Klinker Brick Winery
Steve and Lori Felten, fifth generation grape growers in the Lodi region, continue the tradition of cultivating "Old Vine" Zinfandel vineyards that their ancestors planted in the early 1900's.With roots in Germany, Russia and later the Dakotas, the family settled in Lodi, first producing watermelons. Recognizing that the soil and climate were ideal for growing grapes, they began to plant varieties that included Zinfandel, Tokay, Carignane, and Alicante. For over one hundred years, the family has cultivated the land with the aim of producing top quality fruit. Zinfandel was one of the first grape varieties to be planted in the Lodi appellation, although it had also been established in other parts of California.Grapes were originally packed in boxes for shipment to the East Coast and Canada for the purpose of home winemaking. In the early days of production, nearly all of the Zinfandel grapes were shipped with the exception of grapes that were used for making wine at home.By the mid 1930's, grapes were sold primarily to cooperatives and larger, private wineries with a small portion of the production shipped east.Historically, the vineyards were irrigated by flood or ditch irrigation and the inability to regulate the amount of water applied resulted in larger yields of marginal quality. In the late 1980's, drip irrigation was introduced, providing the ability to control the amount of water applied to each vine. This resulted in the ability to control the vigor of the vine, healthier fruit and ultimately, lower yields. With the introduction of more sophisticated vineyard practices, including shoot thinning, leaf pulling, color thinning and the removal of a second crop, the ability to produce the grapes of exceptional quality was realized.Part of the extended Felten Family includes their winemaker, Barry Gnekow, who is responsible for crafting the wines from the inaugural vintage. Barry, a Davis graduate with over 25 years of experience of winemaking, has a unique ability to bring the best of the vineyard into the cellar, year after year, producing wines of distinction for Klinker Brick.Another extended family member is Lynne Whyte Barnard, the President of Klinker Brick Winery. Lynne has brought a wealth of entrepreneurial experience to the winery, having owned her own wholesale company and directing sales and marketing for prestigious wine producers in California. She was instrumental in the development of the Old Ghost wine, label design and has been responsible for selling all of the vintages produced to date, developing national and international distribution.
Klinker Brick Winery 'Old Vine' Zinfandel 2018
$14.95 $17.60
88c
California » Mokelumne River
The grapes for our Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel come from several different vineyards within the Lodi Appellation, depending upon the highest quality of fruit
Klinker Brick 'Old Ghost' Zinfandel 2018
$32.95 $45.59
88cCalifornia » Mokelumne River
The thick and gnarly old Zinfandel vines can look like ghosts wavering in the morning fog that settles over the vineyard. The Felten family's
Klinker Brick Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
$14.95 $19.21
76bCalifornia » Mokelumne River
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits medium dark garnet color, intense blueberry aromas with hints of clove and tobacco. 16 months in French oak barrels encourage
Klinker Brick Winery 'Farrah' Syrah 2019
$16.95 $21.33
87bCalifornia » Mokelumne River
Wine Enthusiast 92 "This warm, welcoming, full-bodied wine is generously saturated with oak spices and rich blackberry and dried plum flavors. Vanilla, cinnamon and clove come
Klinker Brick Brickmason Red Blend 2018
$12.95 $15.47
Wine Enthusiast 90 "This big but gentle wine based on 80% Zinfandel offers lush, late-harvested fruit flavors, soft tannins and a full body. It feels broad
Klinker Brick Winery 'Farrah' Syrah 2018
Our Syrah is rich and balanced with a traditional treatment. Barrel fermentation and maturation in French Oak bring a spice and texture that cannot be
Klinker Brick 'Bricks and Roses' Rose 2018
Pleasant flavors of ripe strawberries, grapefruit and subtle watermelon, coupled with a dry composition, gently caresses the palate. A blend of Carignane, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache
Klinker Brick 'Old Ghost' Zinfandel 2017
Wine Enthusiast 90 This rich, ripe and showy wine offers a deep color, lavish spice aromas and mouthfilling chocolate and blackberry-jam flavors. Dramatic cinnamon, vanilla and
Klinker Brick Winery 'Old Vine' Zinfandel 2017
This, our flagship zinfandel, is made from vineyard blocks up to 120 years old. Delta Breezes and the associated fog allow us to retain above
Klinker Brick 'Bricks and Roses' Rose 2017
"Bricks & Roses is a blend of Grenache (38%), Carignane (30%), Syrah (24%), and Mourvedre (8%) with aromas of citrus, a hint of floral fragrance and a
Klinker Brick Winery 'Farrah' Syrah 2017
Our Syrah is rich and balanced with a traditional treatment. Barrel fermentation and maturation in French Oak bring a spice and texture that cannot be
Klinker Brick Brickmason Red Blend 2017
The blend started by barrel sampling through 16 different lots of Zinfandel and choosing two that were exemplary of the varietal and vintage. The Costa
Klinker Brick 'Old Ghost' Zinfandel 2016
Decanter 91 "This wine carries its luscious flavors of brambles, vanilla, caramel, dried cherries and herbs from start to finish, accented by aromas of anise and
Klinker Brick Winery 'Farrah' Syrah 2016
Our Syrah is rich and balanced with a traditional treatment. Barrel fermentation and maturation in French Oak bring a spice and texture that cannot be
Klinker Brick Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Wine Enthusiast 91 Editor's Choice "Ripe, polished and well balanced, this wine checks all the boxes. Opulent black-cherry, black-currant and oak-spice aromas lead to rich but not
Klinker Brick Winery 'Old Vine' Zinfandel 2016
Wine Enthusiast 90 "This wine puts bold, spicy, flashy oak at center stage, and introduces a good supporting cast of gorgeous blackberry and black-plum flavors. Firm
Klinker Brick 'Bricks and Roses' Rose 2016
"Bricks & Roses is a blend of Grenache (38%), Carignane (30%), Syrah (24%), and Mourvedre (8%) with aromas of citrus, a hint of floral fragrance
Klinker Brick Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
"The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits remarkable balance.Sixteen months on French Oak encouraged extraordinary dry complex structure layered with aromas of blackberry,baking spices and clove. Flavors
Klinker Brick Winery 'Farrah' Syrah 2015
"The 2015 Syrah exhibits aromas of ripe plum, cacao,and smoky oak with subtle earthy and floral notes. The palate is greeted with bright and vibrant
Klinker Brick 'Old Ghost' Zinfandel 2015
"The Old Ghost represents the best Old Vine Zinfandel that Klinker Brick produces each year from some of our oldest vineyard blocks. Botanicals andmixed berry
Klinker Brick Winery 'Old Vine' Zinfandel 2015
"Our 2015 Old Vine Zinfandel is a blend of 16 different vineyard blocks of old vine zinfandel vineyards with an average age of 87 years.
Klinker Brick 'Old Ghost' Zinfandel 2014
Wine Enthusiast 92 "While quite ripe and fruity, this wine is also dry, nicely tannic and firmly textured, so it will pair beautifully with rich proteins.
Klinker Brick Winery 'Farrah' Syrah 2014
Wine Enthusiast 90 "Editors’ Choice" "Charred oak aromas and flavors are paramount in this assertive, bold and tannic wine. By themselves the smoky, peppery aspects would make
Klinker Brick Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
"Sixteen months on French oak encouraged extraordinary dry and complex structure layered with aromas of blackberry, cassis and clove. Flavors of cherry, currant, leather and
Klinker Brick Winery 'Old Vine' Zinfandel 2014
Wine Enthusiast 90 "This wine is rich, ripe, concentrated and almost sweet. It's wonderful to smell the raspberry syrup aromas, taste the blueberry and blackberry flavors
In-Store Pickup (Albany, NY)