"zinfandel" news and stories

Zinfandel is one of those wines that has amassed a cult following among wine aficionados. It's loved for the jammy, fruit-forward profile packed with blackberry, cherry and raspberry flavors, as well as intense, complex layers. Tannins are soft and approachable, not overpowering as they might be on other red-grape varietals. Grown mostly in California (with some plantings in other U.S. states), it's estimated that about 10 percent of the state's vineyards contain this grape.

Very versatile when pairing with food -- so long as you've got a dish that's laced with spices, like barbecued ribs or chili -- the result is a match to remember. Zinfandel's notes of chocolate and spice will cut through the food with no difficulties. Tying into the fall harvest, when tomatoes are in abundance, any dish containing tomatoes -- from pizza to pasta sauces -- is a good match too.

In a recent tasting we culled Zinfandels from one of the most highly regarded regions for growing this grape: Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley. Read on to learn about our five favorites.

Nothing wrong with beer or mixed drinks, but wine at a cook-out is a new twist if you're in search of something different. There's no reason why you need to save your favorite wines for multi-course dinners served indoors. Raid your cellar and see what you come up with, paying close attention to wines with incredible body and spices. Paired with grilled meats and vegetables - even grilled fruits like peaches - new flavor notes arise in the food.

Here are seven wines that are perfect for sipping at a cook-out. You might want to think about chilling the reds for a bit. This won't ruin the flavor profile but it will be more refreshing while you're baking in the sun.

2008 Kendall-Jackson Vineyard Estates Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir, California ($18)
Pinot and salmon is a classic pairing and that doesn't change when the fish is grilled. A cedar aroma kicks off this Pinot, which is anything but mellow and has an undercurrent of cola flavors that dance with the wild-raspberry fruit notes. Although light in body -- which we like on hot days -- there is still enough spicy flavor that provides wiggle room to encrust spices on top of your salmon. (Because we wouldn't want you to forego any additional flavors, of course.)

• Even garlic is going green -- and adding nice mellow flavor as it does.
• "Zinfandel's like Beyonce"... and these wines are Zin's sexy backup singers.
• For the Vegas-bound, here are tons of great new restaurants.
• If you're thinking more about China than Vegas, try out Yu Garden -- a taste of Shanghai without the 12-hour plane trip.
• What is this, chopped liver? Why, yes, it is actually.

Zinfandels are jammy and juicy. There is such a cult following for these wines -- which are mostly produced in California -- that two annual festivals devoted to Zin are in California: ZAP, each January in San Francisco, and Paso Robles Zin Festival, this month.

What makes Zinfandels so fun when pairing with foods is that there really are no boundaries. Some say that a bowl of spicy chili stacks up pretty nicely against the wine's bold fruit-forward notes. Others will argue that a wood-fired pizza is best. Really, it's up to you! From a bowl of lightly seasoned nuts to a plate of barbecued ribs, you really can't go wrong as long as you go for bold flavors and spices.

After the jump, find seven of our recent favorites -- all from California.

Gretchen Roberts writes the wine blog Vinobite, has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

According to industry research, the majority (58 percent) of grill owners use them year-round (I'm one of them, and have been known to dust a foot or so of snow off the barbie in the middle of January), but summer is really when grilling gets smokin' hot. With Father's Day and the whole "let's grill a big juicy steak for dad and buy him a tie" cliché less than a week away, let's talk a bit more about barbecue-friendly wines. (And be sure to check out our expert grilling tips here).

Wine and grill pairing basics and four recommended vinos after the jump.