{"id":48670,"date":"2015-11-29T08:01:11","date_gmt":"2015-11-29T15:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eastcountytoday.net\/?p=48670"},"modified":"2015-11-29T08:01:11","modified_gmt":"2015-11-29T15:01:11","slug":"gary-arfsten-finds-his-passion-in-making-oakley-grown-zinfandel-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eastcountytoday.net\/gary-arfsten-finds-his-passion-in-making-oakley-grown-zinfandel-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Gary Arfsten Finds His Passion in Making Oakley Grown Zinfandel Wine"},"content":{"rendered":"
When Gary Arfsten<\/strong> purchased his property in 2010, he never planned of becoming a full-time vintner. Five years later, he produces some of the best Zinfandel wine within the City of Oakley.<\/p>\n Located off O\u2019Hara Avenue, Arfsten\u2019s property is just over an acre with half of it being vines. In total, he has 375 plants which are 100% Zinfandel. He can produce 1,000 bottles of his Mi Casa Vino<\/strong> wine each year, however, he wants better quality wine so he produces just under 950 bottles to ensure the best grapes are used.<\/p>\n <\/a>According to Arfsten, Zinfandel is perfect for the area because of the sand and weather. This style of grape loves the hot weather and cool nights. Unlike Napa and Sonoma, they get the cooler sea breezes at night which puts the grapes in sleep mode, in Oakley, grapes can continue to produce throughout the night.<\/p>\n Although he does not sell his wine to local shops at this time and considers himself a “boutique” winemaker, he may change his mind in the future–his wine is smooth, with a nice fruit of plum and cranberry.\u00a0 Their is also a mile spice of pepper with a mild finish which is not overpowered with alcohol. For now admits he has found a passion for wine making and learning the industry while sharing a bottle with family, friends and other winemakers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a passion and a hobby, I am not in it for the money,\u201d says Arfsten.<\/p>\n Arfsten first realized his love of wine in his mid-20\u2019s thanks to his father-in-law Doug Richards<\/strong>, who was then associated with Weibel Family Vineyards and Winery.<\/a> Richards was also on the Wine Institute Board early in his career.<\/p>\n \u201cI was introduced early on to the wine industry through white Zinfandel with that sugary flavor. Sure enough, I refined my taste and now I much prefer a drier red wine,\u201d says Arfsten.<\/p>\n His love of Zinfandel made it an easy decision to transform a rundown property as his next project after retiring when he and his wife moved to Oakley from Brentwood after selling their coffee shop.<\/p>\n