Zinfandel

About this grape variety

California's signature red grape, Zinfandel is the same variety as Italy's Primitivo and Croatia's Crljenak Kaštelanski (its presumed ancestral home). Wines are dark, alcoholic, jammy and richly fruited — blackberry, raspberry, pepper, briar — with chocolate notes when oak-aged. Old-vine plantings in California's Lodi, Dry Creek and Sonoma yield the most concentrated, characterful Zinfandels. White Zinfandel — the lightly sweet rosé — accounts for the bulk of US production but bears little relation to the variety's serious potential.

Frequently asked questions

How many Zinfandel wines can I compare on Wine Radar?

Wine Radar compares prices for wines made from Zinfandel across Portuguese online retailers — 4 in the catalogue.

What is Zinfandel?

California's signature red grape, Zinfandel is the same variety as Italy's Primitivo and Croatia's Crljenak Kaštelanski (its presumed ancestral home). Wines are dark, alcoholic, jammy and richly fruited — blackberry, raspberry, pepper, briar — with chocolate notes when oak-aged. Old-vine plantings in California's…