Zinfandel is a full-bodied red wine with ripe blackberry and cherry fruit, black pepper spice and a warm finish, and it suits grilled and barbecued food better than almost any other red. CBC Liquors in Westford keeps a shelf of zinfandel with old vine bottles and Sonoma County wines, available to walk in for, pick up or have delivered.
What is zinfandel?
Zinfandel is a red wine grape with dark skins, grown most famously in California. It arrived in the United States in the 1800s and became so closely tied to California that many people think of it as the state's own grape. Its roots are in Croatia, where it is known by a different name, and it is genetically the same grape as the primitivo of southern Italy.
What makes it unusual is how it ripens. The berries in a single bunch ripen at different speeds, so growers wait until the sweetest fruit is ready and the wine usually ends up rich, ripe and fairly high in alcohol. That is where the warmth you notice on the finish comes from.
If you already like a Merlot or a Syrah and want something a little more exuberant, zinfandel is the natural next bottle.
What does zinfandel taste like?
The core flavours are blackberry, raspberry jam, plum and cherry, usually with a lift of black pepper, cinnamon or clove. Some bottles lean toward dried fruit and sweet tobacco, particularly from older vines, while others stay bright and juicy.
The tannins are typically softer than in a Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes zinfandel easy to drink without food. The body is full, though, so it will feel bigger in the glass than a Pinot Noir.
A wine described as jammy is not sweet in the sense of dessert wine. It means the fruit tastes ripe and concentrated. Most red zinfandel is made dry.
Zinfandel we stock
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What is the difference between zinfandel, primitivo and white zinfandel?
Zinfandel and primitivo are the same grape grown in different places. Italian primitivo tends to be earthy and savoury, while California zinfandel is usually fruitier and more generous. If a label says primitivo, expect the same family of flavours with a slightly different accent.
White zinfandel is a different product. It is a pink wine made from the same red grape by pulling the juice off the skins early, so it picks up only a pale colour. It is lighter and usually sweeter than red zinfandel, and it is served chilled.
When someone searches for zinfandel looking for the deep red wine, the bottles on the zinfandel shelf are the ones they want. If you are after something lighter, the wider wine section has plenty of options.
Which zinfandels does CBC Liquors carry?
The zinfandel range here includes several styles. Four Vines Biker Zinfandel and WHIPLASH Zinfandel are straightforward, fruit-forward bottles for dinners and cookouts.
If you want to taste a Sonoma style, look at SEGHESIO Sonoma Zinfandel and Decoy Sonoma County Zinfandel. Sonoma is one of the best-known homes of the grape in California.
For old vine wines, try OLD SOUL Old Vine Zinfandel or OZV Old Vine Zinfandel. Old vines produce fewer grapes, and that often means more concentrated flavour in the glass.
Stock changes, so check the category page before you drive over.
What food goes with zinfandel?
Zinfandel is a barbecue wine. The ripe fruit and pepper spice match smoky, sweet and spicy flavours that overpower lighter reds. Think pulled pork, ribs, burgers, sausages and grilled chicken with a sticky glaze.
It also works well with tomato-based dishes. A baked pasta, a pizza with pepperoni or a slow-cooked ragu all suit the wine's acidity and fruit. Hard, savoury cheeses such as aged cheddar are a good match too.
Be careful with very delicate dishes. Poached fish or a light salad will be steamrolled by a full-bodied zinfandel, and a crisper white from the white wine shelf will do the job better.
How should you serve and store zinfandel?
Serve zinfandel slightly cooler than room temperature, around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Heated New England kitchens run warmer than that, and a warm zinfandel tastes heavy and alcoholic. Twenty minutes in the refrigerator before pouring usually brings it into range.
Opening the bottle half an hour ahead, or pouring it into a decanter or a large glass, gives the fruit time to open up. This matters most with old vine bottles.
Store unopened bottles lying on their side or upright in a cool, dark place away from the stove. An opened bottle keeps for a few days with the cork or cap back in and kept in the refrigerator.
How does zinfandel compare with other reds?
Compared with Cabernet Sauvignon, zinfandel is fruitier and softer, with less grip from the tannins. Next to Pinot Noir, it is much fuller and spicier.
If you like the pepper in zinfandel, Syrah is worth a try. If you like the plush fruit, a Malbec or a Red Blend sits in a similar place. The whole red wine section is there to browse.
If you are not sure which way to go, the team can help you narrow it down, and our guide on how a Westford liquor store helps with wine choices explains how.
How can you get zinfandel from CBC Liquors in Westford?
You can walk in at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford. The store is open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Pickup runs on the same hours as the store. Delivery runs Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Shipping is also available, and the details are on the shipping policy page.
The store also serves Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton and other nearby towns, and the delivery areas page shows the full list.
Common questions
Is zinfandel a dry or sweet wine?
Red zinfandel is generally made dry. It tastes fruity and jammy, which can read as sweet, but it is not a dessert wine. White zinfandel is the lighter, sweeter pink style.
Is zinfandel the same as primitivo?
Yes. They are the same grape. Primitivo is the name used in southern Italy, and the wines tend to be a little more earthy than California zinfandel.
Should zinfandel be served chilled?
Slightly cool is best, around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Pop it in the refrigerator for about twenty minutes if it has been sitting in a warm room.
What food pairs well with zinfandel?
Barbecue, burgers, sausages, pizza, tomato-based pasta and aged cheddar all work well with it.
Can I pick up or have zinfandel delivered in Westford?
CBC Liquors offers pickup, delivery and shipping. Pickup follows store hours, and delivery has its own hours that finish half an hour earlier each evening.
