January is a quiet time in the Napa Valley, partly because it is a slow travel month. As the sleepy residue of the holidays dissipates, we typically use the first three weeks of the year for strategic planning.

Our calendar year begins in earnest the last weekend in January, when we participate — as we have for the last ten years — in the annual ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) tasting at Fort Mason in San Francisco. ZAP is the largest single varietal wine tasting event in the world, and without question our most important marketing tool.



Beyond the invaluable exposure we receive there, ZAP is probably the best morale boost a zin producer can get. There's nothing like five or six hours of face time with thousands of zinfandel fanatics — and hundreds of other zin producers! — to remind us of why we love doing what we do.

As it has continued to attract more and more consumer attendees each year, ZAP has acquired a reputation for being overcrowded. In reality, ZAP is like a Twitter meetup of zin fans. Everywhere you turn, someone's got a tip about a wine or a producer you've got to check out. If you're a true zin lover we believe you must make the pilgrimage to ZAP at least once in your lifetime. There literally is nothing else like it in the world.

This year we will be pouring our new 2008 Napa Valley zin, along with a bonus or two. To coincide with ZAP we have established a new Zinfanatic membership program. As well, we currently are offering free shipping on all 12-pack orders. Get your zin on!