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Hosting a vertical wine tasting is a fun and enlightening way to entertain your next small gathering. Verticals can be set up as simply or elaborately as you’d like. To begin, choose a wine where three or four vintages are available in direct or near succession, and gather as much information as you can about each unique vintage through winemaker, vintage, or tasting notes. Set enough glasses so each taster has one glass per vintage or have a dump bucket available so guests can reuse the same glass. Plan to taste the wines in chronological order, either youngest to oldest or oldest to youngest. Supply paper and pencils so guests can record their impressions and encourage collaborative discussion along the way. As the night progresses, continue to revisit the wines to see how they develop. Was your favorite vintage at the beginning of the night the same as at the end?

“A Wine That’s Especially Good Value:

Robert Parker praised Marietta Cellars for many years, presciently noting that ‘for some inexplicable reason, few California wineries turn out top-quality value-priced wines…for over three decades one of the great values in dry California red wines has been the non-vintage kitchen sink blend from the Bilbro’s family-owned Marietta Cellars.’ The NV Old Vine Red continues to impress, offering incredible pedigree and pleasure for $18. And in the face of increasing natural disasters, like the devastating wildfires on the west coast in 2020, there’s more reason than ever for producers to explore non-vintage bottlings.” 

Old Vine Red. SHOP NOW>

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PEG MELNICK | THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | 11.30.2021

“The holiday party, put on hold last year, is making a comeback as we make our way out of the pandemic with cautious optimism.

With this newfound revelry in mind, we did a blind tasting of inexpensive party reds to set you up with a tasty lineup for your celebrations.

The winner of the tasting is the OVR, Old Vine Red, NV, Lot No. 72, Geyserville, by Marietta Cellars, at $15. This red blend is approachable, with a smooth texture and layered aromas and flavors of strawberry, black raspberry, licorice and white pepper. It’s a steal for the price and a terrific party red to buy in bulk for the holiday festivities.

As for the OVR, winemaker Scot Bilbro said it’s a modern homage to traditional California field blends.

“The brainchild of my father and Marietta’s founder, Chris Bilbro, this wine is the result of carefully blended fermentations of separate varietals from multiple vintages,” he said. “By combining bright zinfandel that has been aging for one year with savory syrah that has seen two years of barrel age, and dense, velvety petite sirah that has matured for three years in neutral oak, we’re able to make a delicious, complex wine that is as fun to make as it is to drink.”

With his family making wine for four generations, Bilbro said the OVR sets a high bar.

“The Old Vine Red has to sing,” he said. “As one of the originators of the red blend category, it needs to showcase real quality and also be delicious right now.”

There are no rules when crafting this blend, Bilbro said. Every year, it’s brand new.

“Every lot of OVR is unique,” he said. “We don’t follow a recipe or work towards prescribed wine chemistry. So we’re constantly playing with style, balance and heft. With Lot 72, we found a beautiful tension between brightness and weight as well as fruit and savory expression.”

Founded in 1978, Marietta is a small independent family-owned and -operated winery. It farms more than 300 acres of vineyards.

Bilbro, 41, grew up in Healdsburg but spent time away traveling in the mountains of Colorado and working on a fishing boat in Alaska. He found his way back to Sonoma County and was transfixed by its beauty. Once he decided he wanted to work among the vines, he studied at UC Davis and graduated with a degree in viticulture and enology in 2007.

The OVR, Bilbro said, is a great holiday pick because it has always been made for the family table.

“It has great acidity, so it is lively and refreshing while the tannins and body will work well with rich foods,” he said. “OVR is all about local traditions, family and fun … so it’s already in the holiday mood.”

Old Vine Red, Lot 72. SHOP NOW>

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ALEXANDER VALLEY AVA  | 100% ORGANIC

Zinfandel from terraced old vines at the base of a canyon. Aged in neutral barrels for 15 months, 14.8% ABV. Drink now or age up to 10 years.

Once a component of the Angeli Cuvée, this Zinfandel long stood out for its brilliance, clarity, and leanness. Now, showcased on its own, it speaks volumes about this unique little canyon off Alexander Valley known as Angeli Ranch. The halo-like image on the label pays homage to Viola Angeli, who sold the Angeli Ranch to Chris Bilbro in an angelic act that mirrors her name. 35 acres of vineyards connect gravel swales from the Russian River to terraced knolls invisible from the valley floor. The Angeli Zinfandel takes its name from the homesteading family and exemplifies the cool effect of these unique vineyards in a bright, tense, and stony expression of Zinfandel.

Brie | Chèvre | Toma | Figs | Apricots | Almonds | Olives | French Bread

Really bring them around the table with a tantalizing spread of cheeses, meats, nuts, berries- you name it. Have fun, and don’t be afraid to let your artistic side show. Keep it seasonal, and mix up flavors, textures, and colors to keep things exciting. 

Both the Old Vine Riesling and the Old Vine Rosé are versatile and spritely additions to whichever direction your charcuterie dreams takes you. If you need somewhere to start, try the Riesling with figs and blue cheese, or the Rosé with strawberries and brie. And you’d be amazed at the way the lively acidity in both these wines cuts through the brininess of olives, or the saltiness of nuts and pâtés.

Pair with: Old Vine Riesling, Old Vine Rosé