Valentine’s Day references love and the color red. There are many red wines to love and, for red wine lovers, Zinfandel (referred to as Zin) is a favorite grape varietal.
Like love, Zinfandel comes in various forms. From the same grape, wine producers can make a sweet white Zinfandel, semi-sweet rosé, medium-bodied red, big and bold red, dessert and port wines. The white and rosé Zins are fermented without their skins, while bigger reds are produced from the entire grape and are the most loved. They are often described as jammy, rich, peppery, with various berry, red licorice, dark chocolate and spice flavors.
Zinfandel’s DNA stems from the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski and, though it is rarely found in Croatia today, the grape made its way over to Puglia, Italy, where it is known as Primitivo and equally admired to Zinfandel for its delicious flavors.
Even with this European ancestry, by far the most Zinfandel vines worldwide are planted in California. The popularity of blush wines in the 1970s started when California wineries began to draw free-run juice from Zinfandel grapes fermenting it as “white” Zinfandel. This started a trend that actually led to the preservation of old Zinfandel vines. Red table wines were decreasing in popularity, and the growers would have been forced to graft over to other varietals, and the old vines would have been lost forever.
Along with the famed Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel dominates acreage planted in California with some vineyards over 100 years old. The grape is planted all across the state, also doing very well in valleys close to the coast such as Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Mendocino, as well as east to Lodi and Amador County in the Sierra foothills.
Since the growing climate has been consistently favorable for Zinfandel in California over the past 10 years, one need not worry too much about the vintage. Most wineries offer several vintages and styles at different price points. And just like finding true love, if you keep trying, you’re sure to find the one that suits you best.
Here are a few of my favorites to complement your Valentine’s Day. All wines listed are on sale at the New Hampshire State Liquor Outlets.
Cline Cellars Ancient Vines, Sonoma, CA
Dark berries, coffee and chocolate with great vanilla oak character and a long, lingering finish. $15.99
Gnarly Head Zinfandel Old Vine, Lodi, CA
Some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California that produce a toasty dark fruit-flavored and full-bodied wine. $9.99
Heitz Cellar Zinfandel Ink Grade Vineyard, Napa, CA
Distinct aromas and flavors of dark berries, clove and spice with an elegant persistent finish. $29.99
Peachy Canyon Westside Zinfandel, Paso Robles, CA
Made in a classic style with baked fruit notes and flavors of cherry, vanilla and clove. $17.99
Cheers!
JoAnn Actis-Grande travels to many great wine regions all over the world writing about wine, travel, and curious lifestyles. She lives in Portsmouth and can be reached by email at j.actisgrande@gmail.com. Find more of her Let’s Talk Wine columns online.