WHITE Zinfandel is a relative newcomer to the world of wine, even though bottles of wine were first labelled with the name "Zinfandel" as far back as the 1880s in California. First, in the 1980s red wine was touted as having medicinal effects and a red wine boom hit the US. California started planting Zinfandel by the county, because it grew so well in that state. Then white wine rose in popularity, and the wineries with acres of Zinfandel grape planted wondered if they could make a wine out of it. Thus White Zinfandel was born.
White Zinfandel is a pale-rose wine that's very sweet. It has gained immensely in popularity since the 1980s, but is generally looked down on by "real wine drinkers" because of its youth and sweetness. Beringer Vineyards is the most popular producer of White Zinfandel. White Zinfandel is often a wine that new wine drinkers will "enter into wine drinking" with.
White Zinfandel is delicious with cream-based-sauce with pasta, with fish, pork, and other "lighter" meals. It tends to have citrusy and light flavors - orange, vanilla, strawberry, raspberry, cherry. In addition, new White Zinfandels have fruit juices added to them right before bottling to create new flavored versions.
RED Zinfandel is an "American Classic" wine - it was even originally thought to be made of native Californian grapes. Research has now shown that the Zinfandel grape originated in Italy, but this wine is still mostly grown in California. The grape grows its best in cool, coastal locations.
The color of a Zin is deep red, bordering on black. Zinfandel is a spicy, peppery wine, with a hint of fruity flavor - berries or dark cherries are often the taste range. Zinfandel goes well with "typical American" food - pizza, burgers, etc. It's hearty enough to match up with thick red sauces.
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