2017 Girard Zinfandel Old Vine
2017 Girard Zinfandel Old Vine Bold aromas of juicy blackberry, raspberry and pepper leap from the glass, laced with baking spice and floral aromas. The palate showcases elegant black cherry and flavors and the finish is reveals savory barrel toast notes thanks to the American oak, while the Hungarian oak elevates Zinfandels’ characteristic sweet spice, and affords the wine a smooth and luxurious finish.
At Girard, we are passionate about wine, we are dedicated to the land, and we are proud to call Napa Valley home.
For the past 40+ years, Girard has been singularly dedicated to ensuring balance in our wines. Our decades-long relationship with growers along with small-batch fermentation techniques and meticulous blending, produce consistently award-winning wines that offer richness, complexity and balance in each sip. We are dedicated to employing techniques and operating a facility that allows us to take the time with each and every wine to express its true character.
Our Winemaker – Passion in the Cellar
Much like we are rooted in Napa Valley’s history, our winemaking team is rooted in Girard’s history.
Winemaker Glenn Hugo started his career with Girard ten years ago as a harvest intern and was quickly promoted to Cellar Master and Assistant Winemaker before earning the title of Girard Winemaker.
Glenn’s background in the restaurant industry has led to his artisanal approach to winemaking with a focus on wine as part of the culinary experience. A native Texan, Glenn developed his passion for wine over 12 years in the restaurant industry before moving to Napa Valley with his wife, Pam, in 2003 to pursue his dream of becoming a winemaker.
Glenn’s winemaking experience is concentrated in Napa Valley and includes early assignments with Provenance Vineyards, where he learned from Napa legend Tom Rinaldi, and hands-on experience at Sedna Winery and Fleury Estate Winery. You could say he caught the bug. As the General Manager of The Bounty Hunter Wine Bar in downtown Napa, Glenn soon met Marco DiGiulio, Chief Winemaker for Vintage Wine Estates, and began his career with Girard.
Glenn’s philosophy is simple: wine is to be shared with friends and family; it is a living and breathing expression that constantly evolves and instills memories.
Zinfandel
Although Zinfandel—known as Primitivo in Italy—hails from Europe, its most famous incarnations come from the United States. In California, this black grape produces spicy, unctuous red wines. A version of Zinfandel, known as white Zinfandel, is extremely popular in the United States.
In the vineyard, Zinfandel is a black grape with thin skin. Grapes grow in large, compact cones with berries of varying ripeness levels. Because grapes ripen at different times, the resulting wines can have a mix of dried and fresh fruit flavors, however some winemakers hand select the berries to hone the flavor profile. The grape thrives in warm, dry climates and can produce wines that are close to 20% alcohol-by-volume (abv). Wines are often made from old vines that have matured in the vineyard for as long as a century.
Zinfandel can be vinified into red and rosé wines. Red wines are red-purple in color, and display a signature spice profile, as well as jammy red fruits, like blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.