12th ANNUAL ZAP FESTIVAL DRAWS 10,500
53 wineries new to ZAP offer their wines

January 2003---Here are highlights from the 12th Annual Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Festival, January 22-25, 2003:

Total number of attendees over the four days of events: 10,525
Number of attendees at the Tasting on January 25: an estimated 9,000.
Number of wineries pouring at the Tasting: 291 (a complete list of the wineries at www.zinfandel.org)
Approximate number of wines available to taste at the Tasting: 776
Number of wineries new to ZAP and the Festival: 53
Number of volunteers assisting at the four Festival events: 370
Accoutrements consumed: 7,500 small baguettes; 1,800 lbs of cheese (Old Amsterdam, Leyden, Primadonna, Wisconsin Blue, NY Sharp Cheddar, Gruyere, Emmenthaler)
Quick history: In 1992, 22 wineries poured their Zinfandels at the first Zinfandel Advocates & Producers' Tasting; in 1993, 30; in 1994, 50; in 1995, 72; in 1996, 94; in 1997, 114; in 1998, 151; in 1999, 181; in 2000, 218; in 2001, 255; in 2002, 286.
People came to the Festival from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Chile and all over the U.S.
The 2000 Heritage Vineyard wine was sold for $18.00 per 750 ml bottle at the Tasting; it was made by Rod Berglund of Joseph Swan Cellars.
The 13th Annual ZAP Festival will be held January 21-24, 2004.
In March 2003 a group of ZAP wineries will be traveling to Germany--to the Rheingau Gourmet Festival and Pro-Wine in Dusseldorf.
Also in spring, 2003, a group of ZAP wineries will travel to Washington D.C. (April 23 & 24), Boston (April 29) and New York City (May 1) for trade and public tastings (more info at www.zinfandel.org).
Some of the license plates spotted: ZZINFAN, ZIN BUFF, 1ZIN4ME, TEAMZIN.

The 53 wineries new to ZAP and the Festival were Amici Cellars (Napa Valley), Beringer Vineyards (Napa Valley), Blackstone Winery (Sonoma), Brogan Cellars (Sonoma), Bucklin-Old Hill Ranch (Sonoma), Buena Vista Winery (Sonoma), Caernarvon Cellars (Central Coast), Cartlidge & Browne Winery (Napa), Charles Spinetta Winery (Sierra Foothills), Crauford Wine Company (Napa Valley), Crystal Basin Cellars (Sierra Foothills), Curtis & David (Humboldt), Dutch Henry Winery (Sonoma), Elyse Winery (Napa Valley), Galleron Signature Wines (Napa Valley), Girard Winery (Napa Valley), Goosecross Cellars (Napa Valley), Hop Kiln Winery (Sonoma), Klinker Brick Winery (Central Valley), Kuleto Estate Family Vineyards (Napa Valley), Le Cask (Central Valley), Montpellier (Central Valley), Nalle Winery (Sonoma), Napa Wine Company (Napa), Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery (Napa Valley), Novy Family Wines (Sonoma), Oak Ridge Winery (Central Coast), Ottimino (Sonoma), Pena Ridge (Sonoma), Pessagno Winery (Central Coast), Peters Family Winery (Napa Valley), Rancho Arroyo Grande Winery (Central Coast), Robert Craig Wine Cellars (Napa Valley), Robert Hall Winery (Central Coast), Robert Rue Vineyard (Sonoma), Roshambo Winery (Sonoma), Schrader Cellars (Napa Valley), Sharp Cellars (Sonoma), St. Amant Winery (Central Coast), St. Barthelemy Cellars (Napa Valley), Stryker Sonoma Winery (Sonoma), Talty Winery (Sonoma), Tobias Vineyards (Napa Valley), Tofanelli Family Vineyards (Sonoma), Trinitas Cellars (Sonoma), Watts Winery (Central Valley), Williams Selyem Winery (Sonoma), ZinAlley Winery (Central Coast), Zippy Zin (Central Coast), Kangarilla Road (Australia), Mystic Wines (Oregon), Nepenthe Vineyards (Australia) and Terramater (Chile).

Flights of Fancy: A Regional Showcase of California Zinfandels was the first event in the Festival; it took place on January 22 at COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts in Napa, and drew a capacity crowd of 175 people. San Francisco's ABC-7/KGO News reporter Spencer Christian served as moderator. From tales of finding sharks' teeth in Paso Robles vineyards to Mendocino vineyards with views of the ocean, tasters came away with an extremely detailed look at the vast scope of Zinfandel-iana. Wines were chosen by a random drawing. Wineries whose Zinfandels were poured were: from Sonoma---Quivira Vineyards, Fritz Winery, De Loach Vineyards, Tin Barn Vineyards, Robert Biale Vineyards; from the Sierra foothills---Lava Cap Winery, Karly Wines, Clos LaChance Winery, Renwood Winery, Boeger Winery; from Lake and Mendocino Counties---Pezzi King Vineyards, Fife Vineyards, Claudia Springs, Lolonis Winery, Rosenblum Cellars; from Napa---Ravenswood, Koves-Newlan Vineyards, The Terraces, Zoom Vineyards; from the Central Coast---JanKris Winery, Four Vines Winery, EOS Estate Winery, Brochelle Vineyards, Adelaida Cellars.

For the seventh year, Good Eats and Zinfandel paired 36 Zinfandels and 36 restaurants' cuisine at Rosenblum Cellars in Alameda. Participating were Acorn Winery (Zazu), Alexander Cellars (Los Gatos Brewing Co.), Ballentine Vineyards (Hotel Mac Restaurant), Carol Shelton Wines (Stella's Café), Clos du Lac Cellars (Ione Hotel), Cosentino Winery (The Fly Trap), Dashe Cellars (Oaktown Café), Edmeades Vineyards (Brava Terrace), Eric Ross Winery (Sassafras Restaurant), Everett Ridge Vineyards (Santi Restaurant), Frey Vineyards (Millennium), Girard Winery (Dean & DeLuca), Hartford Family Wines (Tresetti's World Café), Hart's Desire Wines (DeSchmire), Hendry (Lark Creek San Mateo), JC Cellars (Harris' Restaurant), Jessie's Grove Winery (Montibella Sausage Co.), Karly Wines (Zare), Kendall-Jackson (The Duck Club Restaurant), Koves-Newlan Vineyards (Compadres Bar & Grill), La Crema (Lisa B's), Lolonis Winery (Verbena/Meza's Restaurant), Monticello Vineyards (ZuZu), Moss Creek Winery (Chef Bob's Decadent Creations), Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery (Rubicon), Pezzi King Vineyards (Ambrosia Pizza & Pasta), Rancho Zabaco Winery (Zin Restaurant), Rosenblum Cellars (Bucci's), Saddleback Cellars (Zins Valley), Sobon Estate (P.F. Chang's China Bistro), Storybook Mtn. Vineyards (Dean & DeLuca), The Terraces (Wappo Bar & Bistro), THEA Wine Co. (Stacey's Café), Tin Barn Vineyards (Barbara Llewellyn & Co.), Wildhurst (Bread Garden) and Zoom Vineyards (North Main BBQ).

In its sixth year, ZAP's An Evening with the Winemakers: Blue Jeans to Black Tie on January 24 welcomed 400 Zinfandel aficionados, who came dressed in everything from a Scottish kilts and togas to sequined gowns to blue jeans and cowboy boots. As guests arrived, they were presented with a glass of the 2001 Heritage Vineyard Zinfandel (made by Joel Peterson of Ravenswood). The auction's proceeds, $65,000, benefited research at the Heritage Vineyard (in the Napa Valley). Wineries participating were Amphora Winery, Bogle Vineyards, Bucklin, Camellia Cellars, Carlisle Winery, Cedarville Vineyard, Charter Oak Winery, Chateau Potelle Winery, Cline Cellars, D-Cubed Cellars, Downing Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Vineyard, Gallo of Sonoma, Geyser Peak Winery, Grgich Hills Cellar, Joseph Swan Vineyards, Kenwood Vineyards, Lions Peak Vineyards, Marr Cellars, Martella Vineyards, Midnight Cellars, Montevina, Murphy-Goode Estate, Norman Vineyards, Peachy Canyon Winery, Pedroncelli Winery, Quivira Estate Vineyards, Rancho Arroyo Grande Winery, Ravenswood, Renwood Winery, Ridge Vineyards, Robert Biale Vineyards, Rosenblum Cellars, S.E. Chase Family Cellars, Sapphire Hill Winery, Saxon Brown Wines, Sebastiani Vineyards, Spelletich Cellars, Starry Night Winery, Trinitas Cellars, Villa Mt. Eden and Zahtila Vineyards. The top three lots were 1) a trip to Tuscany ($6,500) 2) 'Zin Francisco Getaway' ($4,200) and a tie at $3,500 for 3) 'A Taste of Napa' and 'Dream Day in Napa.'

ZAP'S MISSION
The Association of Zinfandel Advocates & Producers is a non-profit, educational organization. ZAP is dedicated to advancing public knowledge of and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history. Winegrowers, winemakers and wine enthusiasts combine to form the membership. The common focus is the preservation and recognition of Zinfandel as America's heritage wine.

ZINFANDEL ADVOCACY
The benefits of belonging to ZAP include a quarterly newsletter filled with Zin-specific information and notice of events at Zinfandel wineries. To join, email zaprr@sbcglobal.net or fax 530/274-4904 or write P.O.B. 1487, Rough & Ready CA 95975.