Pezzi King's reputation rests on a single bottling: founder Jim Rowe's 1995 Estate Zinfandel, a wine that arrived from this 137-acre hillside property in upper Dry Creek Valley and changed how everyone thought about Dry Creek Zinfandel. "Pezzi King changed the way we looked at Zinfandel and turned the local winemaking world upside down with its 1995 Zin," Ken Wilson has said. "Its rich, jammy, and fruit-forward style became the new standard of excellence in Zins." Three decades of estate-driven Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon followed. When Ken and Diane Wilson acquired the winery, they kept the Pezzi King name, retained winemaker Chris Barrett, and preserved the wine club community that had grown around the brand.
Old Vines Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley — The flagship; rich, jammy, fruit-forward Dry Creek Zin in the style that made Pezzi King's name.
Row 26 Reserve Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley — From the Hunny Hill Vineyard's Monte Rosso-clone vines planted in 1995; a touch of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot for structure.
“The Jester” Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley — A 100% Zinfandel, small-production bottling.
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley — Hillside Cabernet from the 137-acre estate above Dry Creek.
Sauvignon Blanc — A crisp white rounding out the estate program.
The estate spans 137 acres set in the hills above Dry Creek Valley off West Dry Creek Road, with 65 acres planted to Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Visits to the estate property are by private appointment only — the drive up West Dry Creek Road past olive trees and oak groves is part of the experience, ending in a private tasting with vineyard views and a pool. Most casual visitors instead stop by the downtown Healdsburg tasting room in the Old Roma Station, just off the plaza on Hudson Street, where Pezzi King shares the building with sister brand Soda Rock. Wilson family sustainability practices apply across the estate — water conservation, organic growing, raptor-based pest control. The wines remain focused on Dry Creek Zinfandel of the original Rowe school, plus Reserve and single-vineyard bottlings, Cabernet, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Chris Barrett first learned winemaking from his father in the family garage. He left wine country only briefly, to earn a biology degree from CSU Chico, then returned to develop his craft at Vinquiry, learning the analytical side of wine, and at Sonoma Wine Company, where he rose to enologist. He took the helm at Pezzi King with the 2008 harvest — and at sister winery St. Anne's Crossing from 2012 — quickly earning a reputation for fruit-forward, ageable reds anchored by Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. Working closely with owner Ken Wilson to replant the Pezzi King estate, Barrett has won multiple sweepstakes awards, including a rare 'double sweepstakes' at the 2012 Sonoma County Harvest Fair, along with numerous 90-plus scores. His credo is simple: great wines start in the vineyard.
Ken and Diane Wilson are the proprietors behind Pezzi King, part of their Healdsburg-based Wilson Artisan Wineries. The couple entered the wine business planting Dry Creek Valley vineyards and built their reputation on bold, single-vineyard Zinfandel at Wilson Winery and Mazzocco. They acquired Pezzi King — founded by James Rowe Sr., who bought the western Dry Creek estate in 1993 and earned acclaim for its 1995 Zinfandel — keeping its name, its downtown Healdsburg tasting room, and winemaker Chris Barrett. The 137-acre hillside estate’s prized Zinfandel and Cabernet vines made it a natural fit for the family’s collection.
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Old Vines Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley — The flagship; rich, jammy, fruit-forward Dry Creek Zin in the style that made Pezzi King's name.
Row 26 Reserve Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley — From the Hunny Hill Vineyard's Monte Rosso-clone vines planted in 1995; a touch of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot for structure.
“The Jester” Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley — A 100% Zinfandel, small-production bottling.
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley — Hillside Cabernet from the 137-acre estate above Dry Creek.
Sauvignon Blanc — A crisp white rounding out the estate program.
Pezzi King's reputation rests on a single bottling: founder Jim Rowe's 1995 Estate Zinfandel, a wine that arrived from this 137-acre hillside property in upper Dry Creek Valley and changed how everyone thought about Dry Creek Zinfandel. "Pezzi King changed the way we looked at Zinfandel and turned the local winemaking world upside down with its 1995 Zin," Ken Wilson has said. "Its rich, jammy, and fruit-forward style became the new standard of excellence in Zins." Three decades of estate-driven Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon followed. When Ken and Diane Wilson acquired the winery, they kept the Pezzi King name, retained winemaker Chris Barrett, and preserved the wine club community that had grown around the brand.
The estate spans 137 acres set in the hills above Dry Creek Valley off West Dry Creek Road, with 65 acres planted to Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Visits to the estate property are by private appointment only — the drive up West Dry Creek Road past olive trees and oak groves is part of the experience, ending in a private tasting with vineyard views and a pool. Most casual visitors instead stop by the downtown Healdsburg tasting room in the Old Roma Station, just off the plaza on Hudson Street, where Pezzi King shares the building with sister brand Soda Rock. Wilson family sustainability practices apply across the estate — water conservation, organic growing, raptor-based pest control. The wines remain focused on Dry Creek Zinfandel of the original Rowe school, plus Reserve and single-vineyard bottlings, Cabernet, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Chris Barrett first learned winemaking from his father in the family garage. He left wine country only briefly, to earn a biology degree from CSU Chico, then returned to develop his craft at Vinquiry, learning the analytical side of wine, and at Sonoma Wine Company, where he rose to enologist. He took the helm at Pezzi King with the 2008 harvest — and at sister winery St. Anne's Crossing from 2012 — quickly earning a reputation for fruit-forward, ageable reds anchored by Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. Working closely with owner Ken Wilson to replant the Pezzi King estate, Barrett has won multiple sweepstakes awards, including a rare 'double sweepstakes' at the 2012 Sonoma County Harvest Fair, along with numerous 90-plus scores. His credo is simple: great wines start in the vineyard.
Ken and Diane Wilson are the proprietors behind Pezzi King, part of their Healdsburg-based Wilson Artisan Wineries. The couple entered the wine business planting Dry Creek Valley vineyards and built their reputation on bold, single-vineyard Zinfandel at Wilson Winery and Mazzocco. They acquired Pezzi King — founded by James Rowe Sr., who bought the western Dry Creek estate in 1993 and earned acclaim for its 1995 Zinfandel — keeping its name, its downtown Healdsburg tasting room, and winemaker Chris Barrett. The 137-acre hillside estate’s prized Zinfandel and Cabernet vines made it a natural fit for the family’s collection.
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