Zinfandel
Cuttings from Santa Cruz Island Zinfandel and Mission grape stock were planted on Santa Catalina Island by Geoff and Alison Rusack at their Rancho Escondido. Their first vintage from Santa Cruz Island grapes was bottled in 2009.
Zinfandel, Santa Cruz Island bottled by Rusack Vineyards
- 2009: 732 bottles
- 2010: 288 bottles
- 2011: 744 bottles
- 2012: 888 bottles
- 2013: 600 bottles
- 2014: 2,460 bottles
- 2015: 288 bottles
- 2016: 132 bottles
Production consistency is a challenge when it comes to wine production of the Santa Cruz Island zinfandel grapes grown on Santa Catalina Island. One year (2010) there was a problem with yellow jackets. In 2015 and 2016 there was low quality yield due to climate changes at the end of the harvest. Zinfandel takes longer to ripen and therefore is more susceptible to late harvest heat spikes.
Note: Santa Cruz Island Company records list Captain Larco and his wife as wine customers, and for many years, they purchased a keg (26-30 gallons) of zinfandel a month.
