GLEN ROCK, N.J., April 29, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the morning of his 91st birthday, Hubert Opici awoke with a brilliant idea: to go back to what had sparked his success in the wine business – an easy-drinking, reasonably-priced wine for everyday consumption.
Though the Opici family began as importers, World War II made it nearly impossible to acquire fine wines from Europe. So the family picked up their New Jersey roots and headed west – to California – where it was rumored there were vineyards as plentiful and bountiful as their ancestors tended in Italy. The Opicis settled on an estate in Rancho Cucamonga that included a cellar and Zinfandel vines – which were similar to the Italian native variety Primitivo. Young Hubert immediately recognized the potential of fruit-driven, affordable Zinfandel as an alternative to the fine French and Italian wines that had become scarce – particularly when a blend was made from a specific plot on the Cucamonga estate that was planted in 1891. There was something about those "old vines" that made Zinfandel magical.
The memory remained in Hubert's mind, as did the magic of old-vine Zinfandel. With the Opici Winery in Cucamonga long gone, Hubert called old friends in California with the hopes of once again making a Zinfandel-based wine that pleased palates without emptying wallets. Working with the winemakers, he developed "Zin 91", a limited-production wine made from 2006 vintage, old-vine Zinfandel. The fruit-forward, pleasant-finishing wine was such a smashing success, he decided to do it again.
"There's no stopping my grandfather," says Don Opici, Managing Director of Opici Wines and the fourth generation in the family wine business. "He still comes to work every day -- full of energy and creative ideas. He is an inspiration to all of us."
Now 95 years young, Hubert Opici is proud to release the second rendition of Zin 91 – a blend of 82% old-vine Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, and 3% Syrah, all from the 2009 vintage. The result is a generously juicy, jammy and spicy red wine bursting with flavors of black cherry, raspberry, boysenberry, and black pepper. Nine months of aging in second-use, French oak barrels softens the ripe tannins and lends a pleasing touch of vanilla. Zin 91 pairs well with an array of dishes, from vegetable lasagna to hearty beef stews, and will be especially appropriate for those upcoming weekend picnics and barbecues.
Zin 91 2009 is produced by Opici Wines and is available nationally at a retail price of $12.99.
Contact Information
For more information contact Joe Janish, Marketing Communications Manager for Opici Wines, at joe@opiciwines.com or 201.689.3256.
You can also find information at the Opici Wines website: http://opiciwines.com.
About Opici Wines
Opici Wines is a sales and marketing wine company with a portfolio of 50 brands from the United States, Italy, Spain, France, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. The brands are currently in distribution across the United States in 45 states. Opici Wines is a subsidiary of the Opici Wine Group, a premier supplier and distributor of wines and spirits established in 1934. There are four distribution companies under the Opici Wine Group umbrella, located in NY, NJ, CT, and Florida called the Opici Wine Company. From its inception, the Opici Wine Group has remained family owned and operated. The company chairman is Hubert Opici, an icon in the wine industry. Headquarters are located at 25 DeBoer Drive, Glen Rock, NJ 07452. Website is http://opiciwines.com.
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The following pictures are available for download:
| [Image] | Zin 91 Video |
| [Image] | Hubert and Don Opici |
| [Image] | Zin 91 Bottle |