This is how the wine business works. A winemaker makes wine, and then has to find a distributor in each of the 50 states to sell it to retailers and restaurants in that state. For the largest producers, who make millions of cases of wine, this isn't much of a problem. Distributors make money based on how much wine they sell, so they are obviously happy to take brands that make millions of cases.
But what do you do if you're a winemaker who doesn't turn out millions of cases? Then you're stuck with wine to sell -- often wonderful wine -- and no way to sell it to consumers. Which is where Amador Foothill Winery finds itself.
The winery, located about an hour west of Sacramento, wants to sell its wine in Texas, but can't find a distributor. I know this because a friend of mine brought me several of the wines and shared this tale of woe. I don't often write about wines with limited availability, but this one is worth making an exception.
The Clockspring Vineyard ($16, sample) is one of the best-made zinfandels I have had in years, and that includes wines from Ridge and Nalle. It has brambly cherry fruit, moderate alcohol (14.7 percent) for a zinanfadel, and lots of spice. Drink it for a Father's Day barbecue, but know that the only way to buy it -- for most of us, unfortunately -- is from the winery.
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