The story of the Deaver Vineyard starts in the 1800s during the California Gold Rush. Italian immigrants brought Zinfandel cuttings from the East Coast and planted vineyards in the Sierra Foothills. The fourteen acre piece of the Deaver family vineyard used to make Terra d’Oro Deaver Vineyard 100 Year Old Vine Zinfandel was planted in 1881 but that is not the only reason the fruit is singular and exceptional. As vines mature they produce less but more concentrated fruit. The dry farmed vine’s roots continue to grow deeper into the soil as years pass and pull water and nutrients from multiple soil layers. Last but not least the relationship between the Trinchero family of Terra d’Oro and the Deaver family, stemmed in the 1960’s over a passion for Amador Zinfandel, and has since been one of loyalty and mutual respect.
The limited amount of fruit that comes from the vineyard is handled carefully. The fruit is hand picked into small valley bins and driven one mile to the winery to be crushed. Juice is bled from the hopper before crushing.; this reduces the juice to skin ratio in order to get maximum extraction. Dry farmed and old vines tend to use all their energy ripening and can be a little under-nourished when they reach the winery. Yeast needs some of these nutrients to complete fermentation. After decades of working with the Deaver fruit we have isolated certain strains of yeast that can get the job done without much help. After gentle pressing the wine is aged 14 months in a careful selection of French and American cooperage.
The 2007 Terra d’Oro Deaver Vineyard Zinfandel is a Grandfather among Zinfandels. The wine has a classic Amador blend of spices including allspice, cardamom and clove that fills out an intense spice rack. The flavors of ripe plum make this wine a rich Zinfandel from a historic vineyard and pairs well with grilled flank steak and fresh homemade salsa.
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