Zinfandel

 

Name of varietal: Zinfandel
 
Common synonyms: Primitivo, Crljenak Kaštelanski (Croatia, believed to be its root), White Zinfandel, Zin, Blush, Zinfendal
 
Parentage of the grape: Crljenak to Austria to America. In the 1970s, claims surfaced that the Italian Primitivo is likely the same grape as Zinfandel. In 2002, DNA testing proved that California Zinfandel has the same genetic structure as the Croatian Crljenak Kastelanski, which is likely its origin.
 
History of the grape: Zinfandel was originally brought over to the US from the Imperial Austrian plant collection by horticulturalist George Gibbs in 1820. There are records of a Boston, Massachusetts nursery selling “Zinfandal” vines for sale in the 1830s. During this time it had become a popular table grape in the Northeast. In the 1840s, it was transported to California during the Gold Rush. It became an abundant crop due to the ease in which it’s grown, requiring minimal pruning and no Read more »

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Popular Zinfandel wines

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Popular Regions for Zinfandel View all

  • California

    Viticulture in California began in the 1700s as Spanish missionaries worked their way north fro...

  • Lodi

    The Lodi wine region lies in the northern portion of California’s Central Valley, which include...

  • El Dorado County

    The spectacular Sierra Nevada range offers a fitting backdrop to the vineyards of El Dorado Count...

  • Dry Creek Valley

    The Carneros AVA straddles between both Napa and Sonoma Valleys, with distinct climates. The Na...

  • USA

    "American Wine" has existed since the first Europeans brought their vinous heritage and tradition...

  • Napa

      There is some debate over how this famous wine region got its name. Spanish settlers named...

  • Sonoma County

      Wine-making in Sonoma, California began in 1812 when Russian colonists planted grapes at F...

  • Russian River Valley

    The Russian River Valley is the most southerly AVA within Northern Sonoma. It is named for the ...

  • San Luis Obispo County

      San Luis Obispo is part of the larger wine Central Coast region of California, located at ...

Popular Wineries using Zinfandel

  • Glass Mountain

    It has been more than hundred years since California wine pioneer Jean Laurent quarried stone fro...

  • Livingston Cellars

    Since 1984 and 17 years, the de facto estate wine of Livingston Moffett winery has been bottled ...

  • CrauforD Wine Co.

    Crauford Wine Company was founded in 2000 by Marilyn Crawford Corley, whose family originated in ...

  • 3 Blind Moose

    Truth be told, the moose aren’t blind. They just think it’s cool to share good wine with friends,...

  • Barefoot Cellars

    We got our start as a "garage wine" back in the Sixties but really stepped up what Barefoot wa...

  • Screaming Eagle Winery

      Screaming Eagle is a small winery based in Oakville, California. The original 57-acre (23 ...

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Zinfandel on Snooth

  • Bedrock Pagani Ranch Heritage Sonoma Valley 2011

    Snoothrank:

    No written review

    Wine review by tirmi


  • Bedrock Zinfandel Papera Ranch Vineyard 2011

    Snoothrank:

    A bit toasty on the nose with hints of cocoa; hints of juju fruits and dates bring a sweetness here. Theres nice plummy fruit as well, all wrapped up with some vanilla and cigar box oak notes and a touch of pomegranate seed. Smooth and polished, this has a gentle softness to it, very pure and clear on the palate with compelling depth of flavor. ... Read More

    Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz


  • Bedrock Zinfandel Saitone Ranch 2011

    Snoothrank:

    A little creamy on the nose with café au lait elements framing the core of briary, muscular, dry earth inflected blackberry and wild cherry fruit. Theres a lot of spice here as well along with a lovely floral top note. Another wine with the impression of sweetness on entry, this follows it up with bright, lightly leafy bramble, red raspberry and... Read More

    Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz


  • Bedrock Zinfandel Monte Rosso 2011

    Snoothrank:

    Savory and spicy on the nose with a lovely blend of nutty undertones and lovely ... ... slightly rustic side of Zinfandel, gaining a little herbal nuance with air. A bit tight and promising, this shows off some fine-grained tannins on the fairly long finish. In a way a bit subtle and subdued, this should blossom with another year in the bottle... Read More

    Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz


  • Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Evangelho Vineyard 2011

    Snoothrank:

    Complex on the nose and full of spicy nuances that highlight the leather, slightly jammy mulberry and black fruit on the nose that also shows a touch of peachiness. Theres a whisper of oak here, showing up as a smoky note and a light dollop of vanilla. Perhaps a little sweet on entry, this is slightly chewy and very rich, but the fruit is quite ... Read More

    Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz


  • Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Old Vine 2011

    Snoothrank:

    Dark, earthy and spicy on the nose, with nuanced sweetness from the oak accenting the dark, sweet black cherry and plum character. With time the oak becomes a touch more obvious, yet it remains very well-balanced. A touch heavy on entry, this is a weighty Zin with super acidic support. The flavors are much like the nose, on the darker, sweeter e... Read More

    Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz


  • Bedrock the Bedrock Heritage 2011

    Snoothrank:

    Sweet toasty oak greets the nose followed by brambly fruit, along with notes of ... acidity supporting assertive Zinfandel fruit. All wild raspberry and blackberry wrapped in wonderfully fresh and nuanced herbal notes. The finish is a bit tight and austere, with distinctly red berry, red currant fruit. This is young but shows good complexity an... Read More

    Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz


  • Bedrock Pagani Ranch Heritage Sonoma Valley 2011

    Snoothrank:

    Quite perfumed on the nose, with assertive aromas of blueberries, smoke, violets and white pepper topped with a hint of smoke and a touch of shale mineral. A little sweet on entry, then showing lovely balance with an attractive freshness to the lightly floral blueberry and spice mid-palate that wears a creamy streak of vanilla like a scarf aroun... Read More

    Wine review by Gregory Dal Piaz


  • Bedrock, a word filled with connotation, and one well-chosen for Morgan ... of ... of one of California's Zinfandel heroes, Joel Peterson of Ravenswood fame, Morgan has emerged as a champion of old-vine Zinfandel vineyards, old-world winemaking techniques, and old-fashioned values. His wines, predominantly Zinfandel and Zinfandel-based field b... Read More

    From the article Bedrock Vineyards


  • 90 Cellars Lot 54 Zinfandel 2009

    Snoothrank:

    Dry good flavor Read More

    Wine review by sar00


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