Wednesday November 20 is Zinfandel Day. For those who aren't familiar with zinfandel, it's a black-skinned grape that hails from Croatia (information we now know thanks to DNA profiling). In Australia, zinfandel is more commonly known by its Puglian name – primitivo. Alongside negroamaro, primitivo is one of the most widely-planted grapes in Puglia, Italy.
So, what does zinfandel taste like? It's known for bold flavours, with characteristics of blackberry, strawberry jam, maraschino cherry, vanilla and licorice, with a hint of spice and a smoky finish. Zinfandel thrives in drier, warmer climates like the Barossa Valley, Margaret River and McLaren Vale. It's lighter in colour than cabernet sauvignon, but when it comes to flavour, zinfandel is bolder than a lighter red like pinot noir. In the US, zinfandel is also made into a pink wine (in a rosé style) called 'white zin'.
Zinfandel is famous for having a higher percentage of alcohol due to its late ripening time. It can reach as high as 17 per cent. Topping the ABV in this list is the 1837 Barossa Rapid Crossings Zinfandel, which sits at 16 per cent. Hentley Farm's 2022 Barossa Valley Zinfandel comes in at a close second, with an ABV of 15.8 per cent.
When searching for food pairings for zinfandel, think spice! Curries (like a katsu) and barbecued meats like brisket. Rich cheeses like manchego are also a great partner. Below are 13 examples, including a rosé, to help kick off your zinfandel journey.
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Best Zinfandel wines to try
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Wood Park
Reserve Zinfandel 2021
King Valley -
Groom
Bush Block Barossa Valley Zinfandel 2021
Barossa Valley -
Lowe Family Wine Co
Museum Release Zinfandel 2017
Mudgee -
McHenry Hohnen Vintners
Hazel's Vineyard Zinfandel 2022
Margaret River -
RiverBank Estate
Eric Anthony Zinfandel 2022
Swan Valley -
Talisman Wines
Ferguson Valley Zinfandel 2020
Geographe -
Hentley Farm Wines
Barossa Valley Zinfandel 2022
Barossa Valley -
Kalleske
Fordson Barossa Valley Zinfandel 2022
Barossa Valley -
1837 Barossa
Rapid Crossings Zinfandel 2021
Barossa -
Bink Wines
Mirrors Zinfandel 2022
Clare Valley -
Levrier Wines by Jo Irvine
Peritas Single Vineyard Zinfandel 2018
Barossa Valley -
Burge Family Winemakers
Zinfandel Rosé 2022
Barossa Valley -
Coughlan Estate
Zinfandel 2022
Geographe
View all zinfandel tasting notes.
View all primitivo tasting notes.
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