🍇 Zinfandel
A red grape genetically identical to Primitivo and Crljenak kaštelanski; 39,500 acres in California (2019); "White Zinfandel" is a rosé wine.
Zinfandel is a red wine grape genetically identical to the Italian Primitivo and the Croatian Crljenak kaštelanski. VIVC lists it under the main name Primitivo and gives the origin as "Balkans". It is one of the defining varieties of California: according to USDA, in 2019 it covered 39,500 acres, more than a tenth of the state's vineyards (Wikipedia).
DNA research by Carole Meredith's group in 1993 proved that Primitivo and Zinfandel are clones of one variety; an identical vine was found in 2001 in Kaštel Novi in Croatia. According to the work of Calò et al. (2008), Kratošija is another synonym of Zinfandel. Montenegro is proposed as the most likely homeland, but the origin remains undetermined (Wikipedia).
The name "Primitivo" is recorded in Italian state publications of the 1870s. The EU recognised Zinfandel as a synonym of Primitivo in January 1999, while in the US under 27 CFR 4.91 "Zinfandel" and "Primitivo" are separate approved names, so the producer labels the wine with the one it uses.
The variety's main product is red wine; rosé, late-harvest dessert and port-style fortified wines are made too. The finished wine can exceed 15% alcohol, and Italian Primitivo reaches 16% (Wikipedia). In cooler areas raspberry is noticeable, in warm ones blackberry, anise and pepper. In 1972 Bob Trinchero began making a rosé from Zinfandel; a sweeter version appeared after a stuck fermentation in 1975.
Why it matters to you. Zinfandel and Primitivo are one variety under different names, and "White Zinfandel" is a rosé wine, not a white one.
Facts
| Country | Croatia by DNA match; origin undetermined 3 |
|---|---|
| Alcohol (% vol.) | Over 15% (Zinfandel), up to 16% (Primitivo) |
| Yield | California: 39,500 acres (2019, USDA) |
| Registered | US: Zinfandel and Primitivo - separate names (27 CFR 4.91) 2 |
| Taste | Cooler - raspberry; warmer - blackberry, anise, pepper |
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Zinfandel → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ Croatian wine
- Where it grows
- 📍 Apulia, 📍 Dalmatia
- Related to
- 🍷 Blush wine, 🍷 Fortified wine
- Wines made from it
- 🍷 Rosé
- Offspring
- 🍇 Grk, 🍇 Vranac, 🍇 Boskoop's Glory, 🍇 Blatina
Frequently asked questions
Are Zinfandel and Primitivo the same?
Yes, it is one variety: VIVC lists it as Primitivo with the synonyms Zinfandel and Crljenak kaštelanski, but in the US under 27 CFR 4.91 these are separate approved names.
Where does Zinfandel come from?
An identical DNA profile was found in a vine from Kaštel Novi in Croatia in 2001; Montenegro is also proposed as the homeland, and the origin remains undetermined (Wikipedia).
What wine is made from Zinfandel?
Mostly red; also rosé, late-harvest dessert and port-style fortified wines, with alcohol of over 15% (Wikipedia).
How much Zinfandel is there in California?
According to USDA, in 2019 it was 39,500 acres, about 11% of the state's vineyard area (Wikipedia).
Is it true that White Zinfandel is a white wine?
No. It is a rosé wine from the red Zinfandel grape; Bob Trinchero began making it in 1972, and a sweeter version appeared in 1975 (Wikipedia).
What to read next
- 🗺️ Croatian wine — The wine of Croatia: 19,938 ha of vines and 603 thousand hl of wine (2024), 4 wine regions, 18 PDOs; the most widely planted grape is Graševina.
- 📍 Apulia — The south-east of Italy: 32 designations of origin, including the DOCG Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale.
- 🍇 Vranac — A red grape from Montenegro, the country's most widespread and emblematic variety; an offspring of Duljenga and Kratošija, that is, Zinfandel.
- 📍 Dalmatia — The Mediterranean coast and islands.
- 🍷 Blush wine — The American name for a pale pink, often sweetish wine.
Similar
🍇 Crljenak Kaštelanski · 🍇 Cetinka · 🍇 Sušac Crni · 🍇 Trnjak · 🍇 Pošip · 🍇 Grk
Sources
- VIVC. Primitivo (Zinfandel) (passport 9703)
- 27 CFR § 4.91: List of approved grape variety names (eCFR)
- Calò A. та ін. Molecular Correlation of Zinfandel (Primitivo) with Austrian, Croatian, and Hungarian Cultivars and Kratošija, an Additional Synonym. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 2008, 59(2), 205–209
- Zdunić G. та ін. Intravarietal variability of 'Crljenak kaštelanski' and its relationship with 'Zinfandel' and 'Primitivo' selections. Acta Hort. 2014, 1046