Two mysteries that surround Zinfandel are how it reached California and how it got its name. Zinfandel is the same grape as Italian Primitivo and Croatian Tribidag according to Carole Meredith’s research at the University of California at Davis, and genetic evidence shows it was grown in Long Island in the 1820s. It then made its way to California as part of the Austrian Imperial Vine Collection 10 years later. Its Austrian roots support the Germanic sounding name Zinfandel, but whatever the scenario it is often considered to be an American varietal because it has been grown in California for close to 200 years and has been made into excellent wines since its arrival to the new world.
In Croatia, where it is called Tribidrag or Crljenak Kaštelanski, the variety grows mainly on the Dalmatian Coast between Split and Dubrovnik. Some of the best known producers in Croatia, such as Zlatan Plenković, Nicola Bura, Saints Hills, and Mare Mrgudić, are growing and vinifying it under the name Tribidrag, but very few of these bottles make their way to the international market.
When you sit down to drink a well-made Zinfandel you can expect aromas and flavors of black raspberry, red raspberry jam, and cooked plums accented by sensations of freshly ground black pepper, spice, and bold tannins. We like to pair a good Zin with just about any meat cooked on the grill, but it is a natural pairing for meats cooked low and slow like pulled pork, grilled chicken, and ribs drenched in barbecue sauce.
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Bedrock Wine Company 2021 Monte Rosso Zinfandel Sonoma County California
Morgan Twain-Peterson is the son of steadfast Zinfandel pioneer Joel Peterson. Twain-Peterson started Bedrock Wine Company in 2007 as a garagiste, but in even more humble surroundings than a modern garage. He now farms blocks of ancient Zinfandel vines and currently makes wine with partner Chris Cottrell in a much larger modern winery. We think he inherited his father’s talent in coaxing the best flavors from the grape and making world class Zinfandels. His 2021 Monte Rosso is garnet colored with aromas of freshly ground black pepper, red plums, and red raspberry. It has bold, slightly grippy tannins with flavors of ripe red fruit, crushed river rock, and a touch of spice in the finish.
Buy Now: $95
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Storybook Mountain 2019 Estate Reserve Zinfandel Napa Valley California
Jerry Seps and his daughter Colleen are huge fans of Zinfandel and have dedicated their entire winery to the production of high-quality Zins. They source grapes from vines located on Napa hillsides, some of which were planted as far back as the 1880s. The duo age their wines for at least one year in American and French oak barrels, giving their wines a more rounded, mouth-filling elegance. Their 2019 estate wine has aromas of black cherry, red raspberry, forest floor, and brown baking spice with silky, smooth tannins and flavors of red raspberry jam, bright red cherry, and a touch of vanilla in the finish.
Buy Now: $90
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Venge Vineyards 2021 Signal Fire Vineyard Zinfandel Calistoga Napa Valley California
Knud Venge emigrated to the United States from Denmark in the early 1900s and eventually settled in California. His son, Per began importing European wine to the United States; Per’s son Nils, began studying viticulture at the University of California at Davis in the 1960s; and Nils’ son Kirk took over the family winery in 2008. The generations have built Venge Vineyards into one of the most respected wineries in California. Their 2021 Zin comes from the Signal Fire Vineyard in Calistoga and has enticing aromas of black raspberry, bramble, black pepper, and red plum with smooth, rounded tannins and concentrated flavors of boysenberry and black plum.
Buy Now: $60
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Robert Biale Vineyards 2022 Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley California
Robert Biale Vineyards produces about 20 different wines including this stand out example of Zinfandel. The fascinating history of Robert Biale Vineyards starts with Robert’s father Aldo helping his mother sell home grown produce over the telephone in the 1940s to supplement the family’s income. The most interesting aspect of this story was that Napa Valley still had a multi-user “party line” phone system, so Aldo developed the codeword gallina nera or “black chicken” to include a jug of bootleg Zinfandel with the order. Robert Biale continues the family tradition and still produces fantastic Zinfandel. His 2022 Black Chicken Zinfandel has aromas of black plum, cassis, and a whiff of coffee bean. It has bold yet silky tannins and flavors of red raspberry jam, black plum, and brown baking spice in the finish.
Buy Now: $58
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Vineyard 29 2019 Aida Estate Zinfandel Napa Valley California
Vineyard 29’s three original acres were planted in 1989, and in 2000 Anne and Chuck McMinn acquired the original property as well as the historic Aida Vineyard. Three additional sites, Vineyard 29 South, Railroad Estate, and Winner Estate were acquired over the years for a total of 47 planted acres. Aida Estate 2019 Zinfandel is inky garnet colored with aromas of purple flowers, orange zest, and strawberry jam. It has rounded, soft tannins and flavors of black raspberry, black currant, and brown baking spices. We feel it’s drinking perfectly right now at the five-year mark.
Buy Now: $120
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Williams Selyem 2022 Fanucchi-Wood Road Zinfandel Russian River Sonoma California
Founders Ed Selyem and Burt Williams were better known for their Russian River Pinot Noirs, but Kathe and John Dyson purchased the winery in 1998 and expanded the portfolio. Grapes for this tasty pour come from the Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard which was planted in 1890 and is one of Sonoma’s oldest vineyards. Garnet colored in the glass, it leads us in with aromas of blackberry, black plum, and brambly garrigue that morph to flavors of ripe black fruits, blueberry, and a touch of citrus pith in the lively finish.
Buy Now: $165
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Martinelli 2006 Jackass Vineyard Zinfandel Russian River Valley Sonoma California
Giuseppe Martinelli began farming “Jackass Hill” vineyard in the early 1880s and was told by his family that “only a jackass would farm a hill this steep!” It remains Sonoma County’s steepest non-terraced hillside vineyard with slopes of up to 65 degrees and is still farmed by Giuseppe’s descendants without the use of irrigation. At eight years old, Martinelli 2006 Jackass Vineyard Zin is drinking perfectly with aromas of underbrush, red raspberry, and nectarine with flavors of red cherry, red plum, and dried apricot. It’s still got a few years left, but why wait?
Buy Now: $139
