At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Lodi, California
- Base
- Acampo, California
- Grapes in named reds
- Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon
- Named wines
- American Dream Zinfandel and American Dream Cabernet Sauvignon
- Defining feature
- Winery and custom crush facility handling production from grape to bottle
The Producer
In 1985, Rodney and Gayla Schatz bought their first property, 40 acres of Old Vine Zinfandel in the Lodi Appellation. Rodney Schatz is a third generation Lodi grower, and the pair still own and operate Peltier Winery & Vineyards. Peltier is based in Acampo, California.
Rodney handles farming and bulk wine, while Gayla manages finances. A 2005 Petite Sirah prompted Peltier to bottle wine under its own label, and that wine later won Best of Class and Best of Region at the California State Fair.
Place
Lodi appears on the bottle and in the fruit supply. The grapes for American Dream Zinfandel 2023 come mainly from vineyards in Lodi, while the custom crush operation can use certified sustainable Lodi fruit or competitively sourced outside fruit. Lodi is therefore both the main origin for the 2023 Zinfandel and one source available to the wider facility.
Wines
The named red range has two vintages of American Dream Zinfandel, 2023 and 2021, alongside American Dream Cabernet Sauvignon 2022. The 2023 Zinfandel is 75% Zinfandel and 25% Petite Sirah, with 75% of the wine aged for four months in oak barrels. The 2021 Zinfandel was fermented and macerated in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, then transferred to French and American oak after pressing.
The 2023 Zinfandel is dry and full bodied, with sweet red cherry, raspberry, dark plum and dusty mineral aromas. It has just under medium high acidity, soft round tannins and a reasonably long, sweet fruited finish, with oak, blackberry, vanilla, blueberry, mint and chocolate in the flavor.
The 2021 Zinfandel is highly fruity, with strawberry, mint, blackberry and vanilla. American Dream Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is fruity and flavorful, with oak character and blackcurrant, plum, mint, blueberry, chocolate, coffee and vanilla.
Final Word
Peltier runs both winery and custom crush work, handling production from grape to bottle. American Dream keeps dark berry fruit, oak, mint, herbs, chocolate and vanilla at the front of its red range.
Sources
- peltierwinery.com
- peltierwinery.com/inside_peltier
- peltierwinery.com/sustainability
- peltierwinery.com/inside_peltier/crush-services
- www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/american-dream-2009221
- www.munskankarna.se/sv/vinlocus/fast-sortiment-nya-viner-2-september-2024/american-dream-zinfandel-2023
- www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/american-dream-271901
- www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/american-dream-288708