What is Zinfandel? What do we know about Zinfandel? It’s a mystery. It has an amazing history in the United States, but do we know where it’s from? What’s going on wine lovers? Welcome to Episode 23 of VinePair’s Wine 101 podcast. My name is Keith Beavers, and “Some leaders’ strength is in inspiring others “ -Ahsoka Tano, former Jedi. LISTEN ONLINEįollow Keith Beavers on Instagram OR CHECK OUT THE CONVERSATION HERE Eventually, he worked his way through everything from the Croatian Firefighting Olympics, to a wave of horticulturists turned gold miners to explain the grape, the myth, the legend: Zinfandel. In tracking this story, Beavers followed research that jumped back and forth from the United States to Puglia, Italy to Kaštela, Croatia. He also touches on the nickname “ White Zinfandel” and what it means for rosé lovers, as well as what to expect from a classic Old Vine Zin. Years later, with mysteries solved and research recorded, Beavers pored over evidence to weave this comprehensive origin story of the great grape we know as Zinfandel. With several doppelgangers discovered along the way, the scientists often found themselves on the verge of a breakthrough, only to be duped again. The grape was the center of an investigation led by researchers at the University of California Davis, who ended up pairing with scientists from the University of Zagreb in Croatia. Before that, it was bred by horticulturists in New England, and before that … it gets a little murky.Īs it turns out, Beavers isn’t the first to try to track down Zinfandel’s origin.

However, through careful research, Beavers found that Zinfandel didn’t come to California until the Gold Rush. At this point, the wine is so ingrained in California wine culture, that we often assume it’s a native grape. In this week’s episode, VinePair tastings director Keith Beavers makes his way through the knotted twists and turns of Zinfandel. Stand with us as we raise a glass to toast all those brave enough to carve out their own place in the world. Bear Flag lives to celebrate that independence and kindred spirits who stand their ground, have the good taste to dream, and never waste a drop. Inspired by the brave souls of the Bear Flag Revolt, each of our bold wines honors a rousing story of independence. Bear Flag Wine, we make wines as layered as California history. This episode of wine 101 is sponsored by Bear Flag Wine. Inspired by one of VinePair’s most popular site sections, the Wine 101 Podcast takes an educational, easy-to-digest look into the world of wine.

Zinfandel wines