Drinking Local

Wine Wednesday at Google tonight was ZAP.

ZAP?

All I knew was that I was going to a Zin tasting, so I thought ZAP meant Zin-At-Play or Zinfully-Abundant-with-Pepper, you know, one of those fancy words they use to describe wine. I googled the word later, and found - (a) "to destroy"; (b) "a sudden event that makes a dramatic impact"; (c) "Zinfandel Advocate & Producers". I think it's (d) All of the above!

The best part about ZAP is that it's local - the vineyards, winemaker, people pouring at the event. That means we meet the people behind the wine. (I haven't met the Google founders yet, but Google's local, so I will someday!)

Here's are my notes of some highlights:


Ravenswood
This is a story of a man who reinvented himself - an immunology researcher turned winemaker, now the Godfather of Zin. Joel Peterson had a degree in microbiology and was off to find a cure to cancer, when he stumbled upon, could it be, the powerful Zinfandel! He began making wine in a little garage (don't all great ideas come from the garage! Google did too.) which has grown to become the industry leading winery.

Joel served 2 single vineyards, the Big Rock first - a Burgundian-like wine of earthy berry tones, and then Old Hill - characterized by Sonoma dark cherries and woody spice. The experience of these wines were more than the wines themselves - Joel's passion intensified the fire in these wines.

Ridge
My favourite wine by Ridge tonight was their Carmichael. It had just the right balance of rich dark berry, ripe plum, subtle cigar, well-rounded tannins, it was perfect.

Rock Wall
Jammy! That's what you'll find from this winery, both in their wine and personality! Rock Wall shared several varietals, all with their unique strong personalities. Rockpile (minerally), Monte Rosso (honey) Jesse's Vineyard (everything you can think of - voluptuous boysenberry, spice, porcini), just to name a few.

Robert Biale Vineyards
A family owned winery with Italian heritage, it's no coincidence that one of Biale's most notable wines is the Monte Rosso, a mountaintop vineyard with red earth. (Monte Rosso is also a mountain of Veneto, Italy.) I liked the Zin for its fine spice and earth properties that interlace with the berry-like fruit. It was a joy to meet Bob as well!

Google Vineyards
If only! Google's sampler of the evening, and the hit co-star to the wines, their Korean beef fall-off-the-bone short ribs! The most tender I've had to memory, and I went back for more wine just so I could have more ribs... or was it the other way around...