Trentadue La Storia Zinfandel

Trentadue La Storia Zinfandel is a reserve-tier Zinfandel from Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, bottled at approximately 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Sourced primarily from Block 303 — vines dating in part to 1886 — this expression earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast and a Double Gold medal at the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition for its 2022 vintage.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.5%  |  Origin: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Reserve Zinfandel Blend  |  Producer: Trentadue Winery

Production & Heritage

Trentadue Winery was founded in 1959 by Leo and Evelyn Trentadue in the Alexander Valley — the family name meaning "thirty-two" in Italian, a nod to the original 32-acre parcel they purchased. La Storia, meaning "The Story," represents Trentadue's reserve program, drawing from the estate's top vineyard blocks. This Zinfandel is fermented using a split technique — 60% in closed-top tanks and 40% in open-top fermenters — then aged in new oak barrels where it undergoes malolactic fermentation. The blend is anchored by 83–98% Zinfandel from Block 303, supplemented with small lots of Petite Sirah, Syrah, Carignane, and Merlot depending on the vintage.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense dark cherry and plum lead the nose, followed by layers of blackberry jam and a subtle hint of violets. Oak aging contributes supporting notes of vanilla, maple syrup, cocoa bean, and light toast.

Taste: The palate entry is rich and ripe, nearly giving an impression of sweetness with concentrated dried cherry and black raisin. Mid-palate develops into succulent wild blackberry jam and milk chocolate, carried by soft, elegant tannins that frame the wine without gripping. Moderate acidity keeps things balanced despite the fruit density.

Finish: Long and juicy, the finish lingers with butterscotchy vanilla richness and dark chocolate undertones. The texture remains soft and melted throughout, fading slowly on a warm, fruit-saturated note.

How to Drink La Storia Zinfandel

This wine shows best at cellar temperature (60–65°F), served in a large-bowled glass to let the concentrated aromatics open fully. Decanting for 20–30 minutes softens the oak integration further. While primarily a sipping wine, La Storia Zinfandel works in wine-forward cocktail contexts: a Kalimotxo where its jammy fruit stands up to cola bitterness, a New York Sour floated over rye whiskey for a rich red-wine crown, or a Sangria Roja where the dark fruit and vanilla spice anchor a pitcher without getting lost among citrus and brandy.

Best For

• Gifting a Zinfandel enthusiast who appreciates old-vine heritage
• Anchoring a barbecue spread with grilled meats and bold sauces
• Building a California reserve wine collection at an accessible entry point
• Hosting an Alexander Valley tasting flight alongside other Sonoma reds

Frequently Asked Questions

What does La Storia Zinfandel taste like? La Storia Zinfandel delivers concentrated dark cherry, blackberry jam, and dried raisin flavors with supporting notes of milk chocolate, vanilla, and subtle oak toast. The tannins are soft and elegant, and the finish is long and juicy with a butterscotch quality.

How does La Storia Zinfandel compare to Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel? Both are Sonoma County Zinfandels in a similar price tier, but La Storia leans into a riper, more fruit-forward and oak-rich profile from its reserve-level Block 303 fruit and new oak aging. Seghesio's Sonoma bottling generally emphasizes brighter acidity and a broader multi-vineyard blend across Sonoma County appellations.

Is La Storia Zinfandel good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its soft, melted tannin structure, full body, and layered dark-fruit complexity make it a natural choice for contemplative sipping at cellar temperature with or without a short decant.

Where is La Storia Zinfandel made? La Storia Zinfandel is produced by Trentadue Winery in Alexander Valley, a warm sub-appellation within Sonoma County, California, known for producing powerful, ripe Zinfandels. The fruit comes primarily from Block 303, which Trentadue identifies as its finest Zinfandel vineyard block, with some vines tracing back to 1886.

What foods pair well with La Storia Zinfandel? Smoked beef brisket complements the wine's dark fruit and oak notes. Braised lamb shanks match its full body and soft tannins. Sharp aged cheddar bridges the vanilla and chocolate elements. Grilled Italian sausage with peppers echoes the wine's Italian-American heritage. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the cocoa and raisin undertones.

What sizes does La Storia Zinfandel come in? La Storia Zinfandel is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is La Storia Zinfandel worth the price? La Storia positions as a reserve-level expression within the Trentadue portfolio, drawing from historic vineyard blocks and aged in new oak. At its price tier, it competes strongly among Alexander Valley Zinfandels, backed by a 90-point Wine Enthusiast score and Double Gold competition medals that validate its quality relative to cost.

Why La Storia Zinfandel?

What separates this wine from the broader field of California Zinfandel is its vineyard sourcing — Block 303 contains some of Trentadue's oldest vines, with plantings reaching back to 1886, giving the wine a depth and concentration that younger-vine Zinfandels rarely achieve. The split fermentation technique (60% closed-top, 40% open-top) adds textural complexity, blending the fruit preservation of closed fermentation with the tannin softening and aeration of open-top punchdowns. Recognition from Wine Enthusiast at 90 points and a Double Gold at the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition confirms the consistency of this bottling across vintages. As Trentadue's flagship reserve Zinfandel from one of Alexander Valley's legacy estates, La Storia delivers old-vine character without the premium markup that often accompanies heritage-vineyard designations.