Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel

Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel is a bold, full-bodied Lodi Zinfandel bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Sourced from head-trained vines ranging from 30 to 50 years old, this wine earned a Platinum Award at the 2018 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge and carries an 88-point rating from Wine Enthusiast.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Lodi, California  |  Old Vine Zinfandel  |  Producer: Four Vines Winery

Production & Heritage

Four Vines sources this bottling from vineyards in Lodi, California, where ancient head-trained vines between 30 and 50 years old yield only a few grape clusters each, producing small berries with intensely concentrated flavors. Grapes are picked during cool nighttime and early morning hours, then immediately crushed and destemmed into fermentation tanks where they spend ten days to two weeks on their skins. After pressing, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and ages for ten months in a combination of French, Hungarian, and American oak barrels, with 25% new wood. The blend is predominantly Zinfandel (approximately 90%), rounded out with Petite Sirah (9%) and a small fraction of Rubired (1%), though proportions shift slightly by vintage.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe wild berry and brambly blackberry aromas, layered with black cherry, a touch of jamminess, and a hefty dusting of black pepper spice. Subtle smoky oak and mineral notes emerge as the wine opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is juicy and generous, with dark plum, black currant, and dried cherry flavors rolling across the mid-palate. Tobacco leaf and exotic spice notes build as the wine progresses, supported by balanced oak-derived vanilla and savory undertones. The structure is soft yet full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins holding everything in place.

Finish: The finish is big and lingering, carrying black cherry, vanilla, smoky oak, and mineral flavors. It leaves a warm, spicy impression without turning hot despite the wine's generous alcohol level.

How to Drink Old Vine Zinfandel

Pour this Zinfandel at cellar temperature (60–65°F) and allow it a few minutes to breathe; a wide-bowled glass helps release its aromatic complexity. It drinks beautifully on its own or alongside food. For a red wine sangria, the dark berry intensity and spice hold up against citrus and brandy. In a classic Kalimotxo (red wine and cola), the wine's boldness creates a surprisingly balanced, refreshing drink. As a base for mulled wine during cooler months, the existing black pepper and spice character amplifies warming aromatics like cinnamon and clove.

Best For

• Weeknight grilling sessions with burgers, ribs, or sausages
• Introducing friends to old vine Zinfandel without a steep price commitment
• Stocking a casual dinner party with a crowd-pleasing, full-bodied red
• Pairing with hearty comfort food on cool autumn and winter evenings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel taste like? It delivers bold, juicy dark berry and black cherry flavors layered with black pepper spice, tobacco, and vanilla oak. The wine is full-bodied with soft tannins and a warm, lingering finish.

How does Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel compare to Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel? Both are Lodi-grown old vine Zinfandels in a similar value tier, but Four Vines tends to show more prominent spice and smoky oak character from its three-nation barrel program. Bogle's version is often described as slightly more fruit-forward and straightforward in structure.

Is Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel good for sipping on its own? Yes — the wine's ripe fruit concentration, balanced tannins, and layered spice make it very approachable as a standalone pour. Giving it a few minutes of air brings out additional complexity.

Where is Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel made? It is produced by Four Vines Winery using fruit from old vine vineyards in Lodi, a warm inland appellation in California's Central Valley renowned for growing Zinfandel.

What foods pair well with Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel? Smoked baby back ribs match the wine's dark fruit and oak spice. Barbecued tri-tip echoes its peppery character. Aged cheddar complements the wine's richness and tannin structure. Sausage and pepper pasta works with the savory, spicy profile. Dark chocolate brownies pair well with the wine's ripe berry and vanilla finish.

What sizes does Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle.

Is Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel worth the price? It positions as a strong entry-level to mid-range old vine Zinfandel, delivering concentration and complexity — including a three-oak aging regimen — that often exceeds expectations at its value tier.

Why Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel?

The defining advantage here is the source material: head-trained vines aged 30 to 50 years that naturally restrict yields, concentrating flavor into each small berry cluster. The tri-national oak aging program — French, Hungarian, and American barrels with 25% new wood — adds dimension rarely seen at this price point, contributing vanilla, smoke, and spice without overwhelming the fruit. The Platinum Award from the 2018 San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge and an 88-point Wine Enthusiast rating confirm that this wine consistently punches above its weight class. For anyone seeking a bold, genuinely old vine Zinfandel from one of California's premier Zinfandel-growing regions, this bottling makes a compelling case.