Easton Amador Zinfandel

Easton Amador Zinfandel is a 100% Zinfandel from Amador County, California, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2015 vintage earned 92 points from Wine Spectator and landed at #45 on their Top 100 list in 2018 — a strong endorsement for a wine sourced from old, dry-farmed vines in the Sierra Foothills.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Amador County, Sierra Foothills, California  |  100% Zinfandel  |  Winery: Terre Rouge and Easton Wines

Production & Heritage

Terre Rouge and Easton Wines was founded by Bill Easton and Jane O'Riordan in Amador County, a region with deep roots in California Zinfandel history. The Amador Zinfandel draws from 20- to 80-year-old head-pruned vines planted across seven to eight mountain vineyard sites on granitic soils. The grapes are organically farmed, dry farmed without irrigation, and hand-harvested — a labor-intensive approach that lets the fruit reflect the warm days and cool nights of the Sierra Foothills rather than relying on manipulated ripeness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Wild sage and chaparral lead, followed by brambly red and black fruits — raspberry, blackberry — laced with black pepper and dried herbs. The nose has a distinctly earthy, garrigue-like character that separates it from fruit-forward valley-floor Zinfandels.

Taste: The entry is rich and plush, with concentrated raspberry and blackberry fruit framed by a lively core of acidity. Mid-palate, flavors of anise, smoked pepper, and cocoa emerge, while firm tannins provide structural grip. Despite its 14.5% ABV and generous body, the wine stays well-balanced rather than jammy.

Finish: Zesty and persistent, with briary raspberry and sweet anise stretching through a long, mineral-tinged close. Stony, granitic minerality lingers alongside traces of white pepper and sage.

How to Drink Easton Amador Zin

This Zinfandel rewards a slight chill — around 60–65°F — and a generous pour into a large-bowled glass to let the aromatic complexity open up. Neat sipping is ideal, though it also works well in food-forward settings.

For cocktail-adjacent serves: a Kalimotxo variation plays off the wine's dark berry depth with cola's spice; a classic Sangria benefits from the peppery, herbal backbone; and a New York Sour — bourbon layered with red wine — gains real complexity from the sage and anise notes in this bottling.

Best For

• Weekend grilling sessions featuring smoked ribs or tri-tip
• Gifting a red wine enthusiast who already knows Napa Cabernet
• Building out a Sierra Foothills section in a home cellar
• Dinner parties centered on bold, rustic Italian or Californian cuisine

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Easton Amador Zin taste like? It delivers concentrated raspberry and blackberry fruit layered with smoked pepper, wild sage, anise, and a hint of cocoa, all held together by firm tannins and bright acidity. The overall impression is big and rich but balanced, not jammy.

How does Easton Amador Zin compare to Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel? Dry Creek Valley Zinfandels tend toward brighter, red-fruited profiles with softer tannins from alluvial soils, while Easton's Amador County bottling leans darker and more tannic, with pronounced sage and pepper notes from its granitic mountain vineyards. Both regions are considered premier California Zinfandel sources, but the Amador expression runs wilder and more rustic in character.

Is Easton Amador Zin good for sipping neat? Yes — its layered aromatics and structured tannins reward patient, thoughtful sipping, especially at cellar temperature around 60–65°F with time to breathe in the glass.

Where is Easton Amador Zin made? It is produced by Terre Rouge and Easton Wines in Amador County, located in California's Sierra Foothills, east of Sacramento. The fruit comes from multiple mountain vineyard sites within the county, planted on granitic soils at elevation.

What foods pair well with Easton Amador Zin? Smoked beef brisket matches the wine's peppery depth; lamb sausage with fennel echoes the anise notes; wood-fired pizza with soppressata brings complementary char and spice; aged cheddar or Manchego highlights the fruit concentration; and grilled portobello mushrooms mirror the earthy, herbal undertones.

What sizes does Easton Amador Zin come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Easton Amador Zin worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium Zinfandel that consistently scores 90+ points from major publications, including a Wine Spectator Top 100 placement — strong critical performance for its price tier relative to comparably scored Napa or Sonoma bottlings.

Why Easton Amador Zin?

Few California Zinfandels carry the kind of site-specific identity this wine delivers. The combination of old head-pruned vines (some approaching 80 years), dry farming on granitic mountain soils, and organic viticulture gives it a textural seriousness and aromatic wildness that most supermarket Zinfandels never approach. Its inclusion in Wine Spectator's Top 100 validates what Sierra Foothills enthusiasts have known for years — that Amador County produces some of the most distinctive Zinfandel in the state. For drinkers tired of overripe, one-dimensional reds, this bottling makes a compelling case for the variety's range and depth.