what are the characteristics of zinfandel

White Zinfandel Wine Characteristics

• Fruit flavors: Fresh strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, melon and citrus fruits, such as lemon, lime and orange
• Other flavors: Clove, nutmeg, black pepper and anise
• Oak flavors: Subtle spicy notes like cinnamon and nutmeg
• Acidity: Low
• Tannins: Low

Full Answer

What pairs well with Zinfandel?

What Pairs Well with Zinfandel

• Lamb. Lamb and zinfandel pair strikingly, especially when the lamb is tender and the wine medium to full-bodied red.
• New York Strip. Our featured steak is cut to order, seasoned, and cooked to perfection. ...
• Filet Mignon. ...
• Beefsteak Tomatoes and Sliced Onions. ...
• Henning’s Plate. ...
• New York Style Cheesecake. ...
• Chocolate Mousse. ...

What does Zinfandel taste like?

What does Zinfandel taste like? A red Zinfandel wine is both fruity and spicy. Some fruit aromas such as raspberries, blackberries, cherries, cranberries. And there is a generous sprinkling of cinnamon and black pepper. Depending on the winemaking and ageing methods it undergoes Zinfandel can display a range of secondary and tertiary aromas.

What are the differences between Zinfandel and Merlot?

What are the differences between Zinfandel and Merlot? Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon is derived from a special kind of grape: the hybrid of a red Cabernet Franc grape and a white Sauvignon Blanc grape,which naturally occur in ; Merlot. In French,Merlot means The Little Black Bird. Pinot Noir. Malbec. Syrah. Zinfandel.

Is White Zinfandel also considered a red wine?

Without any modifier, Zinfandel is used to signify the red wine. White Zinfandel is likely the first wine you tried. Its low ABV, sweet, easy-drinking taste, and small price tag make it an accessible wine for beginners. This version is snubbed by many wine aficionados because of its low quality production style and lack of general complexity.

What makes a Zinfandel a Zinfandel?

Zinfandel's bold flavors come from the wine's moderate tannin and high acidity. In general, a bottle of red zinfandel will have a higher alcohol level than most wines, ranging from about 13 to 17% ABV. This higher alcohol content gives zinfandel an oily texture and a bolder body than most red wines.

What makes a good Zinfandel wine?

On the palate, you get distinct flavours of black fruits and spices. With a good Zinfandel, you will also get medium to medium high tannins, so you do get some structure – it's not all fruit. You will also find they have a good acidity which also offers a a certain freshness. They make for great pairing with food!

What is Zinfandel also known as?

Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo in Italy) is a black-skinned wine grape that is capable of producing a wide variety of wines, ranging from rosé wines such as White Zinfandel to light Beaujolais-style red wines to heavier red wines.

How would you describe red Zinfandel?

Every Red Zinfandel, no matter how “jammy,” has a sweet fruity quality with a finish of spice and tobacco. The wine is also light in color, lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Since the Red Zinfandel has a very high alcohol content, its texture is oily, and has a very bold body.

Is Zinfandel sweet or dry?

Dry, semi-sweet, or sweetZinfandel / Sweetness of resulting wine

What does Zinfandel mean in English?

zinfandel | Intermediate English zinfandel. noun [ C/U ] /ˈzɪn·fənˌdel/ a dry, red wine made in California, or the grapes that it comes from. (Definition of zinfandel from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

What does Zinfandel pair with?

Zinfandel wine is bold and brambly and is often described as jammy or fruit-forward, but it can also have notes of warm spices, pepper and smoky tobacco. It pairs beautifully with barbeque, spicy foods, smoked cheeses and tangy flavors, but is also easy to enjoy on its own.

What's the difference between Zinfandel and Merlot?

Zinfandel flavor ranges from red fruits when unripe to black fruit when ripe. Other typical notes are star anise, black pepper and peach yogourt. It has full-body, high alcohol, with medium-high acidity and tannins. Merlot is a dry wine with a medium to deep ruby color.

Why is Zinfandel so popular?

Zinfandel vines are quite vigorous and grow best in climates that are warm but not too hot, because grapes may shrivel in hot weather. Zinfandel's thin-skinned grapes grow in large, tight bunches that are sometimes prone to bunch rot. The fruit ripen fairly early and produce juice with high sugar content. If weather conditions permit, the grapes may be late-harvested to make dessert wine. Zinfandel is often praised for its ability to reflect both its terroir and its winemaker's style and skill.

What grapes are used in Zinfandel?

While most vineyards are now fully segregated, California winemakers continue to use other grapes (particularly Petite Sirah) in their Zinfandel wines. Zinfandel is grown on approximately 11% of California's vineyard land area. Around 400,000 short tons (350,000 tonnes) are crushed each year, depending on the harvest, placing Zinfandel third behind Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and just ahead of Merlot.

What is Primitivo wine?

For the town in the United States, see Zinfandel, California. Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is a variety of black-skinned wine grape. The variety is grown in over 10 percent of California vineyards.

What is the wine called that is made from grapes?

The grapes typically produce a robust red wine, although in the United States a semi-sweet rosé (blush-style) wine called White Zinfandel has six times the sales of the red wine. The grape's high sugar content can be fermented into levels of alcohol exceeding 15 percent.

How many acres of Zinfandel are there in Santa Clara Valley?

Although the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA in Santa Clara Valley produces Zinfandel from just 9 acres (3.6 ha), the Zinfandel from that region is known for its complexity and depth.

Where is Zinfandel grape grown?

Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is a variety of black-skinned wine grape. The variety is grown in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA analysis has revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grapes Crljenak Kaštelanski and Tribidrag, as well as to the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Apulia ...

Where did Primitivo grapes come from?

The first documented use of the term Primitivo appears in Italian governmental publications of the 1870s. The name derives from the terms primativus or primaticcio, which refer to the grape's tendency to ripen earlier than other varieties. This name's appearance, 40 years after the first documented use of the term Zinfandel, was previously thought to suggest that Primitivo was introduced to Italy from across the Atlantic; however, this hypothesis has become unlikely since the discovery of the vine's Croatian origin.

What is a zinfandel wine?

Zinfandel (Primitivo) Zinfandel wine is a bold, fruit forward red that’s loved for its jammy fruit and smoky, exotic spice notes. It’s also made into a sweet rosé called White Zinfandel.

What is the alcohol content of Zinfandel?

On the palate, expect a full bodied, lush and mouth-filling wine, usually with elevated alcohol (14%+ ABV). On high quality Zinfandel, expect tannins to be high. (Remember styles vary by producer!)

What are the flavors of Zinfandel?

Typically, on the nose you’ll find juicy red berry flavors such as strawberry or raspberry in wines from cooler areas. For wines made in warmer climates, flavors turn to deeper black fruits.

What spices go well with Zinfandel?

Zinfandel pairs well with Moroccan and Turkish spices that embellish the wine’s cinnamon-spice subtleties. Or, try this Puglian classic, Pizza Rustica – a wafer-thin calzone stuffed with roasted onions, tomatoes, anchovies, and olives.

What is Primitivo wine?

A true sweet wine designation for Primitivo. These are produced in a late-harvest style, where grapes are allowed to raisinate to increase sugar content. An epic resource for food and wine pairing; made for Zin lovers, by Zin lovers. Love for White Zinfandel, straight from Lodi.

Where does Zinfandel grape come from?

Zinfandel has been touted as “America’s grape,” but it actually hails from Croatia and was likely brought to the USA in the early 1800’s. The Italian name for the grape, Primitivo, comes from the Latin word “primativus” and the old Italian word “primaticcio,” both mean “early ripener” or “first to ripen.”.

What is the flavor of Lodi wine?

Lodi, California. Flavors: blackberry, peach yogurt, roasted plum, cinnamon, sweet tobacco. The climate in the Lodi wine region is Mediterranean with hot days and cool nights. Fortunately it receives a moderating influence from the San Francisco bay.

What is the flavor of Zinfandel?

While the red wine tends to be medium-bodied and medium dry, it is bursting with flavors and aromas of jam, raspberry, blackberry, cherry, plums, cinnamon, black pepper, ...

What is the difference between red and white Zinfandel?

While made from the same grapes, the two wines are distinctively different in flavor, body, sweetness, alcohol content, and price. Red zin has lots of jammy, fruity flavor and is high in alcohol while white zin has a light, sweet flavor and low alcohol. The grape is also known as Crljenak Kastelanski in its native Croatia and as primitivo in southern Italy.

What is a good wine to drink with Zinfandel?

Easy-to-drink, sweet white zinfandel pairs well with a variety of savory foods. Serve it as a counterpoint to spiced Cajun to Asian cuisines, barbecue chicken, or spicy seafood . While zinfandel isn't well-known as an aging wine, good bottles of red are candidates for cellaring.

How long to decant Zinfandel?

Serve zinfandel in a red wine glass at cellar temperature (60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit). Decant red zin for an hour for the most balanced flavor. White zin can be chilled if desired and can be served right away.

How much does a pink zinfandel wine cost?

White zinfandel was pioneered by Sutter Homes, and a number of other low-cost brands make their own version. The pink wine goes for about $5 to $10 a bottle.

How much does white Zins cost?

Plus, it's often sold for less than $10 a bottle.

When is Zinfandel grape harvest?

Good draining is key, making them good for planting on slopes. Zinfandel is typically grown in the summer and harvested as early as mid-August or well into fall, often called a "late harvest" zin.

What are the flavors of Zinfandels?

In general, Zinfandels have high acidity and mild tannins, with ripe, sometimes jammy fruit flavors of cherry, raspberry and blueberry. Black pepper is also a signature trait, and some versions exhibit herbal details like sage and dill.

Where is Zinfandel grape grown?

Despite its international origins, Zinfandel is most widely planted and most successful in California. Americans may associate the grape with white Zinfandel, an off-dry blush wine popular in the 1980s and '90s, but it has since come into its own as a serious red wine.

Where does the grape Primitivo come from?

This grape’s genetic roots can be traced to modern-day Croatia, where it's known as Crljenak or Tribidrag; both Zinfandel and the southern Italian grape Primitivo are clones of this Croatian variety.

Is Zinfandel a grape?

Zinfandel is a mid- to late-ripening variety with thin skins; it tends to ripen unevenly, and grows most successfully in warm climates and poor, well-drained soils. Some of the best examples are made from old vines, which limit the grape's naturally high yields and concentrate the grape's fruit flavors.

What does red zinfandel taste like?

How Red Zinfandel Tastes. The primary flavors of Zinfandel are jam, blueberry, black pepper, cherry, plum, boysenberry, cranberry, and licorice. When you taste Zinfandel it often explodes with candied fruitiness followed by spice and often a tobacco-like smoky finish.

Where to find Zinfandels?

Look for Zinfandels from high elevation areas (such as Howell Mountain or El Dorado County). High elevation Zinfandels tend to have more savory intensity and richness.

What vegetables are good for Zinfandel?

Use highly flavored vegetables to bring out the fruitiness in Zinfandel such as roasted tomato, red peppers, carmelized onion, roasted squash, apricot, peach, cranberry, spiced apple, and beets.

What is the first wine you try?

White Zinfandel is often the very first wine someone tries. Today, close to 85% of the total Zinfandel production is White Zin! As much as wine snobs bash it, White Zinfandel offers everything a beginner might want:

How many calories are in a 6 oz bottle of Zinfandel?

low calories – 125 calories per 6 oz. serving. pleasing sweet taste. At $5 a bottle White Zinfandels taste fine, but most lack the complexity to be compared to the red version of the same grape. Red Zinfandel wine can offer serious presence and sophistication.

What meats can you use Zinfandel with?

Try pairing with lighter meats including Quail, Turkey, Pork, Bacon, Ham and Veal. Zinfandel works well with Barbecue red me ats and lamb.

What is the only grape in the world with a festival dedicated to it?

Did you know? Zinfandel is the only grape in the world with a festival dedicated to it? Find out more about the ZAP Zinfandel Festival

What is a Zinfandel wine?

Zinfandel is produced in a wide array of styles. Basically, you have the lighter, medium bodied styled wines with a focus on red fruits. There are also Zinfandel wines with more body and concentration that show some jammy qualities, spice and peppery character.

What is a ripe Zinfandel?

When ripe, Zinfandel wine exudes ripe, red and black fruits including raspberries, jammy cherries, strawberries and red plums along with spice, pepper and jam characteristics. The wine is high in sweetness and alcohol. Most Zinfandel wine is best consumed within 5 years of the vintage, or less, to preserve its fruit and freshness.

What is the best climate for Zinfandel grapes?

Zinfandel wine grapes perform best in hot, dry climates. Zinfandel grapes reach their best expression in growing seasons with hit, sunny, dry weather during the day, and cool temperatures at night. The vines are best suited to rocky, alluvial soils and hillside plantings. Zinfandel is produced in a wide array of styles.

How old are Zinfandel grapes?

Many of those old vines are still producing fruit, In fact, one of the great things about Zinfandel wine grapes is a lot of the fruit is harvested from vines that are over 100 years old! Like much of the California wine industry, once prohibition became law, vines were allowed to wither and die.

Why is white zinfandel so popular?

White Zinfandel sold well because it was inexpensive and possibly due to the wine being a little sweet. The sweetness came from a fortuitous accident. In the early 1970’s, white wine grapes were in short supply. To compensate for the consumer demand, winemakers began producing white wine from red wine grapes.

When did Zinfandel grapes come to America?

Zinfandel wine grapes may have arrived in America about 1820. By 1830, vines were being sold under the name of Zenfendal. In 1835, Zinfandel wine Grapes were gaining in popularity under the name of Zinfandel. The juicy, flavorful, sweet, fruit was being sold as table grapes. That all changed once gold was discovered in California.

Why did winemakers start making white wine from red grapes?

To compensate for the consumer demand, winemakers began producing white wine from red wine grapes. This was accomplished by not allowing much contact between the juice and the grape skins. Sutter experienced a problem, the wine went through a stuck fermentation.

What Is Zinfandel Wine?

What kind of wine is zinfandel? Zinfandel wine is a variety of black-skinned grape wine that typically produces a robust and flavorful taste. Depending on the process used to make it, zinfandel can be a strong, dry red wine or a lighter, semi-sweet blush-style wine. Zinfandel’s versatility makes it a favorite among wine novices and enthusiasts alike.

Where Does Zinfandel Wine Come From?

Zinfandel wine comes from zinfandel grapes, a thin-skinned and richly colored variety of grape. Zinfandel grapes are susceptible to rot, making adequate draining and planting them on a slope crucial to their success. Typically, zinfandel vine s grow in the summer, and their fruit gets harvested as early as mid-August or during a late harvest, which occurs well into the fall.

Overview

Distribution and wines

History

Relationship to Primitivo, Crljenak Kaštelanski and Tribidrag

Viticulture and winemaking

Synonyms

See also

Further reading