Zinfandel

[ZIHN-fuhn-dehl]
Considered California's red-wine grape because it's not widely grown in other parts of the world. Zinfandel vines were brought to California by Agoston Haraszthy in the 1850s. By the 1880s this variety was rapidly gaining acceptance by California growers, and it is now that state's most extensively planted red grape. For years Zinfandel's origins were very mysterious. Now, however, a relationship between Zinfandel and Primitivo (of Italy) has been established. Outside of the Zinfandel grown in California, there are only isolated plantings of this grape-mainly in South Africa and Australia. One popular style of Zin is White Zinfandel, a fruity-flavored white wine that's usually slightly sweet and ranges in color from light to dark pink. The Zinfandel grape is also used as a base for sparkling wines. When made into red wine, Zinfandel can produce wines ranging from light styles to hearty, robust reds with berrylike, spicy flavors, plenty of tannins and alcohol, and enough depth, complexity, and longevity to be compared to Cabernet. Another style is late harvest which exhibits higher alcohol.

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