Zinfandel: A grape that defines California wine
From pioneering estates to artisanal craftsmanship, Zinfandel is a cornerstone of California’s winemaking history and identity. Celebrated for its concentrated dark fruit, spicy notes, and ability to express the state’s diverse landscapes, Westgarth Wines puts this dynamic varietal in the spotlight for National Zinfandel Day. Join us for a journey through this grape’s story, meet leading producers, and enjoy the unmissable California Zinfandel Trail.
The story of Zinfandel
Zinfandel, called Primitivo in Italy and Tribidrag in Croatia, is renowned for its bold, rich fruit, spice, and food pairing versatility. It flourishes in the Mediterranean climate of its adoptive home of California, where its robust reds have made a name for themselves.
Zinfandel arrived in the U.S. in the 19th century as immigrants came from Europe. It soon thrived in Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and Lodi, with its success attributed to an ability to express diverse terroirs and be crafted into styles that range from jammy reds to elegant, structured wines.
What characterizes Zinfandel’s flavor profile?
Zinfandel is a fruit-forward and spicy red wine. Its key features are:
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Blackberry, cherry, and plum
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Black pepper, cinnamon, and clove
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Medium to high tannins
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Warmer regions produce jammy styles with sweet hints
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Structured wines with earthy undertones are typical of cooler sites
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White Zinfandel is a light, slightly sweet, easy-drinking rosé with fruity flavors.
Food pairings
Zinfandel’s big, fruit-forward flavors and spicy undertones make it ideal for rich, hearty dishes. Its natural acidity and moderate tannins mean it's versatile enough to match robust meat dishes, savory, tomato-based sauces, and spicy Asian cuisine. Favorite Zinfandel food pairings include
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BBQ beef brisket
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BBQ chicken
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Grilled sausages
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Curry
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Chinese spareribs
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Pork tenderloin
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Pizza
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Penne all'arrabbiata
Who are the California Zinfandel stars?
Louis Martini
Louis M. Martini founded his eponymous winery in St. Helena, Napa Valley in 1933. Notable sites like the Monte Rosso Vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains, Stagecoach, Bruadair, and Silverado Bench grew the estate into one of Napa Valley’s leading producers over the following decades. The house emphasizes a sense of place in its winemaking, showcasing the Napa Valley and Sonoma terroir through sustainable viticulture and precise, minimal-intervention winemaking. Its Gnarly Vine Zinfandel from Monte Rosso Vineyard is 100% Zinfandel, made from vines cultivated in a south-facing vineyard nourished by volcanic soils in the Mayacamas Mountains. It ages for 15 months in new French and American oak and features a core of plush red and black fruit and earthy notes with spicy hints in a full, richly textured palate.
Ridge Vineyards
One of the leading Zinfandel producers in California is Ridge Vineyards, which is admired for tending several historic estate vineyards across the state’s northern wine regions. Founded in 1962 in the Santa Cruz mountains, its Zinfandel holdings are located in Dry Creek Valley, encompassing Lytton Springs and East Bench. Both holdings benefit from the valley's gravelly, well-drained soils and good diurnal shift that suit the Zinfandel grape. The winery describes the approach in the vineyard and cellar as “pre-industrial” and hands-off, with a nod to winemaking techniques rooted in the 19th century aimed at preserving each vineyard’s character. Lytton Springs is the site of centennial Zinfandel vines planted in 1902, today growing alongside Petite Sirah, Carignane, Grenache, and Mataro. This unique field blend produces terroir-expressive Zinfandel-led wines (an average of around 70% for any given vintage) with deep blackberry, plum, and spice. Planted in the early 2000s, East Bench is found on an elevated, west-facing benchland. It displays a more subtle style of Zinfandel with ripe plum, spice, cigar, and spice, in a full palate with velvety tannins.
Once & Future
Once & Future is a small, family-run winery founded in Sonoma in 2014 by veteran vigneron, Joel Peterson of Ravenswood fame. Its focus is small-lot, terroir-driven wines from some of the most historic, old-vine vineyards in California’s Sonoma, Napa, Contra Costa, and Dry Creek Valley. Many of the winery’s sites, some of which are more than a century old, are dry-farmed, while the winemaking approach is minimal-interventionist to allow a sense of place to shine through. Amongst several Zinfandel plots, Bedrock boasts some of the oldest vines, planted in the late 1880s, featuring red berry, pink peppercorn, floral rose notes, and subtle minerality in a medium-bodied, satiny palate with fresh acidity and finessed tannins.
Old Vine Conference 2025: Fieldtrip to Bedrock, Joel Peterson & Morgan Twain-Peterson MW
The California Zinfandel Trail
Whether you live in California or are planning a visit, the California Zinfandel Trail is a worthy wine tourism initiative for all lovers of this versatile grape variety. Created by the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) in celebration of California’s signature grape, it features self-paced routes encompassing wineries, historic vineyards, tasting rooms, and stunningly scenic drives, with Zinfandel the star of the show.
The Trail crosses California’s most famous Zinfandel-producing regions, from the coastal vineyards of Sonoma and Paso Robles to the Sierra Foothills and inland valleys. The diversity of sites and experiences mirrors Zinfandel’s terroir-expressive capacity and its versatility.
Featured routes and experiences
The trail boasts a wide range of routes for Zin fans, combining wine tasting with local culture, history, and landscape. The following are just a few examples:
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“Paso Perfect!”: A mix of historic vineyards, modern wineries, and vibrant young producers across Pasos Robles.
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“Zin Explorations in Russian River”: Old, dry-farmed vineyards (including Centennial vines) tempered by coastal breezes in Sonoma.
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“Golden History – and a Trove of Zinfandels!”: Rustic charm, scenic drives, and Gold Rush-era vines in the Sierra Foothills.
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“Discovering Zinfandel Gold”: High-elevation vineyards producing robust, complex wines in Amador / Shenandoah Valley.
The California Zinfandel Trail showcases a diverse spectrum of styles from this expressive grape, combining wine, history, and education through visits to historic vineyards and meeting seasoned, dedicated winemakers.
The pursuit of perfection
Despite the acclaim and the transformation of his facilities from humble to high-tech, Romeo remains dedicated to the artisanal spirit that birthed Bodega Contador’s first vintages. With each year, his wines continue to evolve, embodying the promise that the best, much like the fine wines of his creation, is yet to come.
In sum, Bodega Contador demonstrates the transformative power of vision and perseverance. From a garage in Rioja to the grand stages of global fine wine, Benjamín Romeo’s journey is a vivid reminder that greatness often begins in the most unexpected of places.
From historic estates to small single-vineyard expressions, Zinfandel has a unique place in Californian winemaking and heritage. Whether enjoyed across several tasting rooms via the California Zinfandel Trail or in a single glass with friends, a varietal wine or a blend, each sip of this bold red offers a taste of the state’s history, landscape, and deep passion for this remarkable grape.
Happy Zinfandel Day!
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