SAN FRANCISCO, CA—The much anticipated 2012 Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Grand Tasting (aka ZAP Grand Tasting) was held last Saturday, Jan. 28 at The Concourse in San Francisco. Though it is now but a distant memory, memories from that day were so fruitful that I’ll be dreaming of the goodhearted strangers and full bodied wines I enjoyed for weeks to come.

Held annually in January, the event had previously been held at San Francisco’s popular Fort Mason Center. However, this time a chance in venue brought what is said to be the “West’s largest wine tasting” to The Concourse. 

I headed into S.F. early in the morning but briefly pulled off the road behind Jacuzzi Family Vineyards to snap this artistic image of a hot air balloon drifting majestically over the vineyards. (Note: Whenever my camera malfunctions, I call it an “artistic” image.)

Though parking was a bit sketchy, I finally found a spot several blocks away. Lots of Zin fans were in attendance and my final appraisal about the new venue was very positive. The space was comfortable and worked very well. (I was told that the ZAP tasting event will once again be held there next year.)

There had to be over 200+ wines on hand. Although I did my best, I was no match for the overabundance of available ZINs. Though I did some experimentation, I was very selective and had predetermined which wines to taste. (Hint: Where there is so much wine and limited time — it is best to do your homework.)

The ZAP staff impressed me with the enormous amount of bread and cheese made available to all guests. They never ran out and the quality was quite good!

Some terrific winemakers were proudly pouring their finest. Here, winemaker Emmett Reed of Gustafson Family Vineyard in Geyserville, CA holds up a bottle of Zinfandel prior to pouring. The winery is located on a quiet country road in the foothills above Dry Creek Valley about 30 minutes from the Sonoma County town of Healdsburg. Not only are his wines quite good but a visit to this remote little winery will reward visitors with few crowds, an awesome view of Lake Sonoma, and a chance to see an architectural marvel. In addition to Zin and Sirah, Emmett also makes a Port-style dessert wine that is not to be missed…

Many familiar faces were in attendance. I was thrilled to see Joel Peterson (right) founder of Ravenswood Winery whom I hadn’t seen in years. I reminded him of the first time we met, back in the day, when I was interviewing him for a business column I used to write for the Sonoma Index-Tribune. At the time, he asked me if I “had an extra $10,000 to invest in a new winery he was hoping to start called Ravenswood.”

I thanked him for the kind invitation. But, in the 1980s, on a part-time reporter’s salary for a small town paper — I was struggling just to pay the rent!

Oh, the painful regret’s of life’s misfortunes!

Many of California’s Zin producers — both large and small — had come to feature their wines. It was nice to see Christy again from Calcareous Vineyard in Paso Robles. Their hilltop tasting room is a very pleasing place to sit back and enjoy slowly sipping their wine while taking in a breathtaking 360 degree panoramic vista. If you get the chance to visit them, you’ll love this place!

Wineries from Sonoma Valley were here as well. St. Francis Winery - known as the house of big reds, was pouring.

I was so pleased to find so many great representatives at the event both pouring wine and educating the public. Everyone was really doing a terrific job. (Warning: If you visit the St. Francis Winery website, you may be startled by the immediate “gong” from their bell tower. It scares the hell out of me every time!)

Sbragia Family Vineyards was also represented at the event. Their wines are really quite excellent. I tasted at the winery last week and will report on their current offerings later this week. Ed Sbragia, the founder, is a third-generation Dry Creek Valley vintner. He is the former winemaster for Beringer Vineyards in Napa Valley were he worked since 1976. 

Erin (pictured above) was pouring for Saddleback Cellars, located 1 mile east of Oakville in the heart of Napa Valley. Winemaker Nils Venge’s specialties include: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and, yes, Zinfandel! Tastings at his winery are by advance appointment and so many San Francisco residents and visitors were pleased to have the chance to sample his wine here at The Concourse. Venge’s second label, Cougar’s Leap from Lake County was also pouring across the aisle.

Another very popular winery in attendance was Rombauer Vineyards. Their Napa Valley tasting room, ensconced in a forest of pine trees, about a quarter mile above Silverado Trail is well worth a visit. Tours and tastings are by appointment and, believe me, they have a multitude of fans from around the country who are only too happy to make the pilgrimage to California to see where their favorite wines are made.

Those of you who love fruit forward Zins, similar to that Paso Robles style, will enjoy Rombauer’s Zinfandel very much. I watched many of my fellow tasters going back for seconds of this one! 

Events such as the Grand Tasting are an opportunity to make new friends and visit with old comrades who come together in one place and talk shop. Clay Fritz (pictured above), President of Fritz Underground Winery in Cloverdale, CA, really enjoys meeting his customers. I’ve known him for years and think his wines are incredible. I attended a pig barbecue at his winery last spring and every wine I tried was delicious. In addition to Zinfandel, his specialities are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

If you’re not familiar with Opolo Vineyards, you haven’t been to Paso Robles wine county lately. It’s a must-stop wine destination on the Central Coast.

Their tasting room has a most loyal following. On most weekends they feature a kick-back, relaxed atmosphere. Though they make many types of wine, their Mountain Zinfandel is a crowd favorite—as are their excellent BBQs. Opolo has an on-site bed-and-breakfast there as well. It’s a great place to visit. And one of these days I’ve got to attend their harvest grape stomp.

As the day wore on, the crowds began to grow. Even though I had planned on cutting out early, there was still too much good wine to explore.

This image was taken at about 1:00 p.m. By 3:00 p.m. I’d say the crowds had tripled.

It was great to see that Peju from Rutherford was there. Their Napa Valley landmark winery is easy to spot, thanks to a fifty-foot-tall tasting tower topped with a distinctive copper roof. Like everything else on their breathtaking property, it could have been transplanted directly from the countryside of southern France.

Though perhaps best known for their reserve Cabernets, Peju also makes Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Zinfandel. I love when they participate in off-site tastings as approximately 80% of their wines are only available at the winery.

In addition to wineries, there were a few various vendors handing out baguettes and bottled water. As you can see from the above image there was even a silent auction. Lots of top flight wine and accessories were available for bidding.

I did manage to leave the event a bit early, hoping to get out ahead of the traffic. But San Francisco streets on a Saturday afternoon can be a parking lot. It took forever to get across town. Before heading back over the Golden Gate Bridge, of course, I stopped at a bakery to bring home some fresh bread for dinner. I love my bread you know…

That’s this year’s report. Hope you can join me for the 2013 Zinfandel Grand Tasting. It’ll be here before you know it!