sonoma Valley 1892
Bedrock, Sonoma Valley, 1888
Belloni, RRV, 1920
Benito, Paso, NEED DATE
Big River, Alexander, 1893
Black Chicken, Napa, NEED DATE
Brandin Ranch, Napa, 1926
Buchignani Ranch, Alexander, 1955
Carlisle, RRV, 1927
Casa Santinamaria/Maggies Reserve, Sonoma Valley, 1890’s
Chauvet, SV, NEED DATE
Ciapusci, Mendocino, 1878
Cortina, Dry Creek, NEED DATE
Cullinane Vineyard, SV, 1930’s
DeRose, Cienega, 1899
Dickerson, Napa, 1930
Dina’s (Chelli), RRV, 1910
Dogtown, Lodi, 1944
Dolinsek Ranch, RRV, 1910
Duarte, Contra Costa, 1899
DuPratt, Mendocino, 1916
Dusi Ranch, Paso, 1923
Eschen-Rinaldi, Amador, 1910
Esola, Amador, 1910
Falleri, Napa, 1920
Fanucchi-Wood, RRV, 1910
Fava Ranch, RRV, 1922
Fieldstone, Alexander, 1894
Forchini, RRV, 1910
Fredericks (Weiss), Sonoma Valley, 1937
Frediani, Napa, 1920
Galleano, Cucamonga, 1925
Gamba, RRV, 1900
Gambogi, RRV, 1909
Geyserville, Alexander, 1880
Gold Mine Ranch, Dry Creek, 1914
Grandpere, Amador, 1900
Hale’s, Dry Creek, 1955
Hartford, RRV, 1910
Hayne, Napa Howell, 1903
Highwire, RRV, 1913
Jackass Hill, RRV, 1899
Jimsomere, SCM, 1900
Jolene’s, RRV, 1928
Limerick Lane, Sonoma, 1911
Lion Oaks, SCV, 1899
Lopez, Cucamonga, 1918
Lorenzo’s, Dry Creek, 1909
Lubenko, Amador, 1910
Lytton Springs, Dry Creek, 1900
Mancini, Sonoma, NEED DATE
Mancuso/ Morse/ Lasseter Ranch, Sonoma Valley, 1919
Martinellli Road (Jackass), RRV, 1880
Massoni, Amador, 1910
Mazzoni Ranch, Alexander, 1910
McElarney and Smith, Sonoma, 1888
Mettler, Lodi, 1907
Mohr-Fry, Lodi, 1930
Montafi Ranch (Tom Feeney), RRV, 1926
Monte Rosa, Sonoma, 1890
Monte Rosso, Sonoma Valley, 1886
Moore “Earthquake”, Napa, 1906
Mounts Ranch, Dry Creek, 1952
Nalle, DCV, 1910’s
Nervo, Alexander, 1899
Old Crane, Napa, 1880s
Old Hill Ranch, Sonoma Valley, 1880
Pagani Ranch, Sonoma Valley, 1910
Palisades, Napa, NEED DATE
Papera Ranch (Carlo’s), RRV, 1934
Pedroncelli, Dry Creek, 1927
Perli, Mendocino, 1899
Pesenti, Paso, 1923
Pietra Santa, Cienega, 1905
Ponzo, RRV, 1952
Puccioni, Sonoma, 1904
Recetti, Mendocino, DATE?
Rossi Ranch, Napa, NEED DATE
Rossi Ranch, Sonoma Valley, 1910
Royal-Tee, Lodi, 1899
Rue Vineyard, RRV, 1910
Saitone, RRV, 1895
Salvador, Contra Costa, 1890’s
Samsel, Sonoma Valley, 1890s
Sausal Vineyard, Alexander, 1890’s
Savannah-Chanelle (Congress Springs), SCM, 1897
Scherrer, Alexander, 1912
Seghesio, Sonoma, 1902
Shaw, Sonoma, 1882
Soucie, Lodi, 1916
Stellwagen, Sonoma Valley, 1899
Teldeschi Ranch, Dry Creek, 1885
Tofanelli, Napa, 1929
Tollini, Mendocino, 1924
Twin Pines, RRV, 1900
Two Acres, RRV, 1910
Ueberroth, Paso, 1899
Valsecci, Napa, NEED DATE
Vellitini Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, NEED DATE
Vigneto di Evo, RRV, 1898
Vogensan, DCV, NEED DATE
Von Weidlich, RRV, 1937
Wellington, Sonoma Valley, 1892
Winberri, RRV, 1905
Woodside, SCV, 1910
York Creek, Napa, 1935
Zampatti, Sonoma, 1915
Zeni, Mendocino, DATE?
Ziegler, Sonoma, NEED DATE

[Ken_Zinns]

Mike, thanks for starting this thread and putting together your list!

Here are a few more Lodi-area vineyards:

Marian’s Vineyard - on the Mohr-Fry Ranch, St. Amant winery states Marian’s is “8.3 acres of own-rooted Zinfandel vines planted in 1901 in front of grower Jerry Fry’s house.” Sounds like the rest of Mohr-Fry Vineyard was planted later.
Westwind - another of Jessie’s Grove vineyards, stated as 65+ years old
Lizzie James (not the original name) - stated by Harney Lane Winery as planted 1904
Mencarini - stated as 60-100 year-old vines by Abundance Winery

This might be Mencarini?? Not sure.

[Cris_Whetstone]

Beautiful photo Ken.

[Sean_Devaney]

Mike one small correction to your list: Forchini vineyard is in Dry Creek, not RRV.
http://www.forchini.com/Zin.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Glenn_L_e_v_i_n_e]

Ghirardelli Vineyard spreads over 25 acres of rolling hills near Burson in western Calaveras County, this is the oldest Zinfandel Vineyard in Calaveras Co and was originally ~ 7.5 acres. The original acreage dates back to 1900 with additional lands being purchased in 1942 & 1951. Steve Millier makes really excellent Zin from there these days under the label Milliaire Winery, the wine largely made from the “new” vines but there is a Zinfandel Port that comes almost entirely from the ancient vines.

Disclaimer: my g-friend works with Steve but trust me this dry-farmed, organic vineyard is very worthy of inclusion.

[TomHill]

@Wes Barton

Lots of old vines in that area. From DeRose:
“The 15 acres of zinfandel vines were originally planted on their own roots in the late 1890s. They grow in an assortment of soil types including a rocky mixture created by the San Andreas Fault and a fine sandy-loam that contains fist-size chunks of dolomite. This brilliant white mineral is mostly calcium, an essential element found in all great vineyards. Head trained and spur pruned, the dry-farmed vines yield only three-quarters of a ton per acre.”

That’s it…that was the name I was trying to come up with…DeRose.

The also claim to have old-vine Viognier…dating back to the early '20’s I recall. Well before Viognier was ever introduced into Calif. Turns out…
they took one of their old Zin blocks in the late '90’s and top-grafted it over to Viognier. Does this make that block old-vine Viognier???
Good question…no good answer. Seems a bit disingeneous to me, though.
Thanks for jogging my memory, Wes.
Tom

[TomHill]

@Dave Negus

How old is Rockpile Vineyard?

Both Rockpile Vyd and Rockpile Road Vineyard were planted in the early 90’s.
Rockpile Road is the source of the Rosenblum Zin. It was planted in 1994 by Jack Florence. I have seen Rosenblum ads that refer to 100 year old vines, which I suppose is partly true. Florence got his cuttings from the over 100 year old vines in the St. Peters vineyard behind the church in Cloverdale, so the vines are clones of 100 year old vines.

I think all the vnyds up on RockpileRd are more recent plantings. The Mauritson’s used to run cattle & sheep way up there on their property, but think their grape plantings
all date from the mid-'90’s. They did have some grapes up that direction long ago, but they’re now on the bottom of LakeSonoma.
Tom

[TomHill]

Great job on this list, Mike. You’re maybe a bit on the anal side to undertake this project???

When you get this list completed to your/our satisfaction; I would encourage you to provide it to the ZAP folks. I think they
would find it of great value to share w/ their members. Who knows…maybe fame & fortune will be yours for it?? But wouldn’t quit the day job just yet!!!
Tom

[Sean_Devaney]

Mancini and Zeigler Vineyards were both planted in the early 1920’s and are in the RRV appalation.

[M_Dildine]

@TomHill

Great job on this list, Mike. You’re maybe a bit on the anal side to undertake this project???

When you get this list completed to your/our satisfaction; I would encourage you to provide it to the ZAP folks. I think they
would find it of great value to share w/ their members. Who knows…maybe fame & fortune will be yours for it?? But wouldn’t quit the day job just yet!!!
Tom

Tom, no one has ever accused me of being “anal” before, but this topic really captured my imagination. I can’t believe that a simple compliation like this doesn’t already exist, but I have not been able to find it.

Thanks to fellow old vine geeks like yourself, this has been a fun little project - a “Berserker” project, not a Mike D. project.

That said, I am considering some follow-up projects/events and would welcome your ideas and those of other Board members.

[Sean_Devaney]

Seghesio doesn’t give a date for the Cortina vineyard but list it as “40 year old”: http://www.seghesio.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=1CfvtI4Qxec%3d&tabid=245" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[M_Dildine]

Thanks Sean, another fanatic!

Here’s Fanucchi-Wood, which I just learned is “circa - 1906”

[M_Dildine]

Anyone heard of Harvey Vineyard in Amador? They claim to have been planted in 1869?

[Ken_Zinns]

More from Amador:

Baldinelli Vineyard (formerly Dickson) - the Zin vines date from Prohibition

A few others I checked on - Aparicio, Dal Porto, and Cassinelli - seem like they’ve been replanted since original Zin plantings dating from before to just after Prohibition, but I’m not 100% sure on that.

Glenn - good info on the Ghirardelli Vineyard in Calaveras, that’s one I was going to check on too.

[Ken_Zinns]

@M. Dildine

Anyone heard of Harvey Vineyard in Amador? They claim to have been planted in 1869?

That would be the same as the “Grandpere Vineyard”, Mike. Lots of nasty stuff surrounding the recent history of that vineyard - Tom Hill knows the story better than most and can fill you in. The 1869 claim seems highly suspect in any case.

[TomHill]

@M. Dildine

Anyone heard of Harvey Vineyard in Amador? They claim to have been planted in 1869?

The Harvey vnyd is the original GrandPere. Smerling trademarked the Grandpere name when he took cuttings and planted a new
Grandpere vnyd behind Renwood. We’ll not talk about Smerling’s ethics, though.
Tom