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Best Zinfandel Wineries in Amador County

Amador County's Shenandoah Valley has some of California's oldest Zinfandel vines — planted in the 1880s by Italian Gold Rush immigrants who found a...

Amador County's Shenandoah Valley has some of California's oldest Zinfandel vines — planted in the 1880s by Italian Gold Rush immigrants who found a terroir perfectly suited to the variety.

Featured Wineries

01
Renwood Winery
The Grandpère Vineyard (planted 1913) produces some of Amador County's most celebrated old-vine Zinfandel — dark, dense, and full of the earthy complexity that only century-old vines can provide.
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02
Sobon Estate
The Sobon family's Shenandoah Valley estate includes historic old-vine Zinfandel alongside Mourvèdre and Rhône varieties. The wines are farmed organically and the history museum adds important context.
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03
Deaver Vineyards
Some of California's most historically significant Zinfandel vines grow on this Amador County estate, including Mission vines that predate the Gold Rush. The old-vine Zinfandel is a direct connection to California wine history.
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04
Turley Wine Cellars Amador
Turley's Amador County program produces old-vine Zinfandel from Shenandoah Valley sites of historical significance, with the same meticulous care applied to their celebrated Paso Robles and Dry Creek Valley programs.
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05
Terre Rouge & Easton Wines
Bill Easton's Zinfandel program under the Easton label draws on Amador County's finest old-vine sites to produce wines of exceptional concentration and complexity that represent the appellation at its finest.
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06
Karly Wines
A long-established Amador County producer specializing in old-vine Zinfandel from Shenandoah Valley sites, with a commitment to the variety that has made Karly one of the region's most reliable and respected names.
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07
Jeff Runquist Wines
Jeff Runquist's extensive single-vineyard program explores the full diversity of Amador County Zinfandel through multiple bottlings that showcase how dramatically different sites can produce from the same variety.
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08
Bray Vineyards
The family-owned Shenandoah Valley estate produces estate Zinfandel from old-vine plantings with the honest, food-friendly character that makes Amador County Zinfandel one of California's great undervalued wine experiences.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How old are the oldest Zinfandel vines in Amador County?
The oldest Zinfandel vines in Amador County date to the 1880s and early 1900s, planted by Italian immigrant families who settled in the Sierra Foothills during and after the Gold Rush. Some exceptional old-vine sites, including the Grandpère Vineyard at Renwood, include vines over 100 years old.
What does Amador County Zinfandel taste like?
Amador County Zinfandel is typically bold, rich, and deeply colored with flavors of blackberry, plum, and dark cherry alongside notes of spice, earth, and dried herbs. The wines are higher in alcohol than most California Zinfandels and have a distinctive rusticity that reflects the region's rugged character.
How does Amador County Zinfandel compare to Dry Creek Valley?
Amador County Zinfandel is typically bolder, higher in alcohol, and more deeply colored than Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. Dry Creek Valley wines tend toward more restraint and elegance, while Amador County celebrates the variety's natural exuberance. Both styles are outstanding in their own way.
Where is the best place to taste Zinfandel in Amador County?
Shenandoah Road in Plymouth is the heart of Amador County Zinfandel country, with multiple old-vine Zinfandel producers within a short drive. The Shenandoah Valley Winery Showcase is an annual event that provides an excellent introduction to the appellation's best producers.