St. Peters' Vineyard

A tiny patch of old vine zinfandel, owned by the parish of St. Peters' Catholic Church in Cloverdale, this century old vineyard has somehow managed to survive, and prosper, and lend it's budwood to a new generation of zinfandel.

Farmed by Ulises Valdez and Jack Florence, Jr., since the early 90's, the quality of this old clone, known by old-timers, was rediscovered, and made into a reserve zinfandel by Kent Rosenblum of Rosenblum Cellars. The vines soon became the source of the Rockpile Road Vineyard, and much of the other zinfandel which gave the Rockpile AVA it's zin-centric character and notoriety.The two acre block of old vine zinfandel is actually relatively free of the viruses the plague so many of California's old vineyards. The reason for this is that the vines are so old, they were planted before the leafroll virus infected rootstock sources in the early part of the 20th century. The vineyard was laid out with the zinfandel planted in the middle, with other varieties such as Carignane, and and old "field blend" assortment of heirloom varieties as well, around the outside.

Upon leasing the vineyard in 2002, Ulises Valdez began a careful renovation of the vineyard, removing the carignane, and replanting with a mix of petit sirah, and alicante bouchet, while preserving the block of old vine zinfandel.