Tilth Cherryhouse Vineyard Zinfandel Lodi 2018

A soil’s tilth is its physical health, especially in relation to its suitability for planting or growing a crop. And a vineyard’s tilth is crucial to the success of the resulting wine, and thus is of utmost importance to Jason and Hillary Driscoll, Owners and Winemaking team behind Driscoll Wine Company. Their sister brands, Tilth and Hibou, are created with a focus on vineyard sources that champion proper soil cultivation through sustainable farming practices and smartly planted grape varietals. This kind of commitment can lead a winemaker down roads less travelled, which for Driscoll Wine Company has resulted in exceptional wines and a burgeoning family brand that they hope will live on well beyond their years.

Finding vineyards of exceptional quality and honorable farming practices can be a tough task, especially for a young brand with little name recognition to help with traction. Jason likes to reminisce about the days where he would drive aimlessly through regions that inspired him and hope to chance upon lesser-known vineyard sites at the end of dirt roads. “I remember going to Marin and dropping notes on people’s doorsteps, asking them who was buying their fruit.” Mile by mile, Jason explored the outer stretches of Mendocino, Marin, Calistoga, and beyond, and as a result boasts a robust portfolio of 10+ wines, all sourced from exceptional vineyard sites that promote restorative farming practices which will support the health of the soil for years to come.

Jason’s dreams did not always feature a wine cellar. As a young man, he moved to the Napa Valley in order to pursue a culinary career and was first introduced to cellar work strictly as a means to pay his culinary school tuition. The physical labor as well as the ethos of creating with his hands were aspects of the industry that resonated with him, but Jason was pulled by the fast-paced culture of the kitchen. It wasn’t until he met David DeSante of DeSante Wines that Jason first considered pivoting to winemaking full-time. “He knows his chemistry and is a very smart guy” says Jason. “I've got a cooking background. I tend to fly by the seat of my pants and work in a different wavelength. Having him take me under his wing really taught me so much about the process of winemaking. I learned about fermentation kinetics, yeast physiology, and a lot of new stuff for me. It was a lot of fun, too!” Just three years later, Tilth was born, and Jason has never once looked back (though we hear he is still a whiz in the kitchen!).

Located in the Lodi’s Mokelumne River AVA, the meticulously managed Cherryhouse Vineyard is owned and farmed by brothers Jeff and John Perlegos. They took a chance on selling Jason a small amount of grapes in 2016 and Jason has been buying from them ever since. The head trained vines are rooted in a sandy loam and yield a bright and concentrated Zinfandel. Instead of the typically large cluster that Zinfandel can be known for, Cherryhouse yields a tight grenade-like cluster with a small berry size. It’s a special site that excites us every year. Tasting notes from the winemaker to follow…

“Black cherries, espresso, and vanilla spice are accompanied by a full mouthfeel and an everlasting finish. This wine tastes like Zinfandel — good Zinfandel. Don’t think too much about it, just enjoy it . . . with friends and loved ones preferably . . . or by yourself with a tub of chocolate ice cream (my wife’s preference).”