Winemaking Update
It seems fitting that after experiencing one of our earliest budbreaks in recent memory, harvest has followed suit and arrived a bit earlier than usual. The energy around the winery has quickly shifted as our vineyard and cellar teams move into high gear, bringing in fruit and beginning the work that will shape the 2026 vintage.
Harvest is always an exciting time, but it also gives us an opportunity to reflect on the vineyards we have the privilege to work with year after year. Few embody that history more than our Home Ranch in Alexander Valley.
First planted by Edoardo Seghesio in 1895, Home Ranch is one of California’s oldest vineyards. Its old Zinfandel vines have weathered more than a century of growing seasons and continue to give us fruit with remarkable character and longevity.
Our oldest vines sit near the family’s Victorian home at the base of Rattlesnake Hill, where they benefit from warm Alexander Valley days and cooling nighttime influence. Over the last decade, we have continued to evolve how we farm this special place, with an increased focus on soil health, biodiversity and regenerative farming.
That makes me particularly excited to share the 2024 Home Ranch Zinfandel with you as part of this release. Earlier this year, I sat down with Tim Fish of Wine Spectator to taste 11 vintages of Home Ranch, from 2014 through the 2024. Tasting the wines side by side was a wonderful reminder of both the evolution of this vineyard and the distinctive character that carries through each vintage.
The 2024 Home Ranch received 93 points, with Wine Spectator highlighting its raspberry and cherry character, layers of anise and spice, and potential to develop beautifully over time.
The tasting also reinforced just how well Home Ranch ages. The 2023 and 2022 vintages each received 94 points, and we have a limited amount of the 2022 remaining. I encourage you to stock up on past vintages alongside the new 2024 and experience the evolution of Home Ranch in your own cellar.
As we bring another harvest into the winery and begin the journey of the 2026 wines, I hope you enjoy this newest release from a vineyard that has been part of the Seghesio story for 131 years.
Salute!
Andy Robinson
Winemaker
