Sky Vineyards Zinfandel Mt. Veeder 2015
Planted at 2100 feet in volcanic soils way up on Mount Veeder, Sky makes a Zinfandel like no other. Spicy, wild, and balanced, it has nothing to do with the jammy Zinfandels that California has been known for. Ageworthy and expressive, they perfectly reflect this special terroir.
Hand-harvested, manually crushed with a 100-year old basket press, and aged in 1-10 year old French oak barrels.
Since 1973, Sky Vineyards has been producing some of the most unique mountain Zinfandels and Syrahs to be found anywhere. Owner Lore Olds got his start in wine in 1971 working for such producers as Beaulieu and Mayacamas Vineyards before purchasing his own patch of land on top of Mount Veeder. Planted in red volcanic soil at 2100 feet, Sky is the highest vineyard on the mountain. The vineyards are dry farmed, hand-harvested, and naturally tended using organic fertilizers, cover crops, birds, and beneficial insects. The winery itself runs on a single solar panel powering a single light bulb. In the cellar things are just as stripped down; grapes are pressed with an old wooden basket press, punched down by hand, aged in old French oak, and bottled by hand. Even the label is designed by Lore Olds with a new one for each wine and vintage.