Ravenswood Zinfandel
Bold Sonoma Zinfandel, poured in Commack since the beginning.
The story behind Ravenswood
Ravenswood was founded in 1976 in Sonoma County by Joel Peterson, the winemaker most of the trade still calls the Godfather of Zinfandel, and his partner Reed Foster. Peterson built the house on dry-farmed old-vine fruit, native yeast fermentation, hand punch-downs and warm ferments near 88 to 90 degrees, all under a motto he meant as a rebuke: No Wimpy Wines.
Ownership moved to Constellation in 2001, then to E. & J. Gallo in January 2021, which relaunched the label with small-lot premium wines. Peterson now consults unpaid, his fee routed to Zinfandel Advocates & Producers. We have poured these bottles across this counter for decades.
Explore the Ravenswood range
The lineup runs from the everyday Vintners tier up through old-vine and single-vineyard Zinfandel, each one built on Sonoma fruit and honest structure.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vintners Zinfandel | California Zinfandel | Not stated | Approachable everyday red, jammy dark fruit, soft finish |
| Old Vine Zinfandel | Old-vine Zinfandel | Not stated | Deeper extraction, brambly berry, pepper, warm spice |
| Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel | Dry Creek Valley AVA | About 14.9 to 15.6% ABV | 94 points Wine Spectator, structured, dark cherry, dusty tannin |
| MacMurray Vineyard Zinfandel | Russian River Valley AVA | About 14.5 to 15.0% ABV | Riper red fruit, French oak, rounded mid-palate |
| Teldeschi Vineyard Zinfandel | Dry-farmed old-vine benchlands | About 14.5 to 15.5% ABV | Concentrated, savory, firm tannin, long finish |
| Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel | Historic mountain blocks | About 14.5 to 15.5% ABV | Mountain fruit, briar, mineral edge, ageworthy |
Which Ravenswood is right for you?
Pricing here starts sensible and climbs with the vineyard. The Ravenswood Vintners Zinfandel is $8.99, the Old Vine Zinfandel $11.99, and the Merlot $9.98 when you want a softer red alongside. The Vintners Cabernet and Chardonnay both sit at $7.99. Single-vineyard bottlings land in the $50 to $70 range at suggested retail, and the Dry Creek Valley bottling typically runs $24 to $28. Stock moves, so call the counter at (631) 343-7200 before you drive over.
Enough depth for charcoal and smoke without wrecking the Tuesday budget.
A cheap, honest bottle to drink now while the good stuff rests.
Plush and forgiving, it keeps a crowd happy next to grilled beef.