Zinfandel wine is California in a glass: ripe bramble fruit, black pepper, a warm, generous body and a story that runs back to the Gold Rush. This page gathers red Zinfandel from Sonoma, Lodi, Paso Robles and beyond, including old-vine single vineyards worth laying down.
What makes Zinfandel wine taste the way it does
Zinfandel ripens unevenly. A single bunch can hold shrivelled, raisined berries next to ones that are still firm and tart, so growers have to pick carefully and winemakers get a wine with jammy dark fruit and bright acidity at the same time. Expect blackberry, raspberry and cherry, a streak of spice, and alcohol that often sits on the fuller side.
Sonoma: Dry Creek Valley, Russian River and Sonoma Valley
Dry Creek Valley is only about 16 miles long and two miles wide, yet it holds one of the densest concentrations of old-vine Zinfandel anywhere, and its wines are famous for freshly ground pepper and cinnamon. Ridge's Lytton Springs comes from here, a field blend of century-old Zinfandel interplanted with Petite Sirah, Carignane and a little Mataro. Its sibling Geyserville, from Alexander Valley vines first planted in 1882, is the other Ridge classic, and Pagani Ranch brings old Sonoma Valley vines near Kenwood into the mix. Look also for Pedroncelli's Dry Creek bottling, Martinelli's Giuseppe & Luisa, and the cool-climate Russian River Zinfandels from Hartford and Williams Selyem.
Lodi and Paso Robles
Lodi is old-vine country, with plantings dating back to 1888. Arnot-Roberts makes a tiny amount from the Kirschenmann Vineyard, dry-farmed vines planted on their own roots in 1915 on sandy soils beside the Mokelumne River. Further south, Zinfandel was the first commercially successful grape in Paso Robles, and wines like Rabble's show the region's riper, plusher side. You will also find Napa names such as Rombauer and Caymus, and a Croatian Zinfandel that nods to the grape's roots.
Old vine Zinfandel and the Primitivo connection
"Old vine" has no legal definition on a US label, but the Historic Vineyard Society counts a vineyard as historic when at least a third of its vines are 50 years or older. Those gnarled vines give smaller crops and deeper, more savoury wines.
The grape itself is Croatian. DNA work led by Carole Meredith at UC Davis showed that Zinfandel, Crljenak Kaštelanski (also called Tribidrag) and Italy's Primitivo are the same variety, and in 2001 a handful of surviving vines were found near Split. If you like the Italian take, explore the reds of Apulia, where Primitivo is king, then come back to compare it with the Californian style.
How to choose and serve red Zinfandel
For a juicy, crowd-pleasing bottle, start with a Sonoma County or Paso Robles Zinfandel in the €25 to €30 range. For more depth and ageing potential, go for a single-vineyard or old-vine wine from Ridge, Hartford or Williams Selyem. Serve slightly cool, around 16 to 18°C, and pour it with ribs, pulled pork, burgers, smoked brisket or a spicy sausage pasta.
Zinfandel sits at the heart of California wine, and it is worth browsing the wider American wine range or our full selection of red wine if you want something in a similar generous style.
Frequently asked questions about Zinfandel wine
Is Zinfandel the same grape as Primitivo?
Yes. DNA testing confirmed that Zinfandel and Primitivo are the same variety, originally from Croatia. The wines often taste different because of climate, soils and winemaking.
Is white Zinfandel the same grape as red Zinfandel?
It is the same grape made as a pale, usually off-dry rosé. White Zinfandel took off in 1975 when a Sutter Home batch stopped fermenting early and kept some sweetness. This page focuses on red Zinfandel.
What does old vine Zinfandel mean?
There is no legal rule, but it generally means vines at least 50 years old. They yield less fruit and tend to give more concentrated, complex wine.
Does Zinfandel age well?
Most Zinfandel is at its best within five years, but field blends such as Ridge's Lytton Springs and Geyserville can develop beautifully for a decade or more.