Red Grape
Zinfandel
ZIN-fan-dell/ˈzɪnfænˌdɛl/
America's heritage grape, Zinfandel produces bold, jammy wines with bright fruit and spicy notes. Old vine examples from California can be extraordinarily complex, while the grape's high sugars can yield powerful, high-alcohol wines.
Serving Temp
16-18°C (60-65°F)
Aging Potential
3-10 years
Glass Type
Standard red wine glass
Color
Medium to deep ruby
Flavor Profile
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Signature Aromas
Jam
Bramble
Sweet Spice
Dried Fruit
Vanilla
Origin
Dalmatia
Croatia
History & Origins
Though long considered uniquely American, DNA testing revealed Zinfandel is identical to Croatia's Crljenak Kaštelanski and Italy's Primitivo. It arrived in the US in the 1820s and became California's most-planted grape by the late 1800s.
Famous Wines
Ridge Geyserville
Ridge Vineyards
Sonoma
Turley Wine Cellars Old Vines
Turley
California
Seghesio Old Vine
Seghesio
Sonoma
Did You Know?
- •Genetically identical to Italy's Primitivo and Croatia's Crljenak Kaštelanski
- •Can produce wines from 7% to 17% alcohol
- •White Zinfandel (rosé) outsold red Zinfandel for decades
Similar Varietals
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