Zinfandel

Zinfandel can also be called "California's Grape". Planted by miners during the gold rush of 1849, the vines flourished long after the mines dried up. Some of the oldest vineyards in California are planted with zinfandel in the Sierra Foothill gold country and Sonoma County. Their deep root systems allow them to be dry farmed explaining how they survived years of neglect following Prohibition.

While many attribute zinfandel to the popular style of 'White Zinfandel', zinfandel is a red grape capable of producing deeply colored and intense wine. White zinfandel is the product of a process where a little of the clear juice is bled prior to fermentation to increase color depth and complexity. In 1976 the Sutter Home winery was fermenting this rose colored juice to make a rose' when the fermentation became 'stuck". This is caused by the yeast dying off before all the sugar is converted into alcohol. The resulting sweet wine was preferred by the winemaker and went on to become one of the most popular styles of wine in the country.

At a time when zinfandel sales were diminishing, the discovery of this new style of wine stopped many wineries from tearing up the old vineyards and replacing them with better selling varietals.

Italian Primativo is genetically identical to zinfandel and was long thought as the parent of California zinfandel. Genetic testing has proven that both varieties are descendents of the Croatian grape, Crljenak Kaštelanski. This explains why California zinfandel was planted prior to primativo in the Italian provence of Puglia.

Our Favorites:

2007 Sobon Cougar Hill Vineyard Zinfandel, Amador County
Rich and complex zinfandel with dark fruit and spice.
($18)

2006 Terra d' Oro Deaver Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel, Amador County
The Deaver Vineyard was planted in 1881 and is still producing grapes with complexity and finesse. Dark plum, red cherry and peppery spice make this a great zin.
($30)

More Grape Varieties