Old Vine Zinfandel
The 100+ year old Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard is located on about 20 acres along a slight rise bisected by Wood Road in the Russian River Valley appellation of Sonoma County. It has been hand-tended by Peter Fanucchi for going on 38 vintage seasons. The Old Vine Zinfandel vineyard was planted over 100 years ago (long believed 1906 but recent discovery indicates it could easily have been 15 years old by 1906!) and the vines are head trained but Peter has raised the gnarled vines from just above ground level to shoulder height. This modification provides greater sun exposure and air circulation and has reinvigorated the old vines, enhancing the production of incredibly high-quality, truly, old-vine fruit. Because of many factors, such as their age & size variation, Peter personally prunes & retrains each of the nearly 5000 vines each winter to maintain their optimal balance. The Old Vine Zinfnadel block also contains about 4% Petite Sirah, 4% Alicante Bouchet & other grape varietals, varying from 1 to 25 vines, like Trousseau Gris..
The soil, Huichica-sandy-loam, on Wood Road is very shallow (averaging about 18” deep!), slightly heavier than the Gold Ridge and is highly restrictive. Old vines on these soils produce small Zinfandel berries with bright, concentrated cherry, raspberry to blackberry fruit flavors. At optimum ripeness, the fruit makes a big, intense, long-lived Zinfandel of unique personality. Bright, high-tone cherry, spice and floral nose and flavors are typical indicators of Fanucchi-Wood Road terroir.
The only guaranteed source for Fanucchi Vineyards wine is directly from us via this site.