Oh Zinfandel, glorious Zinfandel! There was time when you were snubbed as a stepchild of California’s thriving wine industry, but that time is, thankfully, gone. You were finally noticed as incredibly rich, robust, intense, and versatile. You’ve got so much style and elegance that the best chefs of the Golden State feel inspired to match you with their wholesome creations. You penetrate upscale eateries all over the United States, finding appreciation from your new converts near and far.
Long live Zinfandel, and its foremost supporter – Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) tirelessly promoting the American brand of so many virtues!
The annual ZAP Festival, happening in San Francisco for the 21st time this year, attracted a whopping number of zin-producing wineries (more than 200), participating restaurants, and, of course, zin-loving consumers. ZAP 2012 relocated its major happenings to Concourse in the hip SoMa neighborhood.
Out of all the educational, fun and zin-tasting programs this year, I was able to attend the kick-off event, Epicuria: Food & Zin Pairings, which brought about 50 food and wine combinations from distinguished vintners and chefs alike.
At the top of the Concourse exhibition hall, chef Ethan Mantle from Componere, chef David Taylor and sommelier Shelley Lindgren from A16, and chef John Gurnee and sommelier Ken Wagstaff from Wayfare Tavern set up the ZinKitchen, providing demos and disclosing their zin and food pairing secrets to the public.
The middle of the hall was occupied by the silent auction lots offering bottles of zin, trips to the Wine Country, stemware, gift baskets of cheeses and chocolates.
Winery/restaurant stations were positioned on two levels of the facility, allowing easy access to all the participants – not that it would be possible for one person to taste all the amazing offerings.
I am sharing some snippets of delicious information here, hoping to recreate but a few out of too many memorable moments of the extravaganza.
Rosenblum Cellars from Alameda put forward their best zins – 2006 Maggie’s Reserve and 2006 Monte Rosso Reserve from Sonoma Valley, and 2006 Harris Kratka from Alexander Valley in Northern Sonoma. Chef Joey Altman reciprocated with outrageously tasty Vietnamese pork sandwich, Bahn Mi, made of cocoa-chile roastes pork, pickled mushrooms and crusty baguette.
Gamba Vineyards and Winery from Fulton presented 2009 Moratto Vineyard zin from Russian River Valley, paired with Estate Sonoma restaurant’s fig-braised short rib sliders on polenta honey rolls.
Mazocco Sonoma from Healdsburg brought in 2009 Reserve and 2009 Smith Orchard Reserve from Dry Creek Valley and matched them with Radio Africa & Kitchen’s (San Francisco) lavender honey-roasted duck with winter squash puree.
Gnarly Head Cellars from Napa paired 2010 Old Vine zin from Lodi with Johnny Garlic’s (Santa Rosa) seared ahi on a wonton topped with mango-jicama salsa, eel sauce and wasabi cream.
A distinguished chef duo from Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill in San Francisco, JW Foster and Stephen Sullivan, offered bruschetta of winter squash roasted with house honey (yes, honey bees live at Fairmont Hotel, lucky bastards) to be paired with Three Wine Company’s (from Clarksburg) 2008 Evangelho and 2008 Old Vine from Contra Costa.
Fifth Floor Restaurant, a San Francisco institution, made a dramatic presentation of duck rillette with pear gel on crostini, and miniature olive and zucchini madelines set on stone slabs to match Klinker Brick Winery’s (from Lodi) 2009 Old Ghost, Old Vine, Mokelumne River.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards from Santa Rosa didn’t have to look hard for a matching chef. Its 2008 Old Vines and 2009 Tres Viejos were supplemented by the winery’s own Executive Chef David Bush’s little plates of five-spice Sonoma duck b
reast with yellow beets, red beet puree, and soy balsamic and cherry glaze.
Apologizing for a far from complete account, this reporter promises to work toward perfection next year. And you should, too!
The 22nd Annual Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Festival will take place on January 31, February 1 and 2, 2013 in San Francisco. Visit www.zinfandel.org often for more information.
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