Best Zinfandel

Zinfandel
Real Zinfandel is red, a fact many wine drinkers are rediscovering now that the trend for "white" Zinfandel has stabilized. "Peppery," "briary," "brawny" and "chewy" are only a few of the adjectives used to describe this mouth-filling wine. It has a real zest for matching up with tomato-based pasta dishes. It is one varietal that the first Italian winemakers propagated and cultivated when they came to California. Though it was previously thought to be the Italian primotivo and the Croatian plavac mali a grape, DNA profiling has linked the varietal to crljenak kastelanski—also from Croatia—and, in fact, the father of plavac mali. Today it's a grape variety that is almost unique to California. Vintners in Napa, Sonoma and Amador seem to do the best job with it. Other states like Arizona, New Mexico and Texas are trying as well. It has been planted in other world regions more recently.

1. Scott Harvey 2006 Old Vine Reserve Zinfandel, Amador County, CA

   
Winery and Wine Web Sites

Wine Spectator - Wine Spectator shares the love of fine wine. Subscribe today and you won't miss these best selling issues: Restaurant Grand Award Winners, Top 100 wines of the Year and Great Wine Values. Every issue comes with a Wine Spectator Buying Guide, full of reviews and ratings for over 500 wine releases.

Food & Wine Magazine - This magazine explores all aspects of an Epicurean lifestyle including cooking, entertaining, wine and food pairing, home decorating, travel, dining out, spirits, tabletop design and new appliances and equipment. Each department and feature covers information on how to enjoy Epicurean pursuits with an emphasis on style, accessibility and fun.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine - Up-to-date coverage of the major wine regions of the world, information on new releases and over 300 ratings and reviews.

Wine & Spirits Magazine - Consumer magazine promoting the greater appreciation and enjoyment of wine and fine spirits. Features include articles on food and travel as well as results of the American Wine Competition, and restaurant and retail surveys.

Wine-Searcher.com - Wine-Searcher's daily updated database of 6521 wine merchants' price lists saves you money when buying wines. The site provides the fastest and easiest way to find who is selling a wine, to compare prices between wine stores, and to value wines.

USA Wines - Listing United States wines, wineries and shops. Also features regional maps, information on lodging, dining and events.

Niebaum Coppola Wine Estates - Offers a selection of wines plus information and a tour of the estate.

Avalon of Oregon - Oregon, Washington and Idaho wines and gourmet foods along with articles and reviews.

California Wine - Providing a selection of premium California wines.

New York Wine Cork - A guide to New York vineyards, with a list of wineries, calendar of events, news, tasting notes, and recipes.

Los Olivos Wine and Spirits Emporium -  Santa Barbara County wines.

Winetasting.com - California wineries offering products and information. News, events, and clubs.

WinoWorld.com -  Wines from Washington and the Pacific Northwest including Syrahs from Glen Fiona and Seven Hills wineries.

The Wine Reserve - California and limited production wines.

Signature Wines - A selection of US produced wines with custom labeling.

Villa Toscano -  Wines by a "Tuscan" winery in the Sierra Foothills of California.

Wine Online - A tasting Panel of wine industry professionals and culinary advisors.


 

This listing of the America's Best Zinfandel was compiled with the help from a Wine Group called Wine Addiction. This list is constantly being revised as we experience and learn about more of America's Great Wine. So, if you feel you we have missed a great Chardonnay, please send us a bottle.