By Ray Spaziani
Wine Talk
Ray Spaziani
This time of year we have to clean off the grills and get ready for warmer weather. My favorite wine to match with almost anything grilled is Zinfandel. It is a big hearty, jammy red that matches well with grilled foods.
Zin is grown all across the US and mostly in California. There are several styles of Zinfandel produced in the US, but my favorite is a big jammy wine with high alcohol content.
This wine is largely dependent on the climate and the technology of the winemaker. Zinfandel was long considered to be America’s wine.
However, when University of California professor Austin Goheen visited Italy in the late 1960s he noticed how similar the wine appeared. The vines were brought to California, and Primitivo reminded them of Zinfandel. The wines made from these two varieties were considered very similar. However, after great research it was determined both wines were from a Croatian variety called Plavac Malt.
As of 2000, there are 40,000 acres planted of Zinfandel in California alone. The top 10 have grown 85 percent of the Zinfandel. Lots of Zinfandel is produced to blend into jug wines to give these wines the character of strength needed to be popular. However, Zinfandel has become a popular variety on its own.
Historically, California Zinfandel vines were planted as a field blend. The vines would be placed with Petite Syrah and Grenache, Mourvedre and several other grapes used for blending. Currently Zinfandel accounts for over 11 percent of California wines and has been standing on its own more and more as it gets exposure. Zinfandel is no longer a field blend wine.
So clean off the grill, get some great steaks and chops and open up a bottle of Zinfandel. You will be glad you did.
Ray Spaziani is the chapter director of the New Haven chapter of the American Wine Society. He is on the tasting panels of Winemaker Magazine and Amate del Vino and is a certified wine educator and award-winning home winemaker. Email Ray with your wine questions or activities at realestatepro1000@gmail.com.