From The Grape Vine

Zinfandel is a grape variety that has been important almost exclusively in California.

While we explore the Zinfandel grape lets go over the White Zinfandel or Zinfandel Rose that is left slightly sweet with an acid balance. While there is a place for this wine with some drinkers, it is not the basis for this discussion. The White Zin is a good accompaniment to spicy Thai or similar foods.

The Zinfandel grape typically makes solid red wines with good fruit and structure. It was a popular variety with home winemakers during the American prohibition era because its thick skins allowed the grapes to ship without damage. It the 1980’s it became popular for the wine produced from it with forward fruit flavors and spicy overtones.

Zinfandel declined in popularity in the mid 1980's and became unprofitable to grow until "White Zinfandel" was introduced. The grape grows best in cool, coastal locations.

Many premier wineries have sought ‘old vines’ for their better Zins. The older vines produce fewer grapes but the fruit is much more intense. Recent DNA tests indicate that Zinfandel is actually the same as the Primitivo grape found in Italy.

Aging:
Can be consumed young but heavier Zinfandel is age worthy. Note that the flavor becomes much different, far mellower with age. It's completely up to you if you favor the taste of a young Zin over an old!

Characteristics:
Zinfandel is always structured but can vary from dry to sweet and from a light to a heavier full-bodied red. The wine tends to exhibit a dark purple hue with hints of strawberry, plumb, raisin, spice, leather, and tar. Zinfandel has a mouth-filling characteristic that is sometimes described as being jammy or chewy. The color of a Zin is deep red, bordering on black. Zinfandel is a spicy, peppery wine, with a hint of fruity flavor - berries or dark cherries are often the taste range. While the intensity of these characteristics may vary, the basic Zin flavor is similar.

“While the wines made by the Coturri's are among the most opulently sweet, texturally intense wines commercially available, they don't appeal to every palate. Port-like is the typical descriptor, but that doesn't do justice to the wines' remarkable balance. The alcohol is masked by breathtaking layers of black currant, boysenberry, pomegranate, wild strawberry, chocolate, and plum pudding.”

There are some Zinfandels that are so huge, Coturri for example, that it is difficult to match with some foods. I have has this Zin as an after-dinner drink.

It is not unusual to find Zinfandels with higher than alcohol content than other red wines. They will range from 13% to 16% alcohol by volume. Prices for Zinfandels can range from $8 to $40 for drinkable wine.

Zinfandel wines are so diverse and varied, experimenting with different producers is key to determining which style will match to your pallet. There are Zins by popular wineries such as Gallo to Coturri. Many of the best Zins are in limited distribution and available through the wineries.

This is one varietal that lends itself to a tasting party. By gathering fellow enthusiasts together and purchasing several Zinfandels, you can discover which of the styles you prefer. If everyone prepares some appetizers to match with the wine, you will further discover the characteristics of the wine and the ability to match with food.

In addition to enjoyment of tasting Zinfandel, it the variety of names given this wine. Some wineries have given unusual names to their products:

Food pairing:
Food friendly, white meat, game, pizza, spicy dishes, Chinese cuisine, and Thai cuisine. Zinfandel goes well with "typical American" food - burgers, etc. It's hearty enough to match up with thick red sauces.

Port Style Zin’s:
There are several wineries that are producing port-styled wines. They are made from Cabernet, Shiraz and Zinfandel. The fruit characteristics are maintained while producing a true after-dinner wine.

Tasting Notes:
This spectacular wine comes from vines planted in 1885 in the cool Russian River Valley appellation of Sonoma County. The nose features peach, blackberry and black currant aromas with floral overtones. While in the mouth, cherry joins the same peach, blackberry and black currant flavors, supplemented by notes of vanilla custard, nutmeg and peppery spices.

The Meeker tasting room is one of the most fun experiences that we have ever had. If Cynthia is conducting the tasting, stand back. It’s a lot of fun as well as tasting great wines.

Northern end of Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County. David Cooper and Virginia Morgan. 40-year old head-trained, dry-farmed Zinfandel vines. Virginia makes some awesome meatballs to taste with the wines.

Open Friday - Sunday 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM and weekdays for private tastings by appointment only.

2000 Yoakim Bridge Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
Earthy, full bodied and intensely rich wine loaded with deep layers of black fruit. A lengthy finish with lingering notes of spice, black pepper and soft tannins add to the balanced complexity of this Gold Medal winning wine. The 2000 is one of only five Zinfandels to win a Gold Medal for the 2000 vintage at the San Francisco Chronicle North Coast Wine Competition. $28 per bottle.

Coturri Winery never uses grapes that have been treated with pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides. The Coturri Winery Estate Vineyards are certified by the (CCOF) California Certified Organic Farmers. No SO2—no inoculation with sulfites, yeast cultures, no use of concentrates to boost sweetness, no added water, acids, or other manipulation of the wine.

Rancho Zabaco, Stefan Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Chiotti Vineyard Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley, & Barrelli Creek Vineyard Zinfandel Alexander Valley are all about $28 for each.

These wines, all from the Gallo Family, would be a good way to sample different styles from the same umbrella. Each has characteristics that will give a broad view of the Zinfandel.