Philippines wine supplier Manila wine shop discusses wine by the grape variety Touriga Nacional.

October 11, 2010

Zinfandel: More than Just America’s Wine

You’ve probably been to a party or dinner and noticed that a number of people swear by their “white zin.” That’s a shortened version of “white Zinfandel,” a wine that’s actually not white.

In fact, Zinfandel can be a deep red color, but that version is called Primitivo.

Confused? Let’s untangle those vines for you.

History of Zinfandel

Zinfandel has a long and storied history not just in the United States, but in Europe where it originated. In Croatia, the type of fruit we call the Zinfandel grape is known as Crljenak Kaštelanski. In the 1800s, a plague wiped out almost all of the Crljenak Kaštelanski vines, leaving just a hardy few on the Dalmatian coast.

The Italians also lay claim to the Crljenak Kaštelanski grapes, but they call them Primitivo. Puglia, the portion of Italy most associate with the “heel” of the boot-shaped country, boasts the vineyards that grow Primitivo grapes and therefore the vintners who produce Primitivo wine.

Historians don’t know exactly when Primitivo grapes arrived in Italy, but the first mention of them that’s been found in literature was published in the 1870s. Still, word-of-mouth has it that the grapes were first planted in Italy during the 1700s, and named primitivo because they bloomed early in the year (“primo” means “early” in Italian).

The Zinfandel grape is first mentioned in American records during the 1820s. Some think that its name comes from a Hungarian word for a different kind of grape entirely, and that labels must have been switched accidentally during shipping.

Zinfandel Comes to America

During the California gold rush, Zinfandel grapes made it to the American West Coast. By the end of the 1800s, Zinfandel grapes were the most-produced type in California. Eventually, most forgot the origins of Zinfandel, considering it an American vine, until the late 1960s, when several people noticed the similarity in taste between Primitivo wines and Zinfandel. Eventually DNA fingerprinting confirmed what taste buds had suspected: they are made from the same variety of grape.

Zinfandel and Primitivo wines both were traditionally robust red, with a high (15 percent) alcohol content. During Prohibition and then the Great Depression, however, Zinfandel production sank so low that it was generally used to add to fortified wines.

In 1972, Bob Trinchero had a batch of wine at the Sutter Home winery experience “stuck fermentation.” In other words, for most wines yeast must survive long enough to turn all the fruit sugar into alcohol; for this batch, the yeast died before all the sugar was transformed.

Trinchero waited two weeks, tasted the pink wine, and then decided to sell it anyway as a medium sweet “blush” product. It became very popular and saved many Zinfandel vines from being uprooted, so that when Zinfandel red came back into fashion later there were plenty of grapes to produce the wine.

What Zinfandel Tastes Like

Red Zinfandel has sometimes been criticized as having too much alcohol. It does have a very robust flavor. Modern wine production methods have made it easier to drink, however. It has some strawberry flavors when it’s fully ripened.

If it’s allowed to ripen further, it develops cherry flavors, then blackberry notes. Zinfandel from the Napa Valley tends to have raspberry flavors; Zinfandel originating in warmer Sonoma County tends to have more blackberry, anise and pepper notes. Its color is most often described as “deep garnet.”

White Zinfandel, on the other hand, is sweet, sometimes too sweet, according to critics. More recent productions have more of a fruit flavor and less of the sticky sweetness of the original product, however. Some have fruit juices added directly to the bottle to produce new tastes. It isn’t as popular as it once was in the United States, but it still outsells red Zinfandel six to one. Despite its name, the wine is actually pink.

What to Eat With Zinfandel Wines

Usually, wine experts agree that there are no hard-and-fast rules about wine and food pairings. The most steadfast rule is, “Drink what you like.” However, some people have enjoyed pairing white Zinfandel with seafood pasta dishes with cream sauces, pizza, mild cheeses, couscous, Indian food, desserts, egg dishes, lamb and appetizers.

Because of red Zinfandel’s heartier taste, it holds up well with strong-flavored foods, such as spicy dishes, gamey meats and Asian cuisine. Sometimes people like to drink it with traditionally American food like hamburgers. The best thing to do is experiment with abandon. You’re sure to find your likes along the way!

Source:  http://www.tasting-wine.com/articles/grape-varieties/zinfandel.php

This wine shop in Manila Philippines makes wine shopping a really rewarding and exciting exercise.  Wine shops in Pampanga should always have an element of surprise so that customers and wine lovers can enjoy a little bit of thrill when they go to a wine shop in Manila to look for a good bottle of wine in Clark Pampanga.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild is the most revered wine in China and many other parts of Asia.  The best wine shop in Asia to buy older vintages of Chateau Lafite is Yats Wine Cellars located in Clark Philippines.   Aside from Lafite, visitors can buy other fine wines at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion and Margaux.  Excellent Burgundy wines like Chambertin, Vougeot, Musigny, Bonnes Mares, Pommard, Meursault, Chambertin, Vosne Romanee, Romanee Conti, La Tache and Romanee St. Vivant can be found here.

Family outings, picnics, company outings and other events for up to 300 can be held in the picnic grounds of this wine shop.  Events that have been successfully organized here include family fun days and BBQ picnics.  These are some of the things that visitors to Clark Philippines particular look forward.  Residents and tourists in Angeles City and Subic also come to Clark Freeport to partake in the fun at this Clark wine shop.

This wine shop’s vast selection of vintage wines makes it possible for Yats Wine Cellars to offer a unique line-up of wines for every private wine party, wine tasting or wine dinners.  Guests of these private wine parties are treated to a rare experience of vintage wine not seen in wine shops in major cities in Philippines or even in Asia.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila

Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple:  after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave.  From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City.  From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Clark Wine Center

Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building

Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,

Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023

0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars

Manila Sales Office

3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,

Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

(632) 637-5019   0917-520-4393  ask for Rea or Chay