Carol Shelton Wines

Carol Shelton Wines is one of California's most knowledgeable and genuinely committed old-vine Zinfandel producers. Carol Shelton — who spent many years as head winemaker at Rodney Strong before establishing her own label in 1994 — has spent three decades identifying, cultivating, and producing single-vineyard Zinfandel from some of California's most historically significant old-vine sites.

The vineyard roster reflects Shelton's genuine passion for old-vine discovery: Dry Creek Valley heritage blocks, Rockpile AVA mountain terrain, Mendocino County's Coro program sources, and Paso Robles old-vine sites that date to the early 20th century Italian immigrant farming. Each vineyard is chosen for the same reason: genuinely old vines with deep root systems, low yields, and the accumulated terroir complexity that only decades of continuous farming produces.

The appointment-based Santa Rosa tasting experience provides direct access to one of California's most intellectually serious Zinfandel programs — wines produced by a winemaker who understands old-vine California Zinfandel as thoroughly as anyone practicing the craft.