If you are lucky you may find a bottle of zinfandel that is labeled “old vine zinfandel/.” Though there is no official definition of “old vine,” in general, it indicates that the grapes in the bottle are from vines that are at least 50 years old. In some special cases, the vines are more than 100 years old—and the winery will usually list this on the label.
There are even a few old zinfandel vineyards in the Sierra Foothills that were planted in the 1800s, such as the Grandpere Vineyard in Amador County dating to 1869. Both Lodi and Sonoma County also are home to some zinfandel vineyards that are over 100 years in age. Imagine drinking a bottle of wine made from grapes planted before WWII.
These old zinfandel vineyards are considered to be American historical treasures, given that most commercial vineyards are pulled out at around 30 years of age. This is because as they age, they don’t produce as much quantity, but they do produce high quality. So if you encounter a bottle of old vine zinfandel with grapes aged 100+ years, enjoy it with friends and know that you are drinking a piece of American viticulture history.