Pierano Estates Wine: California Zin Fest With Lodi’s Ancient Vines From 1895
Everybody loves a value priced California wine but finding one can be elusive. In Lodi, California’s central valley wine emporium, we found just such a winery, Peirano Estate. Winemaker Lance Pierano is a fourth generation family member growing grape on the family farm.
Pierano received their 50th Best Buy from Wine Enthusiast Magazine in August. That’s 50 best buy awards. That’s quite big. This year’s award is for “The Immortal”, a 2022 Zinfandel with a 92 point score & Best Buy recognition. It’s grape grown on 128-year-old vine. Lodi’s rich with old vine Zinfandels.
Founded in 1895, Peirano Estate is a legacy grower in the Lodi Appellation. Their award-winning portfolio includes a diverse selection of varietals, ranging from crisp whites to bold reds.
Lodi and Sierra Style wines (from upper level Gold Country elevations) are a heavier, meatier wine. As one of our friends likes to say, “They feel like they have a dollop of port style wine blended into the barrel.” Pierano’s wine is just like that.
The Zinfandel grape we tasted grow on vines imported from Italy in 1890. Lance Pierano is the first family winemaker creating wine. His forebears sold grape to other wineries.
Pierano Estate is known for being value driven, good wines at reasonable price. All wines are $16 (no matter the vintage year or varietal) and if you purchase a case it’s all half-price. $96 per case, mixed is Ok.
The tasting fee is $10 and you can choose from any of their 15 wines.
Here’s our tasting:
2023 Chardonnay $16 ✰
2023 Viognier $16 ✰
2022 ‘The Other’ (Cabernet forward blend) $16 ✰+
2022 Petite Sirah $16 ✰
2022 Sea Enchantress (Zinfandel forward blend) $16 ✰+
2022 Wine Makers Blend (Malbec forward blend) $16 ✰+
2022 “The Immortal Zin” Old Vine Zin (130 year old vine) $16 ✰+
2020 Heritage Old Vine Zin (128 year old vine) $16 ✰+
At $8 a bottle, we purchased a mixed case of the Other Red, Enchantress & Immortal. Great table wines for pasta, ribs or steak. You’ll find them right off Highway 99 north of Woodbridge Road. They’re technically in the town of Acampo, just outside Lodi.
Some notes on our wine ranking system.
Bill & Erin Hodge write about California Wine, the estates & winemakers producing them and educational information about Vino. Living in California Wine Country provides a front row seat to the places you want to visit the most here in the Golden State.
– -✰ means -What’s next on your list of wines
-✰ means -Not liking it too much
✰ means -We’ll drink this wine, especially if it’s hosted!
✰+ means -You’ve got our attention and we might buy this wine.
✰+ + means -We’re hooked and we’re going to buy this wine.
When you see -✰/✰+ with a slash, it means we disagree.
