Soon after the 2009 ZAP tasting, we received an email from Shea Coulson of the Vancouver-based "Just Grapes" wine blog requesting a visit to the winery. Little did we know that following his visit, Shea would write one of the most thoughtful and just downright nicest reviews Brown Estate has ever received.

Thank you, Shea!

In its post-ZAP report this year, the well-regarded Vinography wine blog named Brown Estate among "The Best Zinfandel in California."*

For those of you who have never attended ZAP, we highly recommend this three-day Bacchanalia devoted exclusively to zinfandel. It is the largest single varietal wine tasting event in the world. The Grand Tasting takes place the last Saturday in January each year at San Francisco's Fort Mason. Imagine two Costco-sized buildings filled with three hundred wineries (owners and principals only!) pouring nothing but zinfandel for five-plus hours. Add upwards of ten thousand zinfandel fanatics to the mix and you've got complete purple-mouthed mayhem. It is an extraordinary event, and something every zinfandel lover should experience at least once in his or her lifetime.

Bookmark the ZAP site via the link above, get your tickets for the 2010 tasting, and belly up to the Brown Estate table next January 30th!

*Correction to the linked article: Vinography mistakenly attributed the price of our 2007 Napa Valley zinfandel ($36 per bottle) to our 2007 Chiles Valley zinfandel ($45 per bottle).

Did you know that all three Brown siblings live in Yountville? Well now you do!

But that's not the only reason we love Yountville. This dynamic little town is the lodging capital and the epicenter of fine dining in the Napa Valley, as well as home to Ma(i)sonry, a glorious new collective tasting room in which Brown Estate is a winery partner.


Ma(i)sonry, at 6711 Washington Street in Yountville

Located at the north end of Yountville on Washington Street next to the old PJ Steak restaurant, Ma(i)sonry is housed in a historic stone building that has been refurbished to perfection by Michael Polenske of Blackbird Vineyards. The concept is part art gallery, part interior design/home furnishings, part tasting room. Put it on your to-do list. There's nothing like it in the Napa Valley, and it is well worth a visit.