Trentadue Old Patch Red

Trentadue Old Patch Red is a Zinfandel-dominant California red blend bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml format. Built from head-pruned old vines — some planted as far back as 1896 — this wine earned a Double Gold Medal at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, which also named it a Best Buy.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Alexander Valley, North Coast, California  |  Red Blend  |  Producer: Trentadue Winery

Production & Heritage

Trentadue Winery farms its estate vineyards in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, where the oldest Zinfandel blocks date to 1896. The Old Patch Red blends Zinfandel (typically 55–67%) with Petite Sirah (15–27%), Carignane (10–17%), and small additions of varieties like Syrah, Sangiovese, or Merlot depending on vintage. All three primary varietals come from head-pruned vines — a labor-intensive traditional farming method that restricts yields and concentrates fruit quality. After fermentation the wine ages for 13 months in small oak barrels, 20% of which are new, building structure without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intense black cherry and ripe plum dominate the opening, followed by blueberry and cherry cola. With aeration, layers of vanilla, cocoa, toasted oak, and dark licorice emerge.

Taste: The entry is fresh and juicy with youthful brightness, delivering dried cherry, huckleberry, and baked peach across the mid-palate. As the wine opens, allspice and ripe black raspberry deepen the profile, moving toward espresso and dried bay leaf notes at the peak.

Finish: Long and fruit-driven with a dry close. Lingering espresso and subtle oak tannins provide a structured fade without bitterness.

How to Drink Old Patch Red

Pour at cool room temperature (60–65°F) and give it 20–30 minutes in a wide-bowled glass to let the aromatics fully develop. The wine drinks well on its own but also has enough fruit intensity and spice to anchor straightforward wine cocktails. A classic Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) plays off Old Patch Red's natural cherry-cola character. A Red Wine Sangria loaded with stone fruit and citrus amplifies its plum and berry core. For cooler months, a Mulled Wine built on this blend picks up the existing allspice and dark licorice notes beautifully.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners when you want old-vine complexity without the old-vine price
• Backyard grilling with burgers, ribs, or charred sausages
• Introducing someone to California field-blend traditions
• Stocking a house red that consistently over-delivers for the money

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Old Patch Red taste like? It leads with ripe black cherry and blueberry, develops into baked peach and allspice on the mid-palate, and finishes dry with espresso and bay leaf. The overall impression is a juicy, fruit-forward wine balanced by moderate oak tannins.

How does Old Patch Red compare to Marietta Old Vine Red? Both are California old-vine red blends built on Zinfandel at accessible price points, but Old Patch Red typically shows more dark fruit concentration and oak structure from its 13 months in barrel. Marietta tends to be lighter-bodied and more immediately approachable, while Old Patch Red rewards a few minutes of breathing time.

Is Old Patch Red good for everyday drinking? Absolutely — Wine Enthusiast designated it a Best Buy, signaling strong quality relative to its price tier, and the 14.5% ABV keeps it full-bodied but not overpowering for a dinner pour.

Where is Old Patch Red made? Old Patch Red is produced by Trentadue Winery in Alexander Valley, a sub-appellation within Sonoma County's broader North Coast AVA in California. The estate's oldest Zinfandel vines were planted in 1896.

What foods pair well with Old Patch Red? Smoked brisket or pulled pork, where the wine's dark fruit and spice mirror the char and smoke. Wood-fired pizza with Italian sausage and roasted peppers. Braised short ribs, which echo the wine's depth and long finish. Aged cheddar or Gouda, whose nuttiness contrasts the berry fruit. Grilled lamb chops seasoned with rosemary and garlic.

What sizes does Old Patch Red come in? Old Patch Red is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Old Patch Red worth the price? Old Patch Red positions as a value-tier wine that punches well above its weight — the 90-point Wine Enthusiast score with a Best Buy tag and a Double Gold at the 2024 SF Chronicle Wine Competition confirm it competes with bottles priced significantly higher.

Why Old Patch Red?

Head-pruned Zinfandel vines dating to 1896 are not a marketing story — they are a genuinely scarce viticultural asset that few California wineries can claim. That fruit, blended with old-vine Petite Sirah and Carignane and aged 13 months in small oak, produces a wine with density and layering that its price category rarely delivers. The Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and a 90-point Best Buy from Wine Enthusiast reinforce what the glass already shows: Old Patch Red is one of the most reliable over-performers in the California red blend space, vintage after vintage.