Where does Zinfandel wine come from?
Whether it is called Primitivo, White Zinfandel, or even Crljenak Kaštelanski, this popular red wine is many wine drinkers' go-to bottle. There is something exciting about Zinfandel's bold fruit flavors and impressive versatility, and it has a story to match. With popularity on the rise in the United States, an ampelographer named Carole Meredith traced the grape's origins from California to New York, Italy, and finally to Croatia, where she discovered old Zinfandel vines in a backyard. This Croatian grape went from being on the verge of extinction to a world favorite. It's found throughout California, from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma to Paso Robles and the Central Valley.
What are the best Zinfandel wines?
Despite being red, the Zinfandel grape variety is highly versatile, allowing winemakers to create diverse styles by controlling the amount of contact between the grape skins and juice. They can create light blush-colored wines like White Zinfandel or deeper purply, pink rosé styles. Many experienced winemakers utilize old vines that produce low yields for richly concentrated red wines labeled old vine Zinfandel. Well-known producers are found across Sonoma County, Napa Valley and Lodi in California. Southern Italy also offers delicious examples of this bold red grape, where it goes by the name Primitivo.
What are the tasting notes of Zinfandel wine?
Red Zinfandel is a rich, fruit-forward wine with moderate tannins. If picked early, there are hints of blackberry, black cherry, plums, raspberry and cranberry. When harvested later, Zinfandel is more overtly fruity with jammy characteristics and raisin and fig notes filling out the flavor. There is also a decent amount of spice naturally occurring in the wine, and flavors like tobacco, anise, and pepper stand out among other aged flavors. Food pairings include pork, roasted chicken, or red meat. But be mindful of spicy dishes. These wines tend to have high alcohol percentages, which the heat will accentuate. Check out our Wine School to learn more about Zinfandel.