Learn about Zinfandel
The Zinfandel grape is an American grape. Have you ever seen a Zinfandel-labeled wine from anywhere else in the world? Primitivo is native to Italy and is a very close cousin to Zinfandel. Zinfandel is grown in several California wine regions, including Mendocino County, Sonoma County, the Napa Valley, Lodi, Livermore, Paso Robles, and in the Sierra Foothills. Lodi and Amador claim the oldest Zinfandel vines, over 150 years old. Zinfandel can be made in many styles, from restrained to very jammy and robust with high alcohol content.
Character of Zinfandel
Zinfandel typically has the aroma and flavors of mostly dark fruit as in plum and blackberries. Much of this wine’s flavor and structure depends on how long the grape is on the vine. Lighter Zinfandels will be more fruity; heavier zinfandels will have a deep, jammy berry flavor. In comparing Zinfandels from these different regions, one can find subtle differences in aroma and flavor.
Under $20 Zinfandel wines we like
Click to find our reviews on these wines
- Carol Shelton Wild Thing – Mendocino
- Sobon Rocky Top – Sierra Foothills
- Pedroncelli Mother Clone
- Graziano Zinfandel Mendocino
Foods we like with Zinfandel
- Cherry tomato & pesto pizza – recipe
- Fig Pizza – recipe
- Mushroom Pizza
- Baby back ribs
- Pasta Bolognese
- Minestrone Soup
- Zuni Café Chicken
- Supermarket rotisserie chicken
Old Vine Zinfandel
