2017 Zero Manipulation, Tollini Vineyard, Peterson

Lush yet laid-back, Zero Manipulation is California’s answer to authenticity. A blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah, it bursts with bright red fruit, raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate, wrapped in a soft frame of spice, liquorice and a hint of rustic earth. There’s a sense of effortless generosity here: juicy, supple, and grounded by a whisper of minerality. It’s the kind of wine that feels both wild and polished - all sunshine, red dust, and rhythm.

For when: You want California character without the Hollywood ego.
Pairs with: Smoky barbecue, wood-fired pizza, or friends who like a second bottle.
If this wine were: A vintage denim jacket - relaxed, genuine, and all the better for its imperfections.

Founded by Fred Peterson and now run with his son Jamie, Peterson Winery has built its reputation on a philosophy of “Zero Manipulation”, crafting wines that express their vineyards naturally, with minimal intervention and maximum honesty. The Tollini Vineyard, in Mendocino County’s Redwood Valley, has been tended by the Tollini family for three generations. Its head-trained, dry-farmed old vines of Carignan, alongside small parcels of Grenache and Syrah, grow on sunlit southwest-facing benches where red loam and gravel soils lend both texture and freshness. The 2017 vintage captures that legacy beautifully - a wine that celebrates California’s past with a refreshingly modern sense of restraint.