San Francisco, CA
The Top Zinfandel Wines From The San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Zinfandel Vineyard in California
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The San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC) has released its 2024 wine competition winners. Five Zinfandel wines made the final rounds, with the top-ranked wine, Mettler Family Vineyards 2021 Epicenter Zinfandel, also winning Best in Show Red Wine. Below are brief descriptions of the wines and tasting notes.
The Zinfandel grape varietal is widely associated with California, where it has become one of the most iconic red wine varietals in the region. The grape’s origins trace back to Croatia, where it is known as Crljenak Kaštelanski. Italian immigrants most likely brought it to the United States in the 19th century and established it in California in the late 1800s.
Primitivo, an Italian grape variety with the same origins, has been shown by DNA testing to be genetically identical. Zinfandel is often called the “California grape,” as it has flourished and developed a strong identity in the state’s warm climate.
Zinfandel wines are renowned for their robust, fruit-forward flavors, which make them particularly appealing to wine enthusiasts. The flavor profile of these wines is influenced by the climate and winemaking style, resulting in diverse taste experiences.
The varietal is known for rich, ripe fruit flavors of blackberry, raspberry, plum, and black cherry. The wines can also feature licorice and sometimes dried herbs and woody brush notes. On occasion, higher-alcohol versions can show a slight alcoholic warmth in the nose.
The fruit can be jammier and more concentrated in warmer regions, especially in older, dry-farmed vineyards. Zinfandel wines are lighter and fresher in cooler climates, featuring brighter ripe fruit notes.
Zinfandel wines often have a distinctive spicy note, featuring black pepper, cinnamon, and clove flavors. Some expressions also exhibit smoky or earthy nuances, particularly when aged in oak barrels.
Zinfandel wines are celebrated for their rich, juicy character and complexity, inspiring wine enthusiasts to experiment with their pairings. They offer a mix of ripe fruit and spicy, earthy notes, making them a versatile wine that pairs beautifully with a range of dishes, from grilled meats to barbecue and pizza.
Mettler Family Vineyards 2021 Epicenter Zinfandel
Mettler’s Epicenter was the top-ranked Zinfandel wine. The bottling also took Best in Show Red Wine in the 2025 SFIWC. The Judging Panel described the wine as expressing:
Focused, blackberry and dark fruit notes with a distinctive spicy edge, a ripe, well-integrated tannic backbone, and a notable alcoholic punch.
Famous old vine zinfandel grapes on the vine in a vineyard in Paso Robles California
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Four other Zinfandel wines made the final round of the SFIWC 2025 competition. Three of those wines were produced by the V Sattui winery.
Sattui is a renowned winery in St Helena in the heart of California’s Napa Valley. It’s known for its authentic Italian-inspired castle and its commitment to producing high-quality wines.
Founded by Dario Sattui, the winery blends old-world traditions with modern winemaking techniques. The estate’s 13th-century-style castle houses its wine production and tasting rooms. Its impressive architecture and beautiful grounds have made the winery a popular destination for wine enthusiasts and tourists.
V. Sattui Winery 2022 Ancient Vine Quaglia Vineyard Zinfandel
The SFIWC Judging Panel described the wine as expressing:
Flavors of light baking spices and assorted red fruits on the nose. The palate has a notable sweetness accompanied by red and black fruit notes, a crisp acidity, and a backbone of ripe tannins. The finish features a mild tartness that gradually turns sweet with lingering red fruit flavors.
V. Sattui Winery 2022 Ancient Vine Collins Family Vineyard Zinfandel
The SFIWC Judging Panel described this Zinfandel wine as featuring:
Ripe red fruits on the nose carry through onto the palate. It’s smooth and round with balanced acidity and ripe but distinctive tannins. The finish is long, pure, and unadulterated, with lingering ripe red fruit notes.
V. Sattui Winery 2022 Old Vine Glisson Zinfandel
The SFIWC Judging Panel described the wine as showcasing:
Cranberry pie, red berry notes, herbal/herbaceous notes, and a hint of seasoned oak.
Barefoot Cellars NV Zinfandel
The SFIWC described this low-priced but otherwise excellent Zinfandel as showcasing:
Fruity and jammy notes of red and black berries on the nose. It’s smooth on the palate with a pronounced, nicely balanced body and crisp acidity. The finish is long, with lingering, jammy red and black berry fruit notes.
VJB Cellars 2021 Estate Bottled Primitivo
VJB Cellars was the top-ranked Primitivo wine. The winery is in Kenwood, Sonoma County.
The SFIWC Judging Panel described the wine as featuring:
Fruity and jammy notes of red and black berries on the nose. It’s smooth on the palate with a pronounced, nicely balanced body and crisp acidity. The finish is long, with lingering, jammy red and black berry fruit notes.
The 2024 SFIWC showcased some outstanding Zinfandel and Primitivo wines, some remarkably well-priced. If you are a fan of Zinfandel wines, these wines are well worth exploring.
See also top Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir wines from the 2024 San Francisco International Wine Competition.
San Francisco, CA
6/28 Gamethread: Giants vs. Braves
It’s series finale time, and it’s rubber match time, as the San Francisco Giants host the Atlanta Braves.
It’s a battle of Cy Young southpaws. For the Giants, it’s Robbie Ray, who won the award in 2021 in the American League. Ray, a 34-year old two-time All-Star, is making his 17th appearance of the year, and is 6-6 with a 3.70 ERA, a 4.80 FIP, and 80 strikeouts to 42 walks in 87.2 innings. After a rough patch, he’s been exceptional in his last two games, including allowing just an unearned run in eight innings against the Athletics his last time out.
For the Braves, it’s Chris Sale, who won the prestigious pitching award in 2024. Sale, a 37-year old nine-time All-Star, has made 14 starts, and is 8-5 with a 2.14 ERA, a 2.71 FIP, and 99 strikeouts to 21 walks in 84 innings. He allowed two unearned runs in 5.2 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his last start.
Enjoy the game, everyone.
Who: San Francisco Giants (34-48) vs. Atlanta Braves (49-32)
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California
Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area
Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM
San Francisco, CA
People’s Budget Coalition Claims Victory After San Francisco Budget Restores Most Proposed Service Cuts – Davis Vanguard
By Vanguard Staff
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco People’s Budget Coalition declared a major victory this week after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Appropriations Committee advanced a budget proposal restoring nearly all of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s proposed cuts to community organizations and workers providing essential services throughout the city.
The coalition credited months of organizing by labor unions, community organizations, residents and advocates for reversing many of the reductions initially proposed in the mayor’s budget. The committee-approved budget now moves to the full Board of Supervisors and then to Mayor Lurie for final approval. According to the coalition, few, if any, additional changes are expected during that process.
The coalition said thousands of San Francisco workers, residents and community members participated in neighborhood town halls, marches, rallies, phone banks, letter-writing campaigns and demonstrations to pressure city leaders to restore funding for programs serving vulnerable populations.
“This budget represents a remarkable victory for every single San Francisco resident,” said Anya Worley-Ziegman, coalition coordinator for the San Francisco People’s Budget Coalition.
“And it shows that public pressure works. Showing up works. Organizing, going out into communities where people will see their lives impacted by cuts, where people feel like their government and their representatives aren’t listening to them, and giving people an outlet to make their voices heard can make real change.”
Worley-Ziegman credited “the thousands of people, workers, unions, community and advocacy organizations, as well as the leadership of Budget Chair Connie Chan and Supervisors who fought for their districts’ priorities” with helping restore “tens of millions of dollars for essential programs serving our city’s most vulnerable populations.”
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminds us that budgets are moral documents, and today, City Hall seems to agree,” Worley-Ziegman added.
According to the coalition, many of the mayor’s proposed reductions affecting LGBTQ+, immigrant, student and homeless services were restored through the city’s annual budget “add-back” process during the Budget and Appropriations Committee’s final meeting, chaired by Supervisor Connie Chan.
The coalition said restorations include tens of millions of dollars for senior services, housing and rent assistance, Free City College, HIV services, immigrant services and other community programs.
The organization argued that many of the programs initially targeted for reductions serve communities that are already facing challenges resulting from actions by the federal government. The coalition said restoring those programs demonstrates continued city support for immigrants, LGBTQ+ residents, Black, Indigenous and other communities of color, as well as individuals struggling with mental health, substance use disorders or homelessness.
The coalition said investments in those communities strengthen the city and help maintain San Francisco’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive city.
Despite celebrating the committee’s actions, the coalition said significant fiscal challenges remain. It noted that not all proposed reductions were fully restored and that city officials project next year’s budget deficit to exceed this year’s.
The coalition argued that San Francisco possesses substantial wealth, particularly amid the city’s growing artificial intelligence industry, and said city leaders should pursue additional revenue sources to sustain public services rather than relying on service reductions.
“San Francisco is one of the wealthiest cities in the wealthiest country in the world, and with the AI boom, it’s only getting richer,” Worley-Ziegman said.
“The fact that we need to exert this much time and energy fighting for such a small slice of the pie is, frankly, as ridiculous as it is shameful.”
“We should be laser focused on expanding the pie. We need to be talking about IPO taxes, wealth taxes, mansion taxes, and every policy tool available to close future deficits,” Worley-Ziegman continued.
“It feels like every year our leaders tell the most vulnerable communities to eat cuts and make ‘hard choices,’ while simultaneously opposing comically small taxes on the city’s wealthiest and well connected residents.”
“It should not be this hard to get an immigrant mother on the cusp of eviction $50 to make rent, or a senior living with HIV on our streets counseling or a hot meal.”
Worley-Ziegman concluded by urging advocates to continue organizing beyond this year’s budget process.
“Yes, let’s celebrate this win, but don’t forget that there’s so much more work to do if we want to move San Francisco forward without leaving its most vulnerable residents behind.”
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Breaking News San Francisco
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budget advocacy community services Connie Chan Daniel Lurie People’s Budget Coalition San Francisco budget
San Francisco, CA
Suspect arrested after shooting near San Francisco Pride events, police say
A suspect was arrested Saturday after a shooting near San Francisco’s Pride celebrations left one person wounded and an officer hurt during a foot chase, police said.
The San Francisco Police Department said officers were monitoring Pride events near United Nations Plaza around 3:32 p.m. when the shooting occurred.
Officers found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound and immediately began rendering aid. The victim was taken to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Police said officers in the area quickly located a person matching the suspect’s description, prompting a foot pursuit. During the chase, one officer suffered minor injuries.
The suspect was eventually taken into custody, and the person’s name has not been released.
Police said the investigation remains active despite the arrest.
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