The adventure of co-owners Dave Nichols and Rick Quinn is based on a passion of winemaking that veered out of control, taking on its own identity. Quinn was a real estate entrepreneur of Yugoslavian heritage who moved to California in 1979. Continuing his family’s early tradition of winemaking, he sourced grapes from Paso Robles before deciding to purchase 68 acres of his own vineyards in 1994. After a casual encounter with his next-door neighbor Dave Nichols, they decided to form a business and winemaking partnership purchasing adjacent east-side vineyards in Paso Robles. Today, they own and farm 300 acres of vineyards on the east and westside of Paso Robles. The merging of these talents and resources produced Opolo’s first vintage in 1999.

This 100% Zinfandel has been a classic staple within the Opolo portfolio. The opaque ruby-red color exhibits a bouquet of freshly picked orchard fruits, rustic spices and vanilla bean. There is an assortment of ripe, red zesty fruits of raspberry, crème de cassis and red plums with a subtle underpinning of cinnamon and white pepper. The texture is held nicely together with soft caressing tannins that lead to an attractive finish.

By W Peter Hoyne