Zinfandel

The Grape. The Region.

Indigenous to Slovenia, Zinfandel rose to commercial success in California, where it is planted widely today. Zinfandel’s close relative, the grape variety Primitivo, is grown in Apulia, Italy. From a global perspective, Zinfandel and Primitivo are rarely seen outside these two bastions of cultivation.

Often dubbed the “Original California Red,” Zinfandel thrives in cool, high-altitude growing areas with abundant sunshine. It flourishes in the aptly named “Zin Zone” of Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley.
Zinfandel is a small, berry-like grape, and its vines can be quite long-lived, often passing the century-old mark.

Wine Style. Wine Flavor.

A full-bodied red wine with ripe raspberry fruit, Zinfandel is accented by pepper, spice and undercurrents of bay leaf, basil and sweet thyme. This grape variety produces extraordinary amounts of alcohol, surpassing most wines with an alcohol content of at least 14%.
Zinfandel is typically aged in American oak barrels, which impart spicy flavors and coconut overtones into the wine. The powerful, upfront flavors in the oak are matched by the bold intensity of the Zinfandel.

Sip. Eat.

Pair your favorite Zinfandel with boldly flavored foods, such as grilled steak, lamb, gorgonzola cheese and dark chocolate.

Discover our selection of Zinfandel wines in the Barrel Room Wine Shop.