Concannon Conservacy Crimson & Clover Red

Concannon Conservancy Crimson & Clover Red is a Livermore Valley red blend bottled at 13.7% ABV in a 750ml format, built on a backbone of Petite Sirah and layered with three complementary varietals. Sourced entirely from vineyards protected by the Tri-Valley Conservancy, this wine earned 90 points from Cheap Wine Ratings on its 2009 vintage release.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.7%  |  Origin: Livermore Valley, California  |  Red Blend  |  Winery: Concannon Vineyard

Production & Heritage

Concannon Vineyard, founded in 1883 by Irish immigrant James Concannon, stands as one of California's oldest continuously operating wineries and a historic anchor of the Livermore Valley AVA. The Crimson & Clover Red is a proprietary blend of 50% Petite Sirah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, and 10% Zinfandel—a combination that draws structural weight from Petite Sirah while Cabernet and Syrah add complexity and Zinfandel contributes bright fruit lift. All grapes for the Conservancy line come from over 3,100 acres of Livermore vineyards shielded from urban development by the Tri-Valley Conservancy, a land trust ensuring these parcels remain under vine in perpetuity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with fragrant plum and ripe blackberry, followed by warm clove spice and a subtle undercurrent of leather. Currant and vanilla emerge as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: On the palate, bright blackberry fruit arrives at entry and builds through the mid-palate with deep chocolate richness. The Petite Sirah backbone provides firm structure while the Zinfandel component keeps the fruit forward and lively, and a peppery spice thread ties the blend together.

Finish: The finish is soft and long, carrying hints of leather, tobacco, and lingering clove. A velvety texture rounds out the final impression with gentle warmth and no harsh tannin grip.

How to Drink Crimson & Clover

This blend drinks well at cellar temperature, around 60–65°F, where its fruit aromatics open fully without the alcohol becoming prominent. A short decant of 20–30 minutes helps integrate the four varietals and softens the tannin structure. For a red wine sangria, the blend's dark fruit and spice stand up to citrus and brandy without losing definition. In a Kalimotxo, the wine's natural sweetness and body pair surprisingly well with cola for a casual summer serve. A classic mulled wine preparation benefits from the existing clove and pepper notes already present in the glass.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners that call for a versatile, food-friendly red
• Introducing someone to California red blends beyond single-varietal bottlings
• Barbecues and grilled meat gatherings where bold fruit holds up to charred flavors
• Supporting conservation-minded agriculture as a conversation-starting pour

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Crimson & Clover taste like? It delivers rich blackberry and plum fruit layered with chocolate, clove spice, and a peppery edge, all carried by a soft, velvety texture. Leather and tobacco undertones add savory depth without overwhelming the fruit.

How does Crimson & Clover compare to Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah? The Conservancy Petite Sirah is a single-varietal wine with more concentrated dark fruit and heavier tannin structure. Crimson & Clover uses that same Petite Sirah as its base but softens and broadens the profile with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Zinfandel for a more approachable, multi-layered drinking experience.

Is Crimson & Clover good for everyday sipping? Yes—at 13.7% ABV and with a balanced fruit-to-tannin ratio, it drinks easily on its own or alongside a meal without demanding the focused attention that heavier single-varietal Petite Sirahs often require.

Where is Crimson & Clover made? It is produced by Concannon Vineyard in the Livermore Valley AVA, located approximately 30 miles east of San Francisco in California's Alameda County. The grapes come from vineyard parcels protected under the Tri-Valley Conservancy land trust.

What foods pair well with Crimson & Clover? Grilled tri-tip steak matches the wine's smoky leather and dark fruit notes. Lamb burgers with rosemary echo its herbal spice undertones. Aged cheddar amplifies the wine's tannic structure in a complementary way. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the mid-palate cocoa richness. Mushroom risotto aligns with the earthy, savory side of the blend.

What sizes does Crimson & Clover come in? It is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Crimson & Clover worth the price? Crimson & Clover positions as a value-tier California red blend, delivering a four-varietal composition and conservation-sourced fruit at a price point well below most premium Livermore Valley reds. The 90-point score from Cheap Wine Ratings on the 2009 vintage reinforces its reputation as an over-performer in its segment.

Why Crimson & Clover?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of California red blends is provenance with purpose: every grape comes from land permanently protected from development. Concannon Vineyard's 140-year history in the Livermore Valley lends credibility that few competitors at this price point can match, and the winery's deep expertise with Petite Sirah—a grape it helped popularize in California—anchors the blend with genuine authority. The four-varietal construction avoids the one-note density that plagues many Petite Sirah-dominant wines, instead offering a layered, textured glass that rewards both casual drinking and closer attention. For drinkers who want a bold California red that carries real terroir significance without a premium price tag, Crimson & Clover delivers on substance.