Credit: courtesy of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

Austin has a wine tasting group that call themselves “The Original Zinners.” Back years ago when I was a regular member, the one wine everyone in the group agreed upon as an exemplar of American Zinfandel was St. Francis’ Old Vines Zinfandel ($19.99).

The wine now faces a lot more competition, but at its price point, it remains one of the very best. As with any good wine, this Zin maintains a house style while still allowing for vintage differences. You can always expect a normal big-boned Zinfandel, but the winemaker maintains the balance of a well made wine. Expect heavy berry aromas and a thick mouthfeel, both ideal for meat casseroles and stews. St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel is available almost everywhere they sell fine wines.

This article appears in December 10 • 2021.

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Wes Marshall is the author of What's a Wine Lover To Do? (Artisan) and The Wine Roads of Texas (Maverick), as well as the Executive Producer of the PBS television series of the same name. Wes has written for The Austin Chronicle since 1999, covering wine, cocktails, food, and travel.