Zinfandel Wines

Red Zinfandel wines tend to be big and bold with plenty of intense blackberry, plum, dark cherry and blueberry flavours. Zinfandel wines tend to have moderate tannins, high acidity and a high alcohol level of 14-17% ABV. These wines are often aged in oak barrels for an extended period to add polish and fully integrate the alcohol and tannins. The Zinfandel grape is also used to make sweet rosé wines known as White Zinfandel which are popular in parts of California.

Key Zinfandel Wine Regions

The most famous region for Zinfandel is California, with the sub-regions of the Napa Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley and Lodi all producing excellent Zinfandel wines. Zinfandel is also found in Italy's southern Puglia region where it is known as Primitivo. Research has shown that Zinfandel is genetically almost identical to several indigenous Croatian grapes which indicates the grape may originate from that country.

Zinfandel Food Pairings

Thanks to their intense flavour profile, powerful red Zinfandel wines are a great match for hearty red meat dishes such as barbecued ribs, beef kebabs, braised beef or rich game stews. Other great options include herby roast lamb, tomato-based pasta dishes, or aged hard cheeses.