The Great Zinathon

ZAP's Great Zin Tasting was truly impressive. Two enormous Fort Mason buildings housed hundreds of wineries. I had heard about the "Zin Zone" where almost all of the wines would be available for tasting to press and trade, but I saved that for last which turned out to be a very short stay in the Zin Zone because when the tasting is over ITS OVER! I am glad that I decided to walk around, taste and talk to winemakers because that's really what its all about. Leonhardt truly caught my eye-- and my palate! Their Zinfandel produced onsite in the Dry Creek Valley, in fact on Dry Creek Road (my favorite tasting road in Sonoma/Napa) was elegant and complex with beautiful powerful cherry and chocolate notes balanced with spicy black pepper, vanilla and clove. That beautiful flavor brought back memories of sun drenched days of lazily meandering down Dry Creek Road, boat hitched to the back of the truck ready to pick up a couple of bottles and enjoy a weekend on Lake Sonoma. It made me all that more impatient for the beautiful summer months to come. I had passed Leonhardt with its red truck and lions at the entrance but had yet to stop by, I have a feeling that this summer Howard Leonhardt and I will become well acquainted! Of course there were some of my favorite wineries from Good Eats & Zin (This time there was only 2008 Old Ghost) but Leonhardt really stood out. Another reason why I am a fan is their involvement as lead sponsor of the Wine Country Old Fashioned Baseball League, a semi-pro league with 12 teams in Sonoma & Napa county. Half of all game day proceeds go to local charities. What better way to enjoy a summer day then to watch semi-pro baseball and drink wine! Overall the Great Zin Tasting was a wonderful event that I will look forward to next year.