Review: Foppiano 2024 Vermentino and 2023 “1896” Red Blend

Sonoma-based Foppiano Vineyards has a history dating back to 1896, but it’s still innovating in 2026, with new wines, new branding, and an updated vision that includes a remodeling of the Foppiano Estate. We haven’t had a chance to visit of late, but we did receive two new release wines for review, both designed with affordability and accessibility in mind.

2024 Foppiano Vineyards Vermentino Russian River Valley

Surprisingly gentle for typically acidic vermentino, this bottle is brisk with lemon but tempered with sweeter overtones, a gentle candylike character tempering any overly zesty notes from becoming dominant. Secondary flavors of lychee and coconut offer a tropical vibe to the wine, which eventually meanders its way toward mineral-driven sea spray and a duskier guava quality. Light at first, it finds a bit of earthier gravity once it settles in to things. B+ / $32

2023 L. Foppiano “1896” Red Blend Sonoma County

Hearty and laden with menthol notes, this blend of 70% Petite Sirah and 30% Zinfandel is aggressive and unabashed, laying out its unabashedly peppery, coffee-laced agenda with no qualms whatsoever. The minty, menthol-heavy body is immediately in your face, racy and tobacco-adjacent, with overtones of cloves and dark chocolate adding increasing depth. Its overwhelming power is a bit off-putting at first, but some air time helps to soften the experience, coaxing out a lighter herbaceousness and some plummy red fruit. Hang in there with it. B / $28

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