United States · California

Ravenswood

Ravenswood is a Sonoma County Zinfandel specialist founded in 1976 by Joel Peterson, whose motto 'No Wimpy Wines' established the brand's identity around powerful, extracted, single-vineyard California Zinfandel. The estate built its reputation on old-vine Zinfandel from historic Sonoma County sites: Old Hill Ranch in Sonoma Valley (planted 1880s), Dickerson in Napa's Carneros, Monte Rosso on Sonoma's Mayacamas ridge, and Belloni in the Russian River Valley. Peterson's winemaking philosophy — minimal filtration, indigenous yeast, and extraction from low-yielding old vines — produced wines of genuine complexity and aging potential that earned critical recognition through the 1990s. Ravenswood was acquired by Constellation Brands in 2001, a transition that expanded production dramatically and shifted the brand's focus toward the Vintners Blend commercial tier. At auction, the estate averages just $36 per bottle across 233 lots with peaks to $185, reflecting the impact of commoditization on collector perception. The most sought-after bottles are pre-acquisition single-vineyard Zinfandels from Old Hill, Monte Rosso, and Pickberry (a Meritage blend), which represent genuine collector-grade California from the Peterson era. Dickerson Zinfandel also has a dedicated following among California Zinfandel specialists. Old Hill Ranch Zinfandel from pre-acquisition Peterson-era vintages (1990s) remains the estate's single most sought-after collector expression and commands meaningful premiums at auction.