Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend
Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend is a 750mL California red blend from Apothic, the E. & J. Gallo range from Modesto — the first Apothic wine, released in the US in 2010, and still the blend the range is built on. The brand names its varieties as Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Zinfandel leading in the brand's recent winemaker notes and the majority of grapes selected from Lodi and the Central Valley. The official tech sheet gives 13.5% ABV. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 13.5% (official tech sheet; documented range 13.0–13.5% across vintages/markets)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: California red blend — smooth, medium-bodied (current brand copy)
- Blend: Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (brand-named; no percentages published)
- Origin: California — majority Lodi and Central Valley fruit (brand's 2021 notes)
- Producer: Apothic — an E. & J. Gallo brand, Modesto; first released 2010
The Wine That Started Apothic
"Apothic" reaches back to the Apotheca — the place the brand describes as where wine was blended and stored in 13th-century Europe — and Red is where the modern range began in 2010. The winemaking notes describe the Zinfandel leading, Syrah and Merlot bringing blueberry and boysenberry richness and a plush mouthfeel, Cabernet Sauvignon adding dimension, and oak ageing laying vanilla and mocha into the finish. See the range on the Apothic vendor page or browse more red wine and wine.
Tasting Notes
From the brand's descriptions: black cherry at the core, with the long-running winemaker notes adding rhubarb fruit, mocha, chocolate, brown spice and vanilla. The palate is plush and velvety in the older notes, smooth in the current copy, finishing on vanilla and mocha from the oak.
How to Enjoy
Current brand pairings: tomato-based pasta and cheeses. It is made to be opened on release — serve at cool room temperature, no decanting required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes are in Apothic Red? The brand names Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and publishes no percentages; its 2021 notes describe a Zinfandel-led blend with other red varieties contributing.
How strong is it? 13.5% ABV on the official tech sheet; some retailer listings for other vintages/markets show 13.0–13.5%.
Is Apothic Red sweet? It is a smooth, fruit-forward red with a touch of residual sweetness in its tech data (1.55 g/100mL on the 2014 sheet) — softer and plusher than a dry Cabernet, without being a sweet wine.
The original Apothic, still leading the range — order Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.