Zinfandel
Vine Cliff 1871 Zinfandel honors more than 150 years of winegrowing history on our Oakville estate, where Zinfandel was among the earliest and most widely planted vines during the pioneer era of Napa Valley. Our Zinfandel is grown on the most rugged portion of the estate, where less than an acre of gnarled, head-trained vines cling to the edge of Vine Cliff’s upper bench. Crafted with the same precision and care as the world’s greatest wines, this is heritage old-vine Zinfandel and a rare expression of the varietal’s historic place in the valley’s winegrowing story.
For optimum enjoyment of this wine, please decant and serve at about 60 °F.
Vintage
Winemaker's notes
- Production99 cases
- BottledMay 14, 2025
The 2023 Vine Cliff 1871 Zinfandel embodies both Napa Valley’s pioneer heritage and the varietal’s hallmark character—juicy, savory, exotically spiced and unabashedly outgoing. True to its historic roots, it is crafted from less than an acre of gnarled, head-trained vines that cling to the rugged ridgeline of our Oakville estate. This is Zinfandel that offers an irresistible, highly craveable charm.
In this living testament to Vine Cliff 1871’s legacy, sun-warmed wild strawberry meets dried mountain sage before turning to notes of distant, deeply toasted hardwood and tanned leather. The Vine Cliff 1871 Zinfandel honors over 150 years of winegrowing history, striking a precise balance between rugged authenticity and modern polish. A wine as captivating as it is enduring, we expect it will evolve and improve over the next 10-15 years.
- AppellationOAKVILLE
- VineyardVINE CLIFF 1871
- VarietalZINFANDEL
- Harvest datesOctober 03, 2023 - October 10, 2023
- FermentationSTAINLESS STEEL OPEN TOP FERMENTERS
- Maceration time18 Days
- Malolactic Fermentation100%-barrel fermentation
- 75% new French oak, various coopers
- 18 months in 75% new French oak
- Alcohol15.1%
- TA6.1 g/L
- pH3.81
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Led by Director of Winemaking Mayaan Koschitzky, our winemaking team draws on expertise shaped in some of Napa Valley’s most iconic cellars. Together, they craft wines that reflect both uncompromising skill and the enduring legacy of Vine Cliff 1871.
A legacy cultivated over time
Founded in 1871 on land carved from George Yount’s estate, Vine Cliff 1871 emerged as the largest winery in early Napa Valley. Through decades of trials and triumph, this estate has endured where others have vanished. Phylloxera destroyed the vineyards. Prohibition halted the winemaking. Earthquakes tested resolve. Yet, through each challenge an authenticity was indelibly forged by time.
Like the phoenix that symbolizes our legacy, Vine Cliff 1871 rises once more to reclaim its place among Napa’s most distinguished vineyards.