One or two things about Zin...

Thought by some to be the quintessential American grape, DNA "fingerprinting" has show that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, also Primitivo from the heel of Italy. That discovery has not eroded American's love of Zinfandel, instead, like Pinot Noir, the varietal is gaining in popularity every year. We think of Zinfandel with barbeques, Fourth of July picnics and hotwings, perhaps because Zinfandel used to be made into high-alcohol fruit bombs. But, Zinfandel is growing up and revealing its potential for subtlety and expression.

A few interesting things about Zinfandel:
There are two types of grape--White Zinfandel--higher in acid and picked early for less color and sugar, grown in the Central Valley of California; and Red Zinfandel--the best terroir being the California coast and Sierra Foothills, as well, of course, as the Napa/Sonoma area. Old vine vineyards are particularly coveted. A recent study found there is no overlap between red and white zin drinkers!

Over 10,000 people attended this year's ZAP festival in San Francisco (ZAP=Zinfandel Advocates & Producers, see http://www.zinfandel.org). They sampled 550 Zinfandels, ate 8,000 baguettes and 2,200 pounds of cheese.