Zinfandel is a red grape variety grown in California, historically used for mass wines but now producing exceptional wines. It has the same DNA as the Italian grape Primitivo and is used to make both red and white wines, with the latter being the most popular in the US. Zinfandel wines can vary greatly in character and are best consumed within a few years of purchase.
Zinfandel is a red grape variety grown extensively in California. Historically, Zinfandel was used to make mass wines, quite mediocre. In recent years, however, some California wineries have begun making exceptional wines from this grape.
A geneticist at UC Davis has discovered that the grape variety known in California as Zinfandel has the same DNA as an Italian grape variety known as Primitivo. While not particularly popular in Italian winemaking, it was one of the first wine grapes grown in California. Many wineries in California have Zinfandel vines dating back to the 19th century, making them some of the oldest vines in the state. These vines often produce Zinfandel wines of the highest quality. Older vines can produce grapes with very high sugar levels, leading to wines with a natural alcohol content of over 16%.
The Zinfandel grape is also used to create a blush wine, usually referred to as white Zinfandel. This wine, like so many rosé wines, is rarely favored by wine critics and many consider it a waste of perfectly good red grapes. The White Zinfandel market in the United States exceeds more than 20 million cases each year, easily surpassing traditional Zinfandel and making it the most purchased varietal wine in the United States. The emergence of the White Zinfandel market in the 1970s helped sustain the growth of the Zinfandel grape and ultimately contributed to the resurgence of high-end Zinfandel wines. Since the mid-1990s, wineries such as Ravenswood, Dry Creek and Ridge Vineyards have been making exceptional wines using Zinfandel grapes from “old vines” planted in the early part of the 20th century.
The character of a Zinfandel wine can vary greatly depending on the vineyard, ranging from light, fruity wines with a very delicate character to large, rich wines packed with intense flavors. At their worst, Zinfandels tend to be too tricky to be palatable, while at their best they can be truly exquisite wines worthy of cellaring. In general, a wine made from Zinfandel grapes can be drunk fairly young – they are usually intended for consumption upon purchase or within a few years. Some Zinfandels are built to age well for five to ten years, but virtually all will reach their peak by the end of a decade.
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