Zinfandel
Spicy Red Wine
Red Zinfandel is an "American Classic" wine. It was even originally thought to be made of native Californian grapes. Research has now shown that the zinfandel grape originated in Croatia, and then made famous in the early days of Italy and the Roman Empire. The original wine is now known as "primitivo". The original Croatian name for this grape is Crljenak. Zinfandel first came to California in the early 1800s.
This grape is now primarily grown in California. Zinfandel grows its best in cool, coastal locations.
The color of a zinfandel wine is deep red, bordering on black. Zinfandel is a spicy, peppery wine, with a hint of fruity flavor - berries or dark cherries are often the taste range. Zinfandel goes well with "typical American" food - pizza, burgers, and steaks. It's hearty enough to match up with thick red sauces.
Red zinfandel, depending on how heavy the particular one you're drinking is, is best anywhere between about 57F and 67F. This temperature range is not as warm as room temperature nor is it as cold as fridge temperature. It's somewhere in the middle.
Zinfandel wine tastes best in a narrow-mouthed glass. Most people like to drink zinfandels young - within a year or two - but there are also quite a few zinfandels that age well. As a zinfandel agse, its flavor becomes much different, far more mellow. It's completely up to you if you favor the taste of a young zin over an old!
The red zinfandel grape is also used to make white zinfandel wine. The exact same grape is used in both wines. To make white zinfandel, the winemaker removes the red skins from the mixture before finishing up the winemaking process. The red skins are what give the robust flavor and color to red zinfandel wine. Without the extended contact with the red skins, a white zinfandel ends up being light and sweet.
White Zinfandel Wine Information
Primitivo Wine Information
Wine Types Main Listing
All content on the WineIntro website is personally written by author and wine enthusiast Lisa Shea. WineIntro explores the delicious variety and beautiful history which makes up our world of wine! Lisa loves supporting local wineries and encouraging people to drink whatever they like. We all have different taste buds, and that makes our world wonderful. Always drink responsibly.
This grape is now primarily grown in California. Zinfandel grows its best in cool, coastal locations.
The color of a zinfandel wine is deep red, bordering on black. Zinfandel is a spicy, peppery wine, with a hint of fruity flavor - berries or dark cherries are often the taste range. Zinfandel goes well with "typical American" food - pizza, burgers, and steaks. It's hearty enough to match up with thick red sauces.
Red zinfandel, depending on how heavy the particular one you're drinking is, is best anywhere between about 57F and 67F. This temperature range is not as warm as room temperature nor is it as cold as fridge temperature. It's somewhere in the middle.
Zinfandel wine tastes best in a narrow-mouthed glass. Most people like to drink zinfandels young - within a year or two - but there are also quite a few zinfandels that age well. As a zinfandel agse, its flavor becomes much different, far more mellow. It's completely up to you if you favor the taste of a young zin over an old!
White Zinfandel
The red zinfandel grape is also used to make white zinfandel wine. The exact same grape is used in both wines. To make white zinfandel, the winemaker removes the red skins from the mixture before finishing up the winemaking process. The red skins are what give the robust flavor and color to red zinfandel wine. Without the extended contact with the red skins, a white zinfandel ends up being light and sweet.
White Zinfandel Wine Information
Primitivo Wine Information
Wine Types Main Listing
All content on the WineIntro website is personally written by author and wine enthusiast Lisa Shea. WineIntro explores the delicious variety and beautiful history which makes up our world of wine! Lisa loves supporting local wineries and encouraging people to drink whatever they like. We all have different taste buds, and that makes our world wonderful. Always drink responsibly.