Winemaker Interview Series – Joel Peterson of Once & Future – June 2025

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, we had the opportunity to interview Joel Peterson once again. Joel is the winemaker and owner of Once & Future Wines. We covered six 2023 Single Vineyard Zinfandels and one terrific value 2022 vintage red blend during the interview. We last interviewed Joel in July 2024 when we covered the previous vintages of many of these wines. You can read about those wines in this post. In the current interview, Joel shared some updates since our last chat.

Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Joel shared in the interview.

• Vintage Updates
  • 2022 Vintage
    • Picked Early – We both agreed it was a very good vintage for Zin’s
  • 2023 Vintage
    • Beautiful Vintage
      • Average to plus tonnage.
      • A slow down of the ripening season.
      • Picked earlier than usual.
    • First vintage back at the Belloni Vineyard.
    • Will be the last vintage from the Dickerson Vineyard.
  • 2024 Vintage
    • Difficult Vintage – Joel only made 6 wines.
    • Early heat spikes during veraison.
      • Screws up color and enhances tannin.
      • Not as well-balanced. Tastes good but a bit astringent.
    • Joel has been working with Gallo to help revitalize the Ravenswood brand they bought from him.
    • • His new work with Gallo is about promoting and saving Zinfandel.
        • Gallo donates his salary to ZAP.
      • His title is “Brand Spirit Guide.”
        • He offers his input on a lot of things.
      • They made 3,000 cases of Zinfandel from the 2023 vintage.
        • An AVA offering from the Dry Creek Valley.
        • Three Single Vineyard offerings were made from Monte Rosso, Teldeschi, & MacMurray.
      • Michael Eddy-Cort is the Head Winemaker.
      • They are releasing the wines in California, Texas, and New Jersey.
    • Joel has been doing a lot of work with his son at Bedrock Vineyard.
      • Bedrock Vineyard is certified both Organic and recently Regenerative Organic. (It is 1 of about 20 in the world)
    • Wine volume has dropped down to where it was before Covid.
      • Rosé sales are still strong.
      • Sauvignon Blanc sales and demand has dropped off.

Below is a summary of the wine offerings from Once & Future that we covered with Joel. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find some of these wines via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wines lists. You can also find a few online. Your best bet is to call (855) 566-3946 or e-mail (info@onceandfuturewine.com) the winery for information.

1. Once and Future 2023 Zinfandel “Dickerson Vineyard” (Napa Valley) $55 (KWGTP 92.5)
2. Once and Future 2023 Zinfandel “Bedrock Vineyard” (Sonoma Valley) $50 (KWGTP 92)
3. Once and Future 2023 Zinfandel “Old Hill Ranch” (Sonoma Valley) $55 (KWGTP 94)
4. Once and Future 2023 Zinfandel “Green & Red Vineyard” (Napa Valley) $50 (KWGTP 95)
5. Once and Future 2023 Zinfandel “Belloni Vineyard” (RRV) $50 (KWGTP 93.5)
6. Once and Future 2023 Zinfandel “Teldeschi Vineyard Frank’s Block” (Dry Creek) $50 (KWGTP 95.5)
7. Once and Future 2022 “North Coast Red Blend” $20 (KWGTP 93)

You can find reviews of past and future Once and Future wines that we cover on the Once and Future KWG winery page on our website. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! – Ken