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SAUSAL VINEYARD & WINERY
Pure ZIN Pleasure in Alexander Valley
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Sausal siblings: Peachie, Ed, Cindy and Dave
Sausal Winery in Alexander Valley – no
world-famous architect built it, no priceless
art collection is housed in it, and no sumptuous
gardens with waterfalls and statuary are
to be found in it. What visitors will find at
Sausal is the Demostene family, who has lived
and worked in the Alexander Valley for generations
and who make some of California’s
finest Zinfandel wines.
The family purchased the Sausal Ranch
(named for the creek that flows through it
into the Russian River) in 1956. The next
generation of Demostenes founded the
winery in 1973, in large part to take advantage
of the existence of Zinfandel grape vines
that had been producing high quality grapes
since 1877. That’s not a typographical error,
and you can prove that for yourself when you
visit the winery to taste living history –
Zinfandel wines that are made from vines that
are 50, 90 and 130+ years old.
Follow Hwy. 128 along the eastern edge of
the Alexander Valley to the winery, then down
the winery’s driveway to a rustic, barn-red
wooden building with a trellised porch that
houses the tasting room. Simple like the rest
of the winery, the tasting room is not a minimall
teeming with wine country merchandise.
There is only some nice logo clothing
and some sleeping and scratching stations
that exist for the pleasure of the two winery
cats, Sophie and Gypsie, who wander in and
out as the mood takes them.
What you’re there for is a treasure trove of
old-vine Zinfandels, plus some Cabernet
Sauvignon and Sangiovese, all from estateowned
vineyards that surround the winery.
You will have to taste for yourself to see
which is your favorite – none will disappoint
you, and the 2007 vintage Century Vines
Zinfandel will make you a true believer in the
mystique surrounding old-vine Zinfandel. All
the Zinfandels are dry-farmed for added fruit
intensity and the oldest vines are head trained
in the traditional manner, as you would
expect.
A visit any time of year would be
rewarding, but if you find yourself in the area
on Saturday, June 26th, don’t miss the Sausal
Sock Hop Party, an open-to-the-public celebration
themed to the 1950s because of the
Demostene family’s purchase of the winery
property in that decade. There will be food
and wine, music from the ’50s, an Elvis
impersonator and classic cars of the period.
So put on your poodle skirts and dig out
those pop-it beads or roll up your T-shirt
sleeves (cigarette pack optional) and grow
some sideburns. The party lasts from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and costs only $15 for all-day fun
and great Zinfandel.
The Sausal Vineyard & Winery tasting
room is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
and is wheelchair accessible. Picnickers are
welcome to enjoy themselves on a trellised
patio shaded by luscious grape vines, a traditional
Italian touch. The winery is located at
7370 Hwy. 128, just a few miles east of the
charming town of Healdsburg. For more
information, telephone 1-800-500-2285 or
go to the website at www.sausalwinery.com.
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