Zinfandel Renaissance

Blog Post

March 2026

For over six decades, Ridge Vineyards has championed California’s historic zinfandel vineyards, preserving a style of viticulture that predates Prohibition and reflects the state’s earliest winemaking traditions. These vineyards, planted to zinfandel alongside complementary varieties, tell a story that spans continents and centuries, from the Dalmatian Coast to the hillsides of Sonoma County.

In a recent article from Wine Business Monthly, Sarah Brown argues that zinfandel may indeed be making its long awaited comeback: “While Cabernet dominated the market the last 30 years, Zinfandel was quietly adapting in the background, becoming unapologetically itself and, in doing so, found an identity that resonates with modern consumers.” Today, through both our vineyard practices and traditional winemaking, RIDGE continues to honor this legacy, showcasing zinfandel’s depth, structure, and ability to produce age-worthy wines.

“California’s longest produced varietal is adopting yet another identity, and it might be the most exciting iteration of the varietal yet… Zinfandel might have been prematurely removed from California winemaking spotlight, but it’s back and ready to meet consumers where they are, both in profile and price point.”

— Sarah Brown, Wine Business Monthly

The History of Zinfandel in California

“RIDGE is privileged to work with many historic mixed zinfandel vineyards, at our estate vineyards at Geyserville and Lytton Springs and on most of our grower vineyards. Since 1964, we have intentionally looked for these unique vineyards and the fine qualities of wine made from them. Zinfandel is always the predominant variety in these viticulturally diverse pre-Prohibition vineyards and became the most widely planted black winegrape in California for more than one hundred years. Zinfandel’s journey to California started one thousand or so years ago along the Dalmatian Coast, progressed to New England in the 1820s, then followed the Gold Rush to California in the 1850s. We are still reaping the benefits of this journey today.” — David Gates, Senior Vice President, Vineyard Operations

Though zinfandel became a staple of California viticulture, its story stretches even further: DNA research has confirmed it is identical to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski (Tribidrag), linking California heritage to centuries of Old-World tradition. At RIDGE, we honor this history through careful stewardship of our old vineyards and winemaking practices that showcase the grape’s distinctive character, allowing zinfandel to convey both a sense of place and a century-spanning legacy.

The Ageability of Zinfandel

What many wine lovers don’t realize is that zinfandel’s appeal extends far beyond its vibrant youth. When grown in old vineyards with a distinct sense of place and blended with more robust varieties such as petite sirah, zinfandel develops remarkable structure and complexity, rewarding patience in the cellar. These blends allow the wine to evolve gracefully over years, gaining depth, nuance, and layered flavors that rival far more expensive ageworthy wines, all at a fraction of the cost. At RIDGE, this approach highlights zinfandel’s versatility, proving it is not just a wine to enjoy young, but one that delivers extraordinary value with age.

“In this competitive market, RIDGE Zinfandel represents something far more meaningful and authentic: a living connection to the past, shaped by a century (or more) of human labor, stewardship, and commitment to growing exceptional fruit. These old vineyards, paired with our pre-industrial winemaking practices, produce wines of verve and true sense of place. These wines deliver remarkable depth, character, and integrity, showcasing the vineyard and vintage with honesty and authenticity, rather than relying on pretty labels, heavier bottles, or high ABV to make an impression.” — Christina Donley, National Sales Director