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 »
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 special cultivation equipment at a time when things like wire and lumber were in short supply. People caught on to the wines made from the hearty grape. After the Phylloxera crisis in the 1880s, it was one of the first grapes replanted on American stock and rose in popularity from there. In the 1970s, the practice of using the runoff juice to make “White Zinfandel” blush wines, was widely marketed all over the US. The name Zinfandel became synonymous with these sugary pink table wines. But certain wineries led a sort of counter-attack by the 1990s, founding a movement in hopes of preserving Zinfandel’s reputation by creating more refined dry red table wine releases. Today, Zinfandel is promoted as a quality California varietal with international acclaim.
Characteristics of the grape: dense, spicy, dark, fruity, sometimes alcoholic, jammy, dark berries, cedar, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, earthy, smokey. Oak aging ads some vanilla and toasty elements.
Regions where the grape currently is important: Russian River Valley, Sonoma, Sierra Foothills, Paso Robles, Napa, Contra Costa
Type or types of wines the grape produces: The aforementioned “White Zinfandels” are still produced. However, quality red wines focus on the characteristics that make the grape shine: it’s dark berry fruit and spicy/earthy undertones. Some releases are very concentrated and have a high alcohol content that can sneak up on you.
– Description from
Amanda Schuster
(hide)
Stay Connected
Get our free newsletter
SubmitSnooth Newsletters