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History Of Zinfandel

The History of Zinfandel dates back to the 1830's when it first appeared in the United States. It was first exhibited at a gathering of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and by the 1860's the Zinfandel Grape had found its way to California wineries which produces some of the world's best wines. (see Napa Merlot, White Merlot) By the 1880's Zinfandel had taken a firm hold on California due to its vines ability to produce large quantities of fruit.

A big advancement in the history of Zinfandel came when, in the early 1990's, Zinfandel vines were DNA tested to determine their exact origins. The tests revealed that the Zinfandel vine was directly related to the Primitivo grape which can be found in Southern Italy. Further tests indicated that the origins of the Zinfandel grape and the Primitivo grape may in fact be traced back to Croatia.

The history of Zinfandel has been studied intensively and in 2001 it was concluded that the Crljenak grape (which is indigenous to Croatia) and the Zinfandel grape are in fact the same grape, although these finding are still being debated today. Many people question if the original Zinfandel grape may have come from Greece or Albania instead. No one seems to know for sure so that chapter in the history of Zinfandel is still unfinished. Regardless of its origin, Zinfandel vines grown in California have a unique place for themselves as a distinctively American wine.

Throughout the history of Zinfandel, California is often mentioned and Zinfandel wines are one of California's oldest wine varietals. Currently there are more that 32,000 acres of Zinfandel vines planted across California making it one of the most popular grapes in the state, second only to Cabernet Sauvignon. (see Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon) Although they are grown in abundance, Zinfandel grapes are a challenging grape to grow due to the fact that they tend to ripen very unevenly. Older grape vines are used to produce the highest quality Zinfandel Wines as they produce a better depth of flavor, while younger vines are often used to make White Zinfandel Wines. (see also Zinfandel Wine Recommendations.)