• American & French oak
• Blackberry & plum
• Tasted graham cracker
• Supple tannins

"Brushy aromas and flavours and a sturdy body are hallmark notes for this red grown on old, gnarly, untamed vines. Toasted graham cracker and cocoa cedar merge with blue plum, for a hearty – yet juicy – core. French and American oak impart creaminess and spice. A tribute to Lodi!" United States Review, The Tasting Panel, Feb 2021

This Zinfandel is a bold wine grown from some of the oldest vines in California. Gnarly Head’s untamed vines produce full-flavored grapes, dense with aromas of blackberry bramble, juicy plum, and toasted oak. This medium-bodied wine boasts a balanced acidity and supple tannins for those who like big wines with a little attitude.

Older vines produce fewer grape clusters, but the small berries yield intense, dark fruit flavors. The grapes for this Zinfandel were harvested early in the morning while the weather is cool. This allows the grapes to start off cool and warm up gently for fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was racked onto French and American oak to concentrate the abundant fruit flavors and add complexity.

When the search for great Zinfandel led us to Lodi, we saw vineyards that are among the oldest in California – several that are over 80 years old! The vines planted in these older vineyards are free standing, “head trained” vines that resemble wild bushes with twisted old trunks and branches that spread out in all directions like unruly umbrellas – truly gnarly heads. These gnarled, head-trained vines provided the inspiration for Gnarly Head…they look gnarly and the wines they create are powerful, concentrated, and in other words, gnarly. All Gnarly Head wines are crafted with California’s spirit of adventure – each sip plunges the palate into bold fruit flavors.

Food Pairing: Enjoy this wine with rich and tangy BBQ ribs, a meaty burger, or go big with juicy prime rib roast.