Our Old Vine Zinfandel blends vineyards planted on the Dry Creek bench and the cooler southwest Alexander Valley. Although “old vine” is often loosely interpreted in the wine industry, our benchmark is minimum 50 years. However, the average age of our vines is approximately 70 years old. True old vine Zinfandel is distinguished by head-trained vines with thick, gnarled trunks and is planted with ancient clones dating back to the turn of the century.

The inaugural bottling of this single vineyard Maffei reinforces Seghesio’s commitment to bottle the best Zinfandel in Sonoma. In the case of the Maffei Vineyard, Jim and Ned Neumiller, Seghesio’s father and son growers, have been working with the Maffei family for a few years to secure fruit for a single vineyard wine from head-trained heritage selection blocks planted in 1928 and 1942. They work hand-in-hand with the original owners’ granddaughter Joanne Maffei. Just like the Seghesio’s, she is a passionate steward of her family’s land—so much so that Ned considers Maffei to be among the most meticulously farmed vineyards he’s ever seen. “I swear Joanne has a name for every vine,” concurs Jim.

Growing and producing world-class Sangiovese is not for the faint of heart. Rattlesnakes, thistle and America’s most unique clone of Sangiovese are all that thrive atop Rattlesnake Hill on our Home Ranch. The 40% slope, shallow topsoil and virtually impenetrable volcanic shale are the perfect antidote for taming this vigorous varietal into producing intensely flavored grapes. The clone, planted in 1910 by Edoardo Seghesio in America’s oldest Sangiovese vineyard, produces small-berried, loosely formed clusters. This wine is 100% Sangiovese from Rattlesnake Hill on our Home Ranch estate in Alexander Valley.

We named this wine Il Cinghiale — wild boar in Italian — for a reason: Brawny and rich, it evokes untamed forest, an open fire and roasting meat. Petite Sirah was first introduced in California in 1878, mistakenly as Syrah. Growers recognized the error and soon began calling the newcomer Petite Sirah for its small berries and low yields.