T-Vine Winery Hallowed Ground Red Blend 2020

The Hallowed Ground 2020 greets you with aromas of dark cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, and orange-zest intertwined with baking chocolate and a hint of cigar box. On the palate you’ll find rich, ripe fruit enveloped by smooth tannins and subtle oak spice. Layers of black cherry and dark plum meet cocoa-covered cherries, while a firm structure and balanced acidity provide length and polish. The finish is silky yet grounded, with a whisper of tobacco leaf and dark licorice tying the experience together. This is a red blend with power and finesse, meant for immediate enjoyment yet built to evolve with cellaring.

This bold blend pairs beautifully with grilled rib-eye topped with blue cheese butter, slow-braised short ribs in red wine reduction, pepper-crusted venison medallions, lamb chops with rosemary and garlic, spicy chorizo paella, wild mushroom risotto with truffle oil, aged cheddar and smoked gouda board, barbecue-glazed flatiron steak, pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto, and dark-chocolate mousse with espresso-beans.

The Hallowed Ground Red Blend 2020 reflects the essence of California’s old-vine heritage. Its fruit is sourced from a trio of historic regions—Amador County in the Sierra Foothills, Lodi in the Central Valley, and Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley—each contributing depth, spice, and balance to the final wine. These areas share a deep viticultural legacy dating back to the mid-1800s, when early settlers first planted Mediterranean and Rhône varieties that have since become a cornerstone of California’s red-blend tradition.

Amador Foothills brings intensity and structure from head-trained Zinfandel vines that have endured for over half a century. Lodi, with its rich sandy soils and warm climate, lends plush fruit and ripeness. Dry Creek Valley adds vibrancy and acidity, balancing the blend with lifted aromatics and refined tannins. Together, they form the spiritual “hallowed ground” on which T-Vine Winery has built its reputation.

T-Vine was founded in 1992 by Greg Brown, a Napa Valley native devoted to preserving California’s old-vine vineyards. When the Regusci Family acquired the winery in 2009, they upheld that mission—championing growers of heritage vineyards and limited-production field blends. The name Hallowed Ground pays tribute to those ancient vines and the farmers who protect them, many now approaching a century old. The 2020 vintage—marked by warm, even ripening—allowed the team to showcase the intensity and depth these venerable sites can produce, resulting in a wine that tells the story of California’s past through the lens of modern craftsmanship.