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Ravenswood
For as long as anybody cares to remember, this has been the credo (calling card? Battle cry? Team yell? Coat of arms?) of Ravenswood Winery in Sonoma, California. Expressing our commitment to full-flavored varietal wine — notably Zinfandel — it sums up our mission to capture everything a vineyard has to offer, and to promote it in a way that won't put people to sleep. Wine is, after all, one of the most fascinating and fun things in life, which is why Ravenswood winemaker Joel Peterson believes that it belongs on the table — not on a pedestal or in an ivory tower.
How did the name of Ravenswood become interchangeable with irresistibility? In the early 1970s, when California's claim to fame was the "best jug wine in the world," Joel's dream was to create wines that would rival the greatest of Europe. Turned out he wasn't dreaming: In his first vintage, 1976, he produced 327 cases of Dry Creek Zin that took first place in a prestigious San Francisco tasting. But despite the cult following and critical acclaim that began to swirl around its hypnotic logo, Ravenswood remained a roving boutique until the late 1980s, when its Vintners Blend program was launched. Conceived on Joel's conviction that, besides great wine, the world needs good, affordable wine ("a lake of wine an inch deep"), it redefined the concept of Best Jug Wine in the World.
Thanks to this and a few other things (not least, its tireless campaign against priggish elitism), Ravenswood acquired an informal reputation as the people's premium winery. In 1999 the company went public with a "Dutch auction" of shares offered over the Internet, and two years later Ravenswood was purchased by Constellation Brands, becoming part of its fine-wine division, Franciscan Estates — a productive partnership that kept the winery under Joel's control while providing greater resources for efficient operation and growth.
The picture has changed a bit since 1976. Following the original inspiration of wineries like Ravenswood, California has now shirked its once-wimpy status to a fault. But the more things change around our Sonoma headquarters, the more they stay the same. In this brave new enologically altered world, Ravenswood continues to set a stubborn standard for complex, balanced, uncompromising wine that captures everything a vineyard has to offer (and, we might add, nothing more).
Visit the Ravenswood website.
Time has been good to these old vines and over the years their deep roots have cemented the foundation for intensely concentrated fruit with extraordinary character. In 2007, traditionally hot temperatures were notably cooler in San Joaquin County and the break in heat allowed grapes to ripen steadily over time. ... more
BN#283332
Bright, flashy, ripe raspberry, blackberry and vanilla flavors are wrapped around a soft sweet fruit core highlighted by scents of cinnamon. more
BN#226885
The Napa Valley is known for producing voluptuous, elegant wines, and this wine is no exception. With a cool and dry growing season, the grapes had ample time to flourish and develop on the vine. A full-bodied, robust wine with expressive aromas of ripe red plums, blackberry and sweet cedar ... more
BN#283381
Big, bold, and brazen enough to call any Zin’s bluff, our 2009 vintage is the real deal—with seductive aromas of black cherry, raspberry, blueberry, and a splinter of oak. Its fruit flavors, flexible tannins, and a lingering finish are all the proof you need. Matches A big ol’ bowl of ... more
BN#430547
Wafting aromas of violet, toffee, and nutmeg are followed by notes of blackberry jam and ripe plum, while wisps of coffee and vanilla float effortlessly through the finish. more
BN#443115
All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time. All pricing and availability subject to change. |