Jazz and Zinfandel: A True Improv!

The Story Behind the Wine: Gary's Improv Zinfandel

By Linzi Gay  Gary’s passion for jazz music and the bold and spicy Zinfandel grape were the inspiration for our Gary’s Improv Zinfandel. A cornerstone of our portfolio since the winery’s early days, it is one of our most celebrated wines. And while it may seem at first that jazz music and Zinfandel have very little in common, when enjoyed together, they create a complex and harmonious experience that can be quite remarkable, especially when shared among the company of friends and family.

Gary’s own love of jazz began at an early age. He was drawn to the trumpet and specifically the improvisational nature of jazz. And when Gary and Kit moved to the Napa Valley, Gary found himself drawn to the bold and spicy flavors of Zinfandel. It seemed the natural step to create a wine that celebrated these passions. And it’s not uncommon to find Gary at a Clif Family Wine Club event, glass of Zinfandel at the ready and trumpet in hand, playing along with the band. Jazz and Zinfandel wine both have an air of sophistication and class about them. The refined and smooth sounds of jazz create the perfect setting to enjoy the complex and bold flavors of Zinfandel. And as jazz music is known for its improvisation and spontaneity, requiring active listening to fully appreciate, Zinfandel is a complex wine with many layers of flavor that are best enjoyed slowly to fully appreciate the varietal’s best qualities. The 2021 Gary’s Improv is the first vintage of this wine made from our organically farmed grapes grown on our Valle di Sotto estate vineyard in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District AVA. The wine has complex aromatics and flavors of boysenberry, blackberry pie and sage with a fruit-driven palate, gentle tannins and a long and elegant finish. We hope that you grab a bottle of Gary’s Improv Zinfandel, put on some jazz tunes, and let the good times roll! https://youtu.be/WH5SdmEFqPA