Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel ready for harvest
Old Vine Zinfandel in Lodi
I shot this beautiful cluster of Old Vine Zinfandel in Lodi wine country at the Mohr-Fry Ranch. The Zinfandel vineyards at Mohr-Fry are some of the oldest Zinfandel grapes in California. The first planting of Zinfandel at Mohr-Fry dates back to 1901. The Zinfandel vines are head pruned. That means no trellis system. Mohr-Fry sells its fruit to many wineries in Lodi and elsewhere. Here is a link to view the winery producing wine from the Mohr Fry Ranch.
Old Vine Zinfandel vines are gnarley looking and spread their shoots widely. Little thinning or dropping of grape clusters is needed. The vines are so old that they produce few clusters. What is produced from these vines are intense and concentrated flavors. The Zinfandel vine roots grow deep into the loamy soil in search of water and nutrients. Some roots may be as deep as 30 feet.
There is no legal definition of Old Vine Zinfandel. It is term often misused. Slap the term “Old Vine Zinfandel” on a wine label and it attracts buyers. In the wine community, it is an unwritten rule that any Zinfandel vines 50 years old or older are consider to be true Old Vine Zinfandel.
Let us know in the Comment Section if you have visited or can recommend other Old Vine Zinfandel vineyards in California.