Wirz Zinfandel 2018

Type

Red

Grape

Zinfandel

Region

Value

Vibe

Farming

Characteristics

Acidity

Body

Tannins

Production Notes

As with his Riesling, Ryan sources this Zinfandel from the Wirz Vineyard in the foothills of the Gabilan Mountains (in fact, Riesling actually accounts for about 9% of this field blend). The vines were planted in 1902 — just as the first T-rex skeleton was being dug up in Montana. Today they only produce about a ton of fruit per acre (about a quarter of the output of younger vines), which concentrates the fruit, while adding clarity and consistency. The entire field blend goes into a single open-top redwood barrel to ferment (picture a jacuzzi that would suit Paul Bunyun), after which the wine spends 18 months in neutral oak.

Wirz Zinfandel - 2018

Juicy with savory tannins, this old-vine Zin evokes a California of Model Ts, infertile terrain and irrational love (Steinbeck would be proud).

Based in a barebones warehouse in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ryan is one of a handful of young producers contributing to the region’s rebirth as a vibrant natural wine destination. And thanks to his work with Wirz Vineyard, Ryan has also become one of California wine’s leading eco-pioneers, specializing in soulful expressions of Riesling and Zinfandel. With its assortment of ancient, head-trained vines perched in the foothills of the Gabilan Mountains, Wirz Vineyard is a living piece of California history. But from an environmental standpoint, Wirz has been a symbol of sustainable farming for over 50 years, dry-farmed (sans irrigation) since the 1960s. In a state that’s battled drought and water shortages for decades, this approach is an example of radical conservation, showing that thoughtful stewardship of heritage vineyards will have a vital role to play in ensuring a greener wine future.