Produced in the Duoro Valley in Northern Portugal, port Do you struggle to find a Zinfandel you enjoy? Chenin Blanc wine pairs exceptionally well with spicy Asian cuisine or Mexican foods, honeysuckle, peach, apples and pear on the nose. But is that the only good one? Other producers soak up French oak or eschew the flavours of new wood entirely, preferring to showcase the simple vibrancy of Zinfandel fruit. Typically, you will can expect to find notes of green apple and mineral or a chalkiness Or serve it with something savory and full-flavoured for balance. Another unsolved mystery is the linguistic origin of the word Zinfandel. The Tokaj process of making wine includes a harvest under conditions of noble rot (botrytis), which following a long summer preceded by a brutally cold winter, allows for a raising of the grapes resulting in a super sugar concentration. Zinfandel is grown across the continental United States, although California grows the largest proportion. We've sent you an email with a link to reset your password. Serve it as a counterpoint to spiced Cajun to Asian cuisines, barbecue chicken, or spicy seafood. Touriga Francesa, and Touriga Nacional. The red Zinfandel grape thrives in warm climate regions, most notably portions of the Central and Sonoma valleys. Discover, experiment, share, enjoy. TO IMPROVE YOUR TOTALWINE.COM SHOPPING EXPERIENCE. In Spain and Portugal, Muscato is typically used for fortified wines After 30 years of discussion and disagreements (including legal intervention by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), DNA research carried out by Carole Meredith of the University of California at Davis from the early 1990s to 2002 (known as the Zinquest) confirmed that Zinfandel is identical to Italy's Primitivo. The Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz is the only South Africa representation on this list. Originating as far back as the 1530's, Hungary and Slovakia are the only countries permitted by law to use the Tokaj or Tokaji name under the brand as it is a designated controlled appellation. Are you sure? Zinfandel has been used to make various wine styles since it arrived in the USA, including dry and sweet red wines and the famous White Zinfandel blush, created to cater for a white wine-drinking American consumer base of the 1970s. spice, gala apple and fig. Site Map Muscato has growing in popularity in the U.S. in recent years, being an approachable sweet wine that pairs easily with a variety of foods. Enjoy it on its own after a meal--like dessert in a glass. By the 1990s the popularity of dry red Zinfandel had given these plantings a new raison d'etre, although they were still being used to generate many millions of liters of sweet pink blush every year. And so it is with Zinfandel! The full flavors and bit of sweetness make Zinfandel a great match for grilled and barbecued meats, especially those cooked in sweet or tomato-based sauces. infected the grape. Contact American oak rounds out some wines with a muted sweetness, melding adeptly with Zinfandel just as it does with old-school Australian Shiraz or Rioja. Taking a sip unveils a vanilla and chocolate soaked sweet berry fruit explosion. Many of the best wines are small-production efforts from famous vineyards that rarely leave California. The good stuff rarely leaves your shores. Finally, don’t count Zinfandel out as a candidate for the cellar. d'Asti. nuts), leather, jerky, bacon and currant. Sauternes is the King or Granddad of all sweet wines. White Zinfandel is much sweeter than other rosé wines because it lacks some of the dryness found in its other pink counterparts. Sauternes wines are produced in the Graves region within Bordeaux, made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes which have been affected by noble rot. Hard, flavorful cheese is best, such as cheddar or manchego. On the nose you will notice a massive perfume that include And it’s surprisingly acrobatic at the table: the bigger wines are a great compliment to hamburgers, Texas barbeque and Cantonese cooking, while more restrained styles adapt to a wide variety of dishes. It arrived in the Americas from Europe in the early years of the 19th Century, and was an immediate success in both Napa and Sonoma counties, which remain its strongholds today. In one producer’s hands it resembles Amarone or highoctane Châteauneuf-du-Pape; in another’s it delivers lift, elegance and spice. Zinfandel can make semi-sweet blush or ‘white’ Zinfandel (which has six times the sales of the red in the USA), rosé, dry red, sparkling and sweet wines – late harvest red and fortified ‘Port’ style. The variety often ripens unevenly, resulting in green grapes, fully ripe berries and raisins all in the same cluster, giving a wine whose flavours comprise cranberry and dried fig with a background of under-ripeness. So the question is now: is American Zinfandel based on Primitivo cuttings, or Tribidrag, or both? Tokaji Essencia can be consumed with fruit, cheese, or decadent cake, however its scarcity and exclusivity really makes it a standalone wine. Harvest must take place in just a few hours since a deep freeze affects the grape's cell walls and is destructive if the grapes thaw. During the 1970s, various Italian producers began labeling their Primitivo wines as Zinfandel, to cash in on Zinfandel's popularity in the U.S. market. "Noble rot" or botrytis is a natural mold, highly prized, that imparts high sugars and sweetness unmatched by any other natural process. Wines.com is the web's premier portal for wine information and inspiration. Also, as Australia has a developed a strong tradition in Shiraz, there is little motivation to bring in and develop a similar variety to compete with it. Following the blending process, the wine is placed in wooded vats and racked. Usually for first timers I'd recommend any wine brand of Moscato. Cultivation of Chenin Blanc grapes from the Loire Valley has expanded to many other countries including Spain, South Africa, Australia Almost unaffected by the politics and wranglings between Italy and the U.S., the winemakers of Croatia have carried on producing deeply colored, full-bodied red wines from their Crljenak Kastelanski and Tribidrag grapes. Essencia, which is a nectar that bleeds off the racks from the Aszu can also be bottled. The Cape Mentelle winery of Margaret River has taken up the reins as an Australian pioneer of Zinfandel. ports is to describe it in terms of "grip" which describes its lasting power Equally acidic and sweet, the Sweet Shiraz 2017 has a deep, rich color. Privacy Policy Things have changed, says Matt Stamp MS, who explains his love of the variety and picks five to change your mind... Christelle Guibert, tastings director, says: What I dislike most about Zinfandel is when the super-ripe fruit flavours meet green characters – the result is very unpalatable; like a blend of raisins and over-cooked celery. For sweet wine, the grapes are harvested at an exact time, often late in the year, when the maximum amount of noble rot has produced using five different varietals, namely Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cão, Tempranillo, The range of flavor profiles shifts as Ice Wine can be made from many different varietals, from Riesling to Cabernet Franc, Merlot or Muscatine grapes. See why we use cookies and how to enable them. With ageing potential over 100 years, Sauternes are highly collectible wines. The berry scents and flavors are prominent, most notably blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry.