What makes a good zinfandel? Zinfandel is lighter in color than both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. However, although a light-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir, Zin's moderate tannin and high acidity make it taste bold. Generally speaking, most Zinfandel wines have higher alcohol levels ranging from about 14 – 17% ABV. Click to see full answer.
What are the best Zinfandels to try?
Broc Cellars Vine Starr Sonoma County Zinfandel is another of our favorite high-end Zinfandels. If you're a fan of softer wines, such as Pinot Noir, this is the perfect Zin to try. It's soft and supple, with a bouquet that focuses on floral elements, berries, and a little bit of spice.
What is Zinfandel wine good for?
Since Zinfandel leans on the sweeter side of red wine, it’s a great pairing partner with spiced barbecue dishes and curry. Pro tip: Pick out the spices you taste in the wine and add them to your sauce.
What to look for in a Zinfandel?
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. Zinfandel is sometimes blended to make a California red wine with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
How much alcohol is in a Zinfandel?
"In actuality, Zinfandel has gone [through] a number of style changes in its history. In the '50s and early '60s, it was considered a solid table wine [and] usually between 12 and 13.5% [alcohol]. It may have been the most consumed red wine in California, frequently in jug.
What should I look for in a Zinfandel?
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.
What makes a Zinfandel a Zinfandel?
Old vine zinfandels are red wines made from grapevines over 50 years old. These are prized for their intense color and balanced flavors and often fetch a high price. Old vines grapes are almost exclusively used to make red zinfandel.
Why is Zinfandel so good?
Zinfandel, often dismissed as a jammy tasting, dark-fruited wine reminiscent of blueberry pie, is capable of showing off a bright versatility. There are expressions that are fresh, red-fruited (some are as light as pinot noir) and ready to please for all four seasons and all age ranges.
Is Zinfandel a good sipping wine?
Due to this lack of bitterness, white zinfandel wine is sweet and easy to sip. Many novice wine drinkers enjoy white zinfandel because it is a bit less complex than most wines. White zinfandel usually includes the sweet flavors of strawberry, cherry and citrus fruits, along with some underlying floral notes.
Is Zinfandel dry or sweet?
Dry, semi-sweet, or sweetZinfandel / Sweetness of resulting wine
Is red zinfandel sweet or dry?
Zinfandel is another sweet red wine option. This fruity, Croatian grape produces wines with fruit-forward qualities — think tinned peaches, strawberry, and sweet tobacco. Though not considered a sweet wine by any stretch of the imagination, Malbec is high on the red wine sweetness chart.
What is the most popular Zinfandel?
We took to the pros to feature our top-quality Zinfandel picks, perfect for diving into all that the variety has to offer.Best Overall: Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel. ... Best Splurge: Turley Old Vines Zinfandel. ... Best Budget: Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel. ... Best Under $20: Pedroncelli 'Mother Clone' ZInfandel.More items...•
Which Zinfandel is sweetest?
White Zinfandel is much sweeter than other rosé wines because it lacks some of the dryness found in its other pink counterparts. Drinkers may find it more refreshing than Pink Moscatos or other very sweet dessert wines. White Zinfandel is full of fruity, melon notes.
Can Zinfandel get you drunk?
Your average zin-basher holds that it's the higher alcohol of zinfandel that makes it more drunk-tank-inducing. And yes, zin is almost always higher in alcohol than other varietals (especially European wines).
Do you drink Zinfandel cold or warm?
How Do You Serve Zinfandel Wine? Serving red Zinfandel at 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit or a bit cooler than room temperature is the proper way to enjoy it. While it may appear that serving the wine at room temperature is the best option, this is too warm and can cause the wine to become flabby and bitter.
Is Zinfandel full-bodied?
Some wines that are normally over this alcohol level and considered full-bodied are Zinfandel, Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec. While the majority of wines over 13.5% alcohol are usually red, Chardonnay is a great example of a white that often can also be considered full-bodied.
What's the difference between Merlot and Zinfandel?
For example, both wines typically taste like red fruits (e.g., raspberry for Merlot and cherry for Zinfandel). The critical difference is that Merlot is made worldwide while Zinfandel is made almost exclusively in the United States. To make your zinfandel or merlot wine decision, start with the difference in taste.
3 Tips to Buying Zinfandel Wine
Best trick when buying Zinfandel is to check the Alcohol by Volume (ABV). A lighter Zinfandel will have about 13.5% ABV whereas a bold and spicy Zinfandel will have around 16% ABV.
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WHAT ARE THE ZINFANDEL CHARACTERISTICS IN TERMS OF TASTE?
Red Zinfandels are characterised by a dark colour and a nose with notes of spices and pepper, as well as jammy red berries.
WHAT FOOD WILL IT GO WELL WITH?
Zinfandel is definitely a great option for barbecued meats. The sweetness and spice in the wine will pair well with the caramelised, smoky notes of the meat.
WHERE ARE THE BEST REGIONS FOR ZINFANDEL?
Despite its European origins, it is in California that it is by far the most cultivated.
Turley Old Vines Zinfandel - Best Zinfandel Overall
Turley Old Vines Zinfandel has earned itself our top spot when it comes to the best Zinfandel. On average, these vines are around 80 years old, so you can expect lots of earthy flavors that get picked up through the long taproots.
Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel - Runner Up
Singled out as one of the best Zins of 2013 by the San Francisco Gate, Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel is one of our best picks. This wine is dusty, spicy, and fruity, since it's sourced from grapes in both cool and warm vineyards.
Broc Cellars Vine Starr Zinfandel - Honorable Mention
Broc Cellars Vine Starr Sonoma County Zinfandel is another of our favorite high-end Zinfandels. If you're a fan of softer wines, such as Pinot Noir, this is the perfect Zin to try. It's soft and supple, with a bouquet that focuses on floral elements, berries, and a little bit of spice.
Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Zinfandel - Consider
A Zinfandel like no other, Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Zinfandel is one of our favorites. It's well loved by both professional wine critics and wine enthusiasts, and perfectly balances the fruity side of Zin with its earthy side. The grapes themselves were grown in volcanic soil, and this one of a kind terroir has left its mark on the wine.
Taste and Flavor Profile
Red zinfandel is known for its rich, dark purple color scheme, medium to high tannin levels, high alcohol content, and medium acidity.
Grapes and Wine Regions
Zinfandel is one of the most popular wine grapes grown in California and is especially popular in northern California and the central coast. The vines like warm, sunny days but dislike intense heat, and the thin skinned-fruit is susceptible to rot. Good draining is key, making them good for planting on slopes.
Food Pairings
Red zinfandel pairs well with almost any meat—lamb, poultry, pork, beef, game, and turkey. Try pairing the flavorful red wine with grilled pork chops or roasted leg of lamb. The light sweetness in red zinfandel also works nicely with fragrant spiced dishes such as beef rendang curry. Hard, flavorful cheese is best, such as cheddar or manchego.
Key Producers, Brands, and Buying Tips
Red zinfandel is often easy to find in grocery stores, wine shops, and liquor stores. You'll typically find a number of options from California vineyards. Look for high elevation wines for the best quality. If you can't find a red zin, pick up a pinot noir instead.
BBQ Ribs & Zinfandel Pairing
Zinfandel’s sweetness from its fruity flavours makes the red wine exceptional with Barbecue Ribs . The fruity flavours of blackberry, cherry and raspberry brings out the sweet and savoury spice tones in the barbecue sauce. Meanwhile, the smoke, spice, and black pepper complement the BBQ sauce’s spiciness.
Grilled Hamburgers & Zinfandel Pairing
A meaty hamburger and Zinfandel makes for the perfect pair as both the wine and the burger make each other taste better. The smoky and black pepper flavours of Zinfandel mingle perfectly with the savoury flavours of your grilled hamburger, enhancing the flavours of the burger and the fruitiness of the wine.
Chinese Food Takeout & Zinfandel Pairing
While Zinfandel is dry, the fruitiness of the wine makes it taste slightly sweet, making it perfect with foods that are slightly sweet such as Chinese Food Takeout. Often we smother our chicken balls and egg-rolls in plum sauce or sweet and sour sauce, and the sweetness of Zinfandel complements the nature of this sweetness.
Pulled Pork Tacos & Zinfandel Pairing
Pulled Pork is shredded meat pulled off a barbecued pork shoulder, which is then mixed with barbecue sauce. The fruity sweetness of Zinfandel, along with its hints of smoke and spice, complement the barbecue sauce of the pulled pork.
Liver and Onions & Zinfandel Pairing
Liver and Onions is a sweeter dish and Zinfandel’s jammy flavours of blackberry, blueberry and plum complement the sweetness of the dish. Meanwhile, the fruitiness also helps mask the mineral and iron flavours of the liver that not everyone finds pleasant. Select a medium-bodied Zinfandel if you want to taste some of the Liver’s minerality.
