Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/961311
90 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } APRIL/MAY 2018 { enological events } IF A SINGLE theme could be gleaned from the annual San Francisco trade tasting led by the California-based nonprofit Zinfandel Ad - vocates & Producers (ZAP) this past January, it's that it's now "safe" for sommeliers to come out and finally show Zinfandel some love. For one, the finest Zinfandels are now grown, harvested, and fashioned to showcase the terroir of their region or vineyard rather than simply expressing their varietal character. Officially in decline are the gigantic, ultra- ripe, sweet, and pungently coconut-oaked Zinfandels that were all too common ten or 20 years ago. Even the best Zinfandel special - ists will admit the mantra back then was "My Zin is bigger than yours," and ZAP aficio- nados would show up in their obligatory "No Wimpy Wines" tees with toothbrushes ready to scrub off the Mega Purple between rounds. This year, when I asked Rock Wall Wine - maker/Co-Owner Shauna Rosenblum to describe the differences between her 2015 Monte Rosso Vineyard (Sonoma Valley) and 2015 Hendry Vineyard (Napa Valley) Zin- fandels, she gushed: "Monte Rosso is always Back in Vogue THE 2018 ZINFANDEL ADVOCATES & PRODUCERS TRADE TASTING FEATURES ELEGANT, TERROIR-DRIVEN WINES story and photos by Randy Caparoso Zinfandel Advocates & Producers pour the St. Amant Winery 2015 Lodi Native Marian's Vineyard Zinfandel during the group's annual trade tasting in San Francisco. Winemaker Tegan Passalacqua (right) of Turley Wine Cellars discusses the past, present, and future of Zinfandel with Randy Caparoso.