Winegeeks

“Z” grape entries

Zinfandel

The great American success story, though not indigenous to the United States as was once thought. Zinfandel is actually the Croatian grape Crjlenak that is thought to have been transported to the U.S. in the early 1800s as part of the Royal Austrian Plant Species Collection. It is in the U.S. that Zinfandel has found a home, becoming synonymous with both full and flavorful red wines, and fruity and often sweet rosés. Zinfandel became famous around the turn of the 20th century as a productive varietal grown by many a miner or Italian immigrant. In fact, some of the most famous spots in Napa and Sonoma were covered with Zinfandel vines. As the century wore on red Zin lost favor and was used as a base for "jug" wines until White Zin was created. At first a rosé made from a short maceration (skin-contact) time, White Zin became a driving force in the American market as a sweet and fruity pink wine often times made by blending white and red wines together. Today Zinfandel is rapidly gaining popularity as a full and rich red with notes of pepper and spices. Deep black fruits, violets and often "brambly" notes are also common in Zinfandel. Due to its high sugar levels when ripe, high levels of alcohol are also common, sometimes to a fault. Thought productive, Zinfandel can also be difficult to grow in cooler climates as uneven bunch ripening can be a problem.

The best area for Zinfandel is in California's Dry Creek Valley, though it can be found in almost every warm weather area of the state. Counties such as Amador, Sonoma, San Jaoquin and more all produce excellent Zinfandel. The Italian varietal Primitivo was once thought to be identical to Zinfandel, though it is now known to be a close relative and also a descendant of Crjlenak, as is Plavac Mali. Primitivo, however, can be found throughout southern Italy and is so similar to Zinfandel that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is considering a proposal to allow Italian Primitivo to be sold in the U.S. as Zinfandel, much to the dismay of Zinfandel producers. For more on Zinfandel check out http://www.zinfandel.org/.

Grape Color

Black

Wines (68)

JanKris "Riatta" Paso Robles, Veris Cellars Estate 2009 Paso Robles Red
Valdez Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Simoncini 2005 Dry Creek Valley Dessert
Unti Vineyards Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley NV Dry Creek Valley Red
Dashe Cellars Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Florence Vineyard 2007 Dry Creek Valley Red
Lava Cap Winery Zinfandel California Lava Cap Vineyards 2007 California Red
Coro Mendocino California Red
Orin Swift Cellars "The Prisoner" Zinfandel Napa Valley 2008 Napa Valley Red
Plungerhead Zinfandel Lodi 2008 Lodi Red
Dashe Cellars Late Harvest Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2007 Dry Creek Valley Dessert
Bonterra Zinfandel Mendocino Ridges Bonterra 2006 Mendocino Ridges Red
Ravenswood Zinfandel Napa Valley Dickerson Vineyard 2007 Napa Valley Red
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs 2006 Sonoma County Red
Caymus Vineyards Zinfandel Napa Valley 2005 Napa Valley Red
Clos du Val Zinfandel Napa Valley 2006 Napa Valley Red
Winexpert Island Mist Zinfandel California Dessert
Grgich Hills Zinfandel Napa Valley 2005 Napa Valley Red
Rosso Bianco Zinfandel California Rosso 2006 California Red
Renwood Winery Zinfandel Fiddletown 2005 Fiddletown Red
St. Francis Winery and Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel Russian River Valley Bacchi Vineyard 2006 Russian River Valley Red
Gnarly Head Zinfandel Lodi Old Vines 2006 Lodi Red
Chatom Vineyards Zinfandel California 2005 California Red
Orin Swift The Prisoner Napa Valley 2006 Napa Valley Red
Orin Swift The Prisoner Napa Valley 2007 Napa Valley Red
Winexpert Island Mist White Zinfandel California Dessert
MoniClaire Vineyards Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley Estate 2006 Dry Creek Valley Red
Seghesio Zinfandel California alexander valley 2005 California Red
MoniClaire Vineyards Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley MoniClaire Vineyards Estate 2003 Dry Creek Valley Red
Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma County 2006 Sonoma County Red
Michael David Vineyards 7 Deadly Zins NV Lodi Red
Bogle Vineyards Zinfandel 2005 Clarksburg Red
Four Vines Zinfandel "Maverick" Amador County 2004 Amador County Red
Ravenswood Zinfandel Amador County 2006 Amador County Red
Turley Zinfandel Atlas Peak 2004 Atlas Peak Red
Ravenswood Zinfandel Amador County 2005 Amador County Red
Ravenswood Vitner's Blend Zinfandel California 2005 California Red
Fritz Late Harvest Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2004 Dry Creek Valley Dessert
Rosenblum Paso Robles Zinfandel Appellation Series 2004 Paso Robles Red
Piedra Creek Winery Zinfandel San Luis Obispo County 2002 San Luis Obispo County Red
Elyse Zinfandel Howell Mountain 2004 Howell Mountain Red
Elyse Zinfandel Napa Valley Korte Ranch 2004 Napa Valley Red
Elyse Nero Misto Red 2004 California Red
Muccigrosso Vineyards Lyn Zin Monterey 2003 Monterey Red
Grgich Hills Napa Valley Zinfandel 2002 Calistoga Red
Peter Franus Napa Valley Zinfandel 2002 Napa Valley Red
Elyse Zinfandel Napa Valley Morisoli Vineyard 2003 Rutherford Red
Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma County 2003 Sonoma County Red
Seghesio Old Vines Zinfandel Sonoma County 2002 Sonoma County Red
Chase Cellars Zinfandel Napa Valley St. Helena Hayne Vineyard 2002 Saint Helena Red
Seghesio Cortina Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2003 Dry Creek Valley Red
Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel California 2002 California Red
Hendry Zinfandel Napa Valley Block 7 2002 Napa Valley Red
Fritz Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2002 Dry Creek Valley Red
Napa Cellars Napa Valley Zinfandel 2002 Napa Valley Red
St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel Sonoma County 1996 Sonoma County Red
Topolos Zinfandel Sonoma County Pagani Ranch 1995 Sonoma County Red
Topolos Zinfandel Sonoma County Piner Heights 1994 Sonoma County Red
Estancia Zinfandel California 2001 California Red
St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel Sonoma County 2001 Sonoma County Red
Alderbrook Zinfandel Old Vine Old Clone Dry Creek Valley 2001 Dry Creek Valley Red
Ravenswood Old Vines Zinfandel Sonoma County 2000 Sonoma County Red
Cantina del Gatto Nero White Zinfandel 2003 United States Rosé
Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel California 2000 California Red
Cline Zinfandel Contra Costa County Bridgehead Vineyard 1995 Contra Costa County Red
Topolos Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Piner Heights 1995 Sonoma Valley Red
Topolos Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Rossi Ranch 1995 Sonoma Valley Red
Bonny Doon Cardinal Zin 2002 California Red
Lolonis Redwood Valley Zinfandel 2000 Redwood Valley Red
Cline Russian River Valley Fulton Road Zinfandel 1998 Russian River Valley Red