Zinfandel (AKA Primitivo)

TL; DR

Zinfandel is one of the USAs best known red grapes - powerful and complex. It also has a complicated past!

So, what is it?

Spicy and rich, this red grape produces wines that are full on in terms of fruit, alcohol and power.

Where does it come from?

Believe it or not, Croatia!

Who's famous for it?

USA - California

Italy - Puglia

Croatia - Dalmatian Coast

What does it taste like?

American versions will be loaded up with a mix of black and red fruit - look for plums, currants, blackberries and figs. Many will show a distinct peach yoghurt note as well (it has to be smelled to be believed!)

The Italian versions are a little more subtle, but not much.

Main styles it's known for?

In California it's either full-throttle red or a fairly average tasting rosé (labelled as White Zinfandel), however in Italy it takes on a little more nuance and savouriness.

What foods should you be pairing it with?

Zinfandel can. handle a lot of flavour, and is great at sucking up fatty, sticky foods, so go for slow cooked meats - ribs ideally. Also makes a great match with burgers or hotdogs.

Fun fact

The best story we know about Zinfandel (to be honest, one of the only) is in regards to its origins. A North American winemaker of Croatian heritage became convinced that the Zinfandel he was making in California was pretty similar to the not-quite-so famous Crljenak Kaštelanski of his ancestral homeland. So began a decade long quest for proof...that resulted in the discovery that indeed Zinfandel was Croatian by birth, and has been transplanted to the USA (and Italy, under the name Primitivo) in the late 1800s.

So, Zinfandel in the USA, Primitivo in Italy and Crljenak Kaštelanski in Croatia - they're one and the same.