Get to Know Your Red Zinfandels

A Robust Red Wine

Red Zinfandel wine is a classic American wine that many believe originally came from native California grapes. However, research has revealed that originally, the grape actually came from Croatia and became famous in Italy during the Roman Empire.

The Zinfandel grape was first introduced in California in the early19^th century and now grows mainly in California, an ideal climate, because the grape thrives in cool coastal locations.

Zinfandel wine has a deep red hue that borders on black, and a spicy, peppery, fruity taste with hints of berries and dark cherries. The wine pairs well with popular American foods such as pizza, steak, and burgers, and it also goes down well when matched with thick red or marinara sauces. It is best served in a glass with a narrow mouth, and most people prefer to drink it young, aged for only one or two years. A number of Zinfandels age quite well, but ultimately, your choice will depend on your preference.

Most Zinfandels are not recommended for those with a faint heart. The grape is known to produce a robust red wine, especially in cases when growers have produced it in the traditional country styles common throughout Northern Italy. These styles are now becoming popular in California as well .

Typically, and especially in California, the grape produces a full-bodied red wine resulting in a very ripe berry.

Red Zinfandel became the very first commercially successful Californian wine. To date, it continues to hold a special place for producers of all big and hearty reds. In Italy, the same grape is used to make a similar wine, though it is known there as Primitivo.

The discovery that the two wines are actually the same brought with it a host of problems. Strict laws govern the way wines are labeled and imported, so that even today, there are a number of federal agencies that refuse to officially recognize the two wines as descendents of the same grape -- even after the trade disputes have been long settled.

Finding a good Zinfandel can be more of a challenge than you might expect. This is because of the many brands of the wine that either smell too alcoholic or those that are just too plain or faulty. Zinfandel naturally embraces traits that would be considered flaws in other wines. For instance, it revels in lots of fruity flavor, accompanied by earthy tones.

Where other wines may be overcome by high levels of alcohol, Zinfandel grapes have lots of natural sugar. Many Zinfandels are imbalanced, some even having an inherent volatile acidity, to the point of smelling like nail polish remover.

Brazin Wines

Lodi, one of the oldest wine-growing regions in California, is a place where you can find the most modern winemaking technology. As a result, the Zinfandel that comes from Lodi is not only bold and intense, but it is dangerously tasty. In Cusamaon Vineyard, a portion of the grapes are used for Brazin wines. The vineyard is situated in the Mokelumne River in Lodi, where the grapes flourish in the sandy soils and the regional Mediterranean climate. The vineyard is irrigated only twice annually, as this ensures that the vines are stressed in the key stages of growth, which results in small berries known to offer the most intense flavors.

Brazin wine is a young brand, but winemaker Sue Hofmann has years of experience under her belt. In 2007, only 1 wine was available from the Lodi brand. By 2011, there were four Lodi Zinfandels available to the public.

Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel is one of the most widely available wines, and it is also quite affordable. The wine itself is big and bold, but it also manages to be fruity and spicy. Since it is matured in oak barrels, its spicy nature comes as no surprise, and with an alcohol concentration of 15 percent, it will definitely give you a kick.

One of the most memorable aspects of this particular wine is its intense aroma. Once the cork is pulled out and the wine is poured, the outstanding intensity hits you, without your even having time for opening up or decanting.

Fruit aromas are plentiful, including cherry and raspberry, but this is not all. Your nose will also sense a touch of smoke, as well as hints of coffee aromas. Your palate will be bursting with the spiced fruit flavors, like a nice blend of plums, black cherries, and a sprinkling of nutmeg. The concentration is also outstanding, with a balanced acidity and a most pleasant mouth feel. There is a flavor of black tea mid-palate, with a finishing flavor of black pepper and cherry. Overall, this Zinfandel is extraordinary, especially considering the price.

Rex Goliath Wines

His Royal Majesty Rex Goliath was a rooster that weighed 47 pounds and became the main attraction of a popular Texas circus in the early 1900s. People were drawn from all over to catch a glimpse of the rooster, which was believed at the time to be the largest in the world. Rex Goliath wines are a tribute to the great bird, labeled with a replica of the circus banner that used to hang over the famous clucker’s roost. The fruit-forward and pleasing flavors depict Rex’s personality, larger than life. The wine is all about letting the California fruit convey itself in a laidback, easily enjoyed manner, and it makes for a fine accompaniment to almost any menu.

Rex Goliath Zinfandel has its fruit sourced from all over California, thus delivering the unique flavors that every viticultural area has to offer. With every area bringing something different to this blend, the wine offers an abundance of ripe cherry and blackberry flavors, as well as an earthy, spicy coffee hint typical to the Central Coast. The profile of the flavor is rounded out by the dry-farmed fruit from the Sierra Foothills, providing a complexity and depth that you cannot miss.

The wine has a robe that tells of fresh, handpicked dewberries, while the nose is subtle, minty, and spicy all at the same time. The palate will reveal a bold character that will undoubtedly remind you of red clover honey, though it may not be as powerful as you might expect. You can choose to drink the wine on its own, but is also opens up well with meat-based dishes such as beef stew, roasted pork, barbequed steak, and tenderloin. It is ideal as a picnic wine as well, as it will go with almost all picnic foods and is best served slightly chilled.

Cardinal Zin

In Soledad, California, you will find the Big House Winery, located within walking distance from the Soledad Correctional House, also known as the Big House. With its label depicting a prison theme, the cornerstone of the brand is a rebellious winemaking style of the New World that blends with Mediterranean varieties. The winery is known as being extremely innovative, paving the way in their unique approach to winemaking. Big House Winery was the first winery to utilize screw-cap closures on their entire 750ml lineup, and they have also released wines with their innovative 3-liter premium wine cask that keeps the wine fresh for a period of 6 weeks.

Cardinal Zin wine has an interesting story behind it. The wine was actually banned in Ohio in 2001 because of its label, which depicts a cardinal; the Buckeye state’s code on labeling forbids the portrayal of religious subjects on alcoholic beverages such as wine. That, however, did not change the labeling or the name of the wine, and it has still managed to increase in popularity. In fact, some purport that the banning actually worked in its favor. But a fun, controversial label is not all this wine has to offer. Once harvested, the tiny grapes are first cold soaked, and then the must is fermented. The juices are then subjected to malolactic fermentation, and finally the wine goes through a barrel regimen that gives it hints of toast.

This produces a good Zinfandel with bright aromas. It also offers intense blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry flavors, mingled with a creamy touch of oak, dry herbs, and vanilla. Though intense, the aromas are well balanced, with none being particularly dominant. The palate is full, fruity, and spicy, mirroring more of the strawberry and raspberry that was present in the nose. The palate also has undertones of wet rock, pepper, and leather, while the finish is quite long and full of soft tannins. The wine is versatile, pairing well with Bolognese and other pasta dishes, as well as grilled pork and barbecued ribs.

Hullabaloo

Located in prestigious district of Stags Leap is the Nine North Wine Company, owned and operated by James Harder and Jim Gill, longtime friends who moved from Canada to the Napa Valley to fulfill their dreams of producing wine. Working hand in hand with the two is Jim Regusci, a vintner, and together the trio has developed a one-of-a-kind portfolio of handcrafted wines. Hullabaloo wine is sourced from some of the best Zinfandel vines in the valley from several vineyards. The classic strongman icon of the 19^th century is on the label and is meant to depict the time when Zinfandel was first planted in California. The Zinfandel, like the icon, aims to showcase its great boldness, size, and symmetry.

Hullabaloo Old Vines Zinfandel 2008 showcases aromas that include fresh raspberry, cracked pepper, blackberry, and cedar. The wine offers a balance that is exceptional on the palate, with rich chocolate, blackberry, cherry, pepper, and anise flavors in the mix. The nose has aromas of grape jam and freshly cut grass, with lush flavors of blackberry and cherry, harmonized with hints of wet, earthy eaves. The finish is lengthy and embraces spicy black peppercorns, signing off with the smooth taste of smoky tobacco. Its tannins also contribute to a pleasant dryness, which balances out the jam-like fruit flavors. It also has a smooth and perky dimension, resulting in a well-structured wine, so do not expect it to stay in your glass too long.

Alamo Malbec

Alamo vineyards lie in the foothills of Argentina’s mountains. The wines are sourced from the intense sunlight there, as well as the water that comes from the pure snowmelt of the Andes. The richness of this remote, rugged region is embodied in its wine. The vineyards of Mendoza have been cultivated for more than 100 years by the Catena family and have become some of the best vineyards in the world. The E&J Gallo Winery was established by Ernest and Julio, brothers who dreamt of making excellent wine. Today, their ancestors continue their legacy, and the family values and traditions continue in their winery, the largest family-owned winery in the world. The winery also exports the most Californian wine.

The winery is founded on a commitment to quality that began with its founders. Utmost care is taken during every step of production, from grape-growing to actual winemaking. The winery has been able to deliver outstanding wines consistently, enabling them to remain one of the best in the industry. Research, the determination of the best regions for the growth of grapes, and the use of effective techniques in growing of grapes are some of the important qualities that the winery insists upon.

Alamo Malbec is only one of the wines produced by the E&J Gallo Winery, and it is one of the better bottles if you are looking for an affordable option. There are many malbecs on the market, and it can be difficult to sift through them to find a quality value wine, but the 2008 Alamos Malbec does not disappoint. It opens up well and is also great when taken straight from the bottle, slightly chilled. The wine is dark red in color, with hints of the berry flavors that any good malbec should have. This is balanced well with the simple nose and the flavor, which is not too dry but not too sweet or smooth either.

Gnarly Head

Gnarly Head is found in California in the center of Lodi, where a sea of old vines yield fewer grape clusters with smaller berries, as compared to trellised vines. These small berries produce intense and bold wines with deep color and concentrated flavors of dark fruits. The name Gnarly Head is actually derived from the vines, which are pruned in a special way that makes them appear mop-topped. The vines are connected to old, twisted trunks, and their branches sprout leaves in a manner that reminds you of unruly umbrellas, making the heads gnarly. While Zinfandel is definitely the chief grape here, the Gnarly Head team also selects grapes from the best California vineyards to make other wine varieties.

The 2009 Gnarly Head Zinfandel Old Vine wine is medium to dark purple in color. The nose is of oak and cherry, while the palate offers a medium-weight mouth feel and a jam-like plum taste—sweet red fruit with hints of strawberry and cherry, as well as caramel. The hints of toasted oak manage to balance out the sweet flavors. The finish is not too lengthy, and has a nice spice to it. The wine goes down well with barbeque pork ribs and steak.

Black Mountain

Black Mountain Vineyard is not an independent winery, but a brand name of Bronco Wines Company. The company has a diverse family of brands that are sold in more than 65 countries all over the world. Bronco is now a major source of varietal wines for the California wine industry and stands as one of the top largest wineries in the U.S. The company also bottles for many of the nation’s wineries. Bronco was founded by Joe and Fred Franzia, along with their cousin John Franzia in 1973. The brothers picked their school symbol for the company. The company owns over 35,000 acres of vineyards, most of them located in the Central Valley of California.

The Black Mountain Vineyard Zinfandel 2005 Cramer Ridge may not fall in the big and bold category when it comes to Zinfandels, but it definitely gets the job done. The nose is spicy and smoky, followed by a medium-bodied weight in the palate that starts off with notes of cherry and plum that flow into a brief finish that is moderately spicy. The wine is not very complex, but it comes with a nice balance and is an easy drink for everyone. The wine goes well with burgers or pizza, and because it is so easily accessible, it is ideal as an inexpensive party wine.