What is the Heritage Vineyard?
The Heritage Vineyard is an unusual and unprecedented collection of rare and famous Zinfandel vine cuttings grown throughout California. The Heritage Vineyard stretches over one acre within the UC Davis Oakville Research Station in Napa Valley, California. During the first phase of the project in 1995, 63 selections were planted; during the second phase in 1999, an additional 27, so that the total number of selections now totals 90. The vines are grafted onto St. George rootstock in clay loam soil with a spacing of 9 feet x 8 feet. Each vine is head-trained and spur-pruned in the "goblet" shape as they would have been in the nineteenth century. These practices are not as typical today, since they insure a low (and high quality) yield. The Heritage Vineyard demands authenticity. "We need to replicate the conditions which have given Zinfandel its reputation," explains UC Davis Professor and Chair of the Viticulture & Enology Department James Wolpert.

A research team consisting of UC Davis Professor and Chair of the Viticulture & Enology Department James Wolpert; UC Extension Viticulturist Emeritus Amand Kasimatis, UC Extension Farm Advisors Glen McGourty, Ed Weber and Rhonda Smith) began going on "Zinfandel safaris" throughout California searching for Zinfandel vineyards planted before 1930 and specific vines which were known to produce distinctive and superb quality wine. Today the three "phases" in the Heritage Vineyard total 90 different selections from 12 different regions---Alameda, Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Mendocino, Napa, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara and Sonoma Counties and the Cucamonga region in southern California. Another aspect of the ongoing research into the Zinfandel grape is Dr. Carole Meredith's search for Zinfandel's origins.

"The Heritage Vineyard is a vibrant 'ongrowing' museum of the grape," Wolpert says. The Vineyard is of tremendous historical and viticultural interest of those fascinated by Zinfandel," he adds. "For the consumer, the vineyard is living history and provides an easily accessible demonstration of where Zinfandel is really made-in the vineyard. For the wine industry, it has special significance because it represents a resource for future plantings of Zinfandel with a broad range of selections."

"We expect to learn much about the viticultural characteristics of these vines," Wolpert continues. "Things such as berry size, cluster tightness and ripening uniformity are all factors which have an impact on the quality of the vintage. Of course, the most important factor is wine quality which integrates all of these components, including color, tannin profile and intensity of varietal character."

ZAP began producing wine from this historical vineyard in 1997. The first Heritage Vineyard Zinfandel was harvested by ZAP winery producer Nils Venge of Saddleback Cellars and Mary Buckles Pisor of PlumpJack Winery in Oakville. The 1998 vintage by Robert Biale of Robert Biale Vineyards in Napa, the 1999 vintage was by Matthew Cline of Cline Cellars. The 2000 vintage is by Rod Berglund of Joseph Swan Vineyards, 2001 vintage is produced by Joel Peterson of Ravenswood, 2002 vintage by Ehren Jordon of Turley Wine Cellars, and vintage 2003 by Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards. The 2004 vintage is produced by Kent Rosenblum of Rosenblum Cellars.

Zinfandel has an important role in American cultural history as well as American viticulture. It is the only wine grape varietal considered unique to the U.S. by the federal government. "Zinfandel is at the heart of California's contribution to the world of fine wine. Just as Europe has established the reputation of the historic varietals, California has established Zinfandel and set its standard of excellence for the world," Paul Draper explains. Stylistically, it is the most diverse wine made in the U.S. and possibly in the world. "Zinfandel is a grape variety of noble stature and we are fortunate that it has no historical stylistic context anywhere else in the world which restricts our winemakers' creativity," Dr. Wolpert explains. "Few New World wine regions have had the opportunity to create a new great wine," he adds. Numerous California Zinfandel vineyards were planted in northern California during the Gold Rush. From the 1860s to the early 1990s it was the most widely planted varietal in California; this is why Zinfandel is called "America's heritage grape."

ZAP's Commitment to Research
Since August 1998, ZAP has donated a total of $207,240 to the Heritage Vineyard. These are the largest grants from an independent organization focused on one specific wine-grape varietal," explains UC Davis Professor and Chair of the Viticulture & Enology Department James Wolpert. ZAP also funds a number of other Heritage Zinfandel projects, including the Amador Foothills Experimental Vineyard, publication of a resource directory, ZinPosium and scholarships.