Valley of the Moon Zinfandel

This storied 1860 property is one of the oldest wineries in Sonoma Valley. First known as Madrone Vineyards, the estate was owned by George Whitman, the Hearst family, Enrico Parducci and Peter Domenici. In 1941, Enrico and Peter renamed the property Valley of the Moon. Current owners Dan Zepponi and Tony Stewart bought the property and are championing the renaissance of this historic estate. Winemaker Greg Winter holds a degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California at Davis. Greg joined the team in 2006 and works closely with consulting winemakers, Scott McLeod and Tres Goetting. The property spans 60 acres, of which 41 is planted to sustainably farmed old vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese and Barbera. These vineyards are uniquely positioned to take advantage of the region's “banana belt” microclimate – hot, sunny afternoons and cool, foggy evenings. Additional fruit is sourced from select local growers in Sonoma County.

Aromas of cinnamon, orange zest, white pepper, and dried ginger lead to a lush mouth-feel accentuated with ripe blackberry compote flavors finished with soft tannins, balanced acidity and light toasted oak.

Think curry spice. Since Zinfandel leans on the sweeter side of red wine, it's a great pairing partner with spiced barbecue dishes and curry. Pro tip: Pick out the spices you taste in the wine and add them to your sauce.