• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Vindulge

BBQ and Grilling Recipes with Wine Pairings

  • Home
  • About
    • About Mary
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work With Me
  • Cookbook
  • Wine
    • Food and Wine Pairing
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Resources
    • Fundamentals For Learning How to Grill
    • Guide to Pellet Grills – Common Q and A
    • Best Pellet Grill – MAK Two Star General – Versatile American Made Pellet Smoker
    • Blogger Resources
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop Wines
  • Cookbook
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Wine Guides
  • Blogging Resources
  • Connect with us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Home » Wine

    Zinfandel Wine — from Everyday to Legendary

    June 17, 2020 By Mary Leave a Comment

    Sharing is caring!

    52 shares
    • Facebook52
    • Twitter

    Zinfandel is a grape known for bold fruity wines with jammy characteristics. But Zinfandel is so much more than that. These are wines of high quality and an excellent ability to pair with foods (especially grilled foods!). And we’re not talking about White Zinfandel.

    Let’s explore this versatile wine. 

    Old knarly zinfandel vines in a vineyard
    An old Zinfandel vine.
    Jump to:
    • What is Zinfandel
    • History
    • White Zinfandel Wine
    • What does Red Zinfandel Taste like?
    • Where does Zin Grow
    • Styles of Zinfandel
    • Legendary Zinfandel Vineyards
    • Where to Buy
    • What Foods to Pair with Zinfandel
    • Fun Facts:
    • More Resources

    What is Zinfandel

    Zinfandel is a fruity, spicy, bold, ripe red wine, made famous in California. Once thought to have originated in Italy’s Puglia region (where it is known as Primativo), recent genetic testing has discovered that Primitivo and Zin are both matches to a Croatian grape known as Crljenak Kaštelanski, where it is now believed to have originated centuries ago. 

    History

    Zinfandel began to rise in popularity in California during the mid 1850’s, during America’s Gold Rush. It quickly became the most planted grape from the 1880’s and on. Currently it is the third most planted grape in California, where the majority of the plantings in the world are. 

    Zin (short for Zinfandel) was previously thought of as a simple jug wine and transitioned into a sweet pink wine craze in the 70’s called White Zinfandel (I am talking to you Mom!). Zinfandel has had a long history in our country and evolved to wines of incredible quality, and a variety of styles based on where it’s grown and winemaker style. 

    There is a very wide range of styles that reflect Zinfandel. More and more Zinfandel are made to be elegant and refined versus big jammy jug wines. In addition to California, Zinfandel is also expanding in Oregon, parts of Western Canada, and other areas around the world.

    White Zinfandel Wine

    Zinfandel can be red or white. Red Zinfandel is not to be confused with White Zinfandel (which is a sweet pink wine made from the same grapes, made popular in the 80’s and 90’s). We go into more detail on styles of Zin further below.

    The Zinfandel we are focusing on is a Dry Red Wine.

    Fully ripe wine grapes hanging on a vine
    Clusters of Zinfandel grapes right before harvest.

    What does Red Zinfandel Taste like?

    Zinfandel can range from lighter styled medium-bodied wines to rich, bolder, complex full-bodied wines.

    Style: typically dry, medium to full-bodied, spicy, with medium tannins, and high in alcohol.

    Main characteristics: plum, jam, blackberry, raspberry, black cherry, raisin, fig, tobacco.

    Taste is typically: rich berry fruit and spicy notes, like black pepper, star anise, cardamom, with medium acidity. 

    Oak aging: Those aged in oak will give way to flavors of vanilla, vanilla bean, cocoa, coffee, cinnamon, tobacco.  

    Additional characteristics/traits: peppery, spicy, lush, brambly, licorice.

    High alcohol: These wines tend to have high alcohol content. If you’re looking for a lighter style for everyday consumption, look for those in the 13%-14% range. Those above 15% will often be bigger and more lush in style. 

    Where does Zin Grow

    The majority is grown throughout California, where there is over 42,000 acres planted: Sonoma (including the regions of Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley), Lodi, Napa, Paso Robles, Mendocino, Sierra Foothills (including Amador, El Dorado, Nevada and Calaveras) are among the main growing regions for quality Zinfandel grapes.

    In Italy, you’ll find Primativo grown in the southern region of Puglia.

    Other Regions: Croatia, Australia, Oregon, Canada

    Styles of Zinfandel

    • Red Table Wine: What I refer to throughout the majority of this article. It is a dry red wine made from Zinfandel grapes. Fruity and bold. These can range from medium to full-bodied wines, with alcohols ranging from 13.5%-16%. 
    • White Zinfandel: A sweet pink wine made from Zinfandel grapes (where skins are removed just after crushing, giving it that lighter pink color). This wine was made popular in the 70’s. Similar to a rosé, but with a much sweeter flavor. These are popular for their sweet flavor, lower alcohol, and low price. 
    • Rosé: You’ll also find pink rosé made from Zinfandel grapes. These are labeled separate from White Zinfandel, most likely to assure you that they are a very different style of “pink” wine and usually of much higher quality. These are usually dry and crisp (versus its sweeter counterpart in White Zin), with light berry flavors, and usually produced from less mature Zinfandel grapes for a lighter flavor and brighter finish.
    • Late Harvest: A dessert style wine made from very ripe grapes, usually with a high residual sugar remaining, and high alcohol (15%+). Flavors of prunes and raisins dominate. Drink these in very small quantities after dinner with some blue cheese or dark chocolate.  
    • Port Style: A fortified dessert wine made from very ripe grapes. Grapes are distilled with a grape spirit (like brandy) added to the fermentation to stop the sugar from fermenting dry. Similar to the above, these are meant for after dinner sipping in small portions.

    Legendary Zinfandel Vineyards

    In California, the organization, Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP), is committed to preserving some of the Legendary Vineyards throughout the state. 

    “While many wine grape varietals do exceptionally well in certain regions of California, Zinfandel’s versatility allows it to produce uniquely pleasurable wines all across the Golden State. Different sites, different wines. In France, they call it terroir. And, truly legendary Zinfandel comes from legendary vineyards.” -ZAP

    What is a Legendary Vineyard?

    For starters, age. Older established vineyards begin to develop a reputation for the quality wines they produce and the wines ability to age in the bottle (which improves the overall structure, complexity, and balance of a wine). 

    These are vineyards that have become highly regarded over time, and produce exceptional fruit over time, which result in high quality wines.

    Single Vineyard Zinfandel

    More and more winemakers who produce wines from these reputable vineyards are bottling them as single vineyard wines, so that Zin lovers can experience the nuances of these Legendary Vineyards. A “vineyard designated wine” is one that is produced from the grapes of a single vineyard (you’ll typically see the name of said vineyard on the label in addition to the region, or AVA, of which it was produced).

    These wines represent the unique terroir of that place, environment, and are usually high quality. These are wines that represent a true sense of place. Wines that tell the story of where it came from. 

    Legendary Zinfandel Wines to Seek Out

    • 2017 Berryessa Gap Zinfandel, Coble Vineyard (Yolo County, California)
    • 2018 Robert Biale Vineyards, Old Kraft Vineyard (St. Helena, Napa Valley, California)
    • 2018 Robert Biale Vineyards, R.W. Moore Vineyard Zinfandel (Coombsville, Napa Valley, California)
    • 2017 Armida Zinfandel, Maple Vineyard (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California)
    • 2017 Peachy Canyon Winery, D Block, Mustang Springs Ranch (Paso Robles, California)
    • 2017 Mount Peak, Rattlesnake Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard, (Sonoma Valley, California)
    • 2017 Pedroncelli Zinfandel, Bushnell Vineyard (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California)
    • 2017 Rombauer Vineyards, El Dorado Zinfandel, Twin Rivers Vineyard (El Dorado County, California)

    Other Producers to Seek Out: Ridge Vineyards, Dry Creek Vineyard, Robert Biale Vineyards, Seghesio Family Vineyards, Quivira, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Mettler Family Vineyards, Mauritson Wines (Rockpile Single Vineyard Wines). 

    A bottle of Zinfandel being poured into a glass near a plate full of grilled beef skewers.

    Where to Buy

    We feature amazing Zinfandel or Zinfandel blends from our online direct to consumer wine marketplace which rotates wines often at multiple price points.

    In fine wine shops you will see a section of Zinfandel or look in the California sections. At general grocery stores you will likely find under the “other red wine” section.

    What Foods to Pair with Zinfandel

    Zinfandel is a fantastic summer grilling wine, going great with all sorts of grilled and barbecued meats: BBQ chicken, grilled steaks, hamburgers, smoked pulled pork, smoked lamb chops, smoked ribs. It is also a solid go-to everyday wine for pizzas and pastas with red sauce, and so much more. It’s also a great match for holiday meals, like Thanksgiving Dinner, pairing with the wide variety of foods for that celebratory event.

    For vegetable-focused dishes, pair with grilled or roasted eggplant, roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, and grilled vegetables.

    Recipes to pair with Zin

    • Smash Burgers with Caramelized Onions
    • Grilled Tri Tip with Red Wine Pan Sauce
    • 3-2-1 Smoked Ribs
    • Hanger Steak with Red Wine Sauce
    • Grilled Pizza
    • Smoked Pork Butt
    • Lamb Lollipops
    Two Racks of Baby Back Ribs
    Zinfandel is a fantastic match for Smoked Ribs

    Fun Facts:

    • Zin is often referred to as “America’s Grape”.
    • Some of the oldest vineyards in California are Zinfandel, dating back as the mid 1800’s. Many producers make single vineyard Zin to showcase some of these historic vineyards. 
    • There’s an entire festival dedicated to Zin each year. 
    • It ages well. When made well, such as in the cases of the Legendary Vineyard Single Vineyard wines, it has the structure to improve like many other fine wines (like Cabernet or Pinot)
    • The term “Old Vine” has no legal meeting. Similar to “reserve” here in the US, it a term chosen by a winemaker to indicate that the vines are old. How old? That’s up to the winemaker to determine (though some date back to pre-prohibition in age).
    • It’s incredibly food friendly (and crowd friendly). If you’re invited to a summer cookout and don’t know what to bring, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Zin!
    • Ridge Vineyard’s 2014 East Bench Zinfandel was selected to be served at the last state dinner of the Obama administration, on the evening of October 18th, 2016 at the White House.

    More Resources

    • Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP)
    • Aroma Wheel 
    • Wikipedia
    • Jancis Robinson
    • California Wine Institute

    « Grilled Jalapeño Poppers with Brie and Prosciutto
    Grilled Tri-Tip with Zinfandel Red Wine Reduction Sauce »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Fire and Wine Cookbook Cover.

    Get Ready for Summer

    Smoked Brisket

    What’s on our Grill

    Tri Tip fajitas and peppers in a cast iron skillet.

    Easy Grilled Tri-Tip Fajitas Recipe

    Verde chicken tacos on a serving platter

    Super Easy Verde Chicken Tacos

    Vegetarian Chili in a bowl with cheese and a spoon.

    The Ultimate Vegetarian Chili Recipe

    Pulled pork breakfast hash in a cast iron pan.

    Pulled Pork Breakfast Hash

    More

    As Seen On

    Products we love

    taking the temperature of a porchetta roast on the grill
    We use Thermoworks Signals BBQ Alarm to monitor the internal temperature of the meat while it’s cooking, then double check with an instant read thermometer, like the Thermapen One.

    Vindulge Wine Club

    join the wine club side bar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Vindulge

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    52 shares
    • 52