Since 2013 our mission has been to find great wines of great value that are ready to drink tonight.
When you hold the 2021 Racing Series Shift Red Wine from Adobe Road Winery in the glass, you sense right away it’s not your standard Sonoma County (61%) or Santa Barbara County (39%) red. The metal-shift-knob cork and sleek, gear‑inspired label nod to the racing roots behind these wines—but inside the bottle, it's equally spirited in the vineyard. It’s also our October wine of the month.
Adobe Road was founded in 2002 by legendary race‑car driver Kevin Buckler and his wife Debra, and the Racing Series is their tribute to the intersection of speed, precision, and quiet patience. The philosophy behind these blends is that just as in motorsport, you harness raw power but finesse it with tuning and balance.
In this version of the Shift, the lineup is 52 % Zinfandel, 25 % Teroldego, 18 % Syrah, and 5 % Carignane—a slight twist on earlier iterations that leaned into Tempranillo or Petite Sirah blends.
What each varietal adds is subtle but essential. The Zinfandel is the engine—ripe red and dark berries, some jammy notes, spice, and richness. It gives the wine its forward fruit lift and plush drive. The Teroldego (often a lesser‑used Italian grape) contributes structure, freshness, and darker backbone—think wild blackberry, moderate acidity, and a hint of mineral lift. Syrah brings savory complexity: pepper, dark plums, smoky tones, and a bit of grip. And that final sprinkle of Carignane brings breath and a bit of rustic spice, helping to tie the edges together and give lift to the mid-palate. Together they create a wine that feels generous and bold, but kept in check by thoughtful support.
At $65 per bottle, this wine offers excellent value for what you’re getting. You’re not merely paying for gimmick or label design (though the racing branding is elegant); you’re getting a small-lot, boutique-style blend with complexity and depth. In its peer group — California red blends leaning toward the expressive side — $65 is quite reasonable, especially when the blend is this well thought out and each component is doing real lifting. It’s a wine that rewards concentration and re‑visiting: on day one it’s fun and fruit-forward, but over the evening it opens up and reveals deeper layers.
Shift is both a statement bottle and a delicious example of how blending uncommon grapes can pay off. It’s a conversation piece, yes, but it’s also one you’ll happily drink through the fall. Let your guests swirl, sniff, and taste deliberately—and enjoy how each varietal’s voice comes in and out of the mix as the wine evolves. They'll quickly understand why it's our October wine of the month.
Learn more about Adobe Road Winery, purchase their wine, and follow them here:
@AdobeRoadWines
