White Zinfandel: 8 Delicious Wines, Tasting Notes, How It’s Made

What is White Zinfandel and which are the best wines you should buy?

Contrary to its name, White Zinfandel (White Zin) is not white wine. It is made from the Zinfandel grape varietal using a process called “stuck fermentation” and comes in a range of styles, from an off-dry to sweet rose.

White Zin woos wine lovers with its taste of fresh fruit and smoked spice flavors, unlike red Zinfandel wine which is bold and spicy!

This wine suffered a bad reputation as a cheap box wine in the 1980s before making a comeback recently.  Let’s look at White Zinfandel in detail, including some gorgeous White Zinfandel wines you should try in 2021, how it's different from red Zin and Rose wine, some delectable food pairings, and more!

8 Wonderful White Zinfandels To Try in 2021

Here are a few of the most delectable White Zinfandel wines to try out:

1. 2020 Turley Wine Cellars White Zinfandel, Napa Valley ($30)

This gorgeous White Zinfandel has aromas of rose petals and wild strawberries. This refreshing dry wine is well-structured, has bright acidity, and is low in alcohol content (11.6 ABV.) 

2. 2019 Monte Rio Cellars Dry White Zinfandel, Suisun Valley, USA ($21)

This dry White Zin has subtle aromas of rhubarb and earthy red fruit. Each sip of this exciting wine has flavors of strawberry jam and tart cherries that lead you to a long finish. 

3. 2013 Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi White Zinfandel, California, USA ($14)

This blush wine opens up with the fresh fruit aromas of sweet apple, red fruit, and grapefruit. With its fruity notes on the palate, this sweet wine has a hint of acidity on the finish.  

4. 2014 Beringer Vineyards White Zinfandel, California, USA ($14)

Known as America's favorite White Zinfandel, this light-bodied wine has citrus and honeydew aromas. On the palate, taste flavors of berries and fruit that lead you to a warm and sweet finish. 

5. 2018 Gallo Family Vineyards White Zinfandel, California, USA ($12)

This White Zin from Sonoma County is all about refreshment and bright fruit flavors. On the palate, you’ll taste notes of white peach and fresh strawberry. 

6. 2012 Sutter Home White Zinfandel, California, USA ($11)

Once the gorgeous aromas of berries grab your attention, each sip of this Zin will remind you of sweet strawberries and melons. 

7. 2020 Round Hill White Zinfandel, California, USA ($10)

With this stunning blush wine, you will taste fresh berries, raspberries, and hints of cassis and tart flavors. The aroma of this wine is what leads you to a long and pleasant finish.

8. 2013 Sutter Home Fre Alcohol Removed White Zinfandel, California, USA ($10)

This delicate, alcohol-free White Zinfandel has aromas of cranberries and strawberries. These sweet aromas lead you to refreshing flavors of ripe berries and a pleasantly long finish. 

So, how did this wine come to be?

The Origins of White Zinfandel and How It Was First Made

In 1975, Bob Trinchero, the winemaker at Sutter Home Winery, wanted to create a bolder red Zinfandel. He decided to use a process known as saignée or “bleeding” where the winemaker removes a small amount of juice during the fermentation process. 

He took this excess grape juice and made a new wine, however, the yeast died before it converted all the sugar into alcohol. This turned out to be a happy accident and was called stuck fermentation! 

The resulting wine had high alcohol content and some residual sugar left, which made it sweet. 

He named his new wine “White Zinfandel,” and in its third year of production, it was sold out.

White Zin was cost-effective to make, and soon others started bottling the excess juice and selling their version of this pink wine. Soon it became known as the go-to mixer for wine spritzers and sangrias. 

Today, young wineries in California, Croatia, and Italy create dry rose wines from the Zinfandel grape calling them White Zin. 

Winemakers also take to these pink grapes easily for their ability to blend smoothly with the red grape varieties - Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Let’s take a look at the major differences between red and white Zinfandel and Rose wine.

The Difference Between Red And White Zinfandel

Both red and white Zinfandel wine is made from the same grape variety. But, what makes the wines so different is the difference in how the grape is cultivated and the winemaking techniques used. 

White Zinfandel

• White Zin always has a pink hue when it comes to color. 

• Wine grapes destined to become White Zinfandel are grown in fertile areas with warmer climates. These vineyards yield around 15 tons to an acre, with grape clusters nearly a foot long. Grapes are picked when they have a sugar content of 18-20 Brix (percentage of sugar content.)

• After pressing the grapes, the grape skin is removed before fermentation. The pink color of White Zin comes from the red pigments released before this pressing stage.

Red Zinfandel

• Grapes for Red Zin wine need more time to ripen until they reach 24-28 Brix. The Red Zinfandel wine grape is harvested 3-4 weeks after grapes are destined for White Zinfandel wine and only yields around 1-3 tons per acre. 

• Sometimes the fruit is so sweet that there is some residual sugar in the resulting wine - this balances the high alcohol content and big flavor. 

• Red Zinfandel grape juice is left to ferment with the grape skins, and pressing occurs after fermentation. Natural enzymes are released during fermentation - this softens the grape skins and gives this red wine its gorgeous color and bold flavor. 

White Zinfandel vs. Rose Wine

Rose wine is made using red grape varieties. Grape juice sits with the grape skin for a short period - this gives the wine its pink color. Once the juice fully ferments and is aged, a delicious bottle of rose is made. 

White Zinfandel is made the same way - because it was the result of bottling excessive grape juice after trying to create a bolder red Zin. 

White Zinfandel Tasting Notes, Food Pairings, and Aging

Whether you prefer a sweet or dry White Zinfandel, you’ll generally notice fruit and floral notes, and a crisp acidity. But, like with most wines, the tasting note depends on the vineyard, winemaker, and vintage. 

• If you have a White Zinfandel from a cooler region, you will taste strawberry and raspberry notes on the palate. 

• If it was produced in a warmer region, your White Zin would have prevalent notes of cherry, pepper, blackberry, and anise.

Even though White Zinfandel is known for its sweetness, it has fewer calories per glass (108-135 per five ounces) than Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay wines! 

Because White Zinfandel is a rose wine, serving it in a Rose wine glass will make a difference in your tasting experience. If you don’t have a Rose wine glass, a white wine glass will do. 

What are the best food pairings with White Zinfandel?

• If you enjoy a sweeter White Zinfandel, pair it with smoked meats, creamy pasta dishes, and soft cheeses. 

• If you plan to serve a dry White Zinfandel, pair it with roasted vegetables, salads, light fish dishes, and blue cheeses.

Does White Zinfandel age well?

Unlike its red counterpart, White Zinfandel, with its lack of tannin, only has a shelf life of 1-3 years from the vintage date. 

Discover Endless Wine Investment Opportunities While Sipping a White Zin!

White Zin is an easy drinking wine perfect for a casual brunch and deserves a place on your wine rack. 

But, if you’re looking for a profitable option for your wine portfolio there are many other investment-grade wines available, from age-worthy Chardonnay bottles to sought-after Pinot Noir wines. 

Your best bet is to invest through a trusted online wine investment company like Vinovestand build a high-performing wine portfolio easily.