Boise Coop Wine Shop

Renwood Winery

• June 11, 2009

Surrounded by some of America’s oldest Zinfandel vineyards, Renwood Winery is located in the picturesque California foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Winemaking in the Sierra foothills dates back to the early 1850’s during which time many European immigrants traveled west in search of “California Gold.” People settled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and soon found that the land-not gold-would be their means to survive. Both table and wine grapes were planted throughout the hillsides and quickly Amador County became the home to more wineries than any other region in California. Boston native Robert Smerling founded Renwood in 1993. Mr. Smerling fell in love with Amador County’s rich history and magnificent vineyards. This weekend we will be pouring three selections from this award winning winery.

2006 Renwood Viognier, $9.49
This floral white displays aromas of grapefruit, mineral scents and jasmine. On the palate the wine is crisp, with a medium texture and flavors of melon, lemon zest, and apricot. A steely finish makes it very food friendly and the lingering tartness helps balance the wine. While primarily from the Lodi Appellation and the Mohr-Fry Ranch, a small amount of Sierra Foothill grapes were included in the final blend. It has an attractive pale green color and is great with food or on its own.

2006 Renwood Zinfandel, $9.49
The grapes selected for this wine are usually from younger vines that are lighter in body and structure. Each vineyard lot was fermented individually at moderate temperatures. Pressed at dryness, some wines remained in tank and some were racked directly into barrels for aging. The barrel lots were aged in combination French and American oak barrels for 10 months. The wines from our rigorous tasting selection were carefully blended together to produce a wine of exceptional value. Fresh and fruity it is filled with flavors and aromas of cherry and plum with a spicy finish.

2005 Renwood Zinfandel, Old Vine, $14.99
This wine is comprised of the best selection of Old Vine vineyard lots in the Shenandoah Valley, each adding its own nuance and complexity to the final blend. The result is a Zin that is brick red in color, with aromas reminiscent of holiday spice, berry pie and cedar. The palate offers ripe fruit with a background of nutmeg and mace, along with tannins that are moderate and ripe. Aging in American oak lends a note of vanilla and a hint of coffee bean to the mélange of flavors.