Aromas of chocolate, brambly blackberries, toasted clove and sweet cinnamon welcome you to dive into the glass. On the palate it bursts with fruit flavors of dried black cherry, plum, and raspberry along with smoke and clove. It is full bodied and bold with rounded tannins.

WINE INFORMATION

In 1895, Samuele Sebastiani emigrated from Italy to America, making a living hauling paving stones from a quarry is Sonoma, using a cart and horses.  In 1904, he bought winemaking equipment and made 500 gallons of wine, repurposing the cart to sell the wine in bulk.  He also married the local saloonkeeper’s daughter.  Five years later, he purchased a winery originally built by the Franciscan fathers and expanded it.  By the 1930s, his youngest son August had joined him. When Samuele died in 1944, August bought the winery from his father’s estate and began using the family name to brand his wines. When he died in 1980, his wife and three children took over; his oldest son Sam began a shift from mass-market wines to more upscale bottlings.  Sam handed the reins to his younger brother Don in 1986.  Don tripled production at both the high and low range of the Sebastiani brands.  The fourth generation took the helm in 2009.  This has always been a family-owned and managed business.  Today the company makes over twenty brands.

Grapes for the Plungerhead Zinfandel are sourced mainly from three vineyards in the Mokelumne River Basin AVA in Lodi (Grand Vin Lands Vineyard, Mettler Family Vineyards, and Manna Vineyards.) The Merlot and Tempranillo come from Clarksburg. The Lodi appellation is the largest producer of wine grapes in California and has been growing grapes since the 1850s.

After the final blend is created the wine is aged in a combination of American oak (80%), French oak (10%), and Hungarian oak (10%).

Charcuterie, Cheese, Duck, Grilled preparations, Hearty stew, Just for Cocktailing, Mushrooms, Pork, Red Meat, Roasted Root Vegetables, Sausage, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce