Hear ye! Hear ye! The third Wednesday of each November has been decreed as National Zinfandel Day.
It is a day that Zin lovers celebrate a wine variety that is associated almost exclusively with California. Its timing serves as a reminder that Zinfandel should be enjoyed all year ’round, and not limited to our summertime barbecues.
ZAP — the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers — offers four ways to celebrate Zinfandel Day…
- Share a bottle with your friends.
“Invite your friends over for a toast to your best-loved varietal. Dazzle them with your knowledge by letting them know that Zinfandel wine is often described as fruit-forward with a flavor profile that can include raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry, cherry, black pepper, cloves, anise and/or herbs.”
- Visit a tasting room or wine bar.
“More than 90% of Zinfandel is grown in California. However, wine produced from the grape is easily found throughout the United States. So, bop on down to your local drinkery to discover Zinfandel’s extraordinary quality and versatility.”
- Explore Zinfandel’s food pairing abilities.
“When it comes to Zinfandel and food pairing, there are no rules. Zinfandel is made for pure pleasure, so drink what you like. Zinfandel, in all its diversity, is just as comfortable at an elegant dinner party as at casual family meals.”
By the way, Zinfandel is perfect for pairing with your Thanksgiving turkey because its lower tannin helps moisten even the driest turkey. More on Thanksgiving wines next week.
- Visit a Zinfandel winery.
“Perhaps there is no better way to deepen your appreciation of Zinfandel than to see where it is grown and made. ZAP-member wineries are celebrating the day in their own special way, so be sure to check in with them before you go.”
You can find Zinfandel-related events here.
And by the way, you don’t have to wait for National Zinfandel Day to open a bottle of this beloved variety. Given the pure drinking pleasure that it offers, not to mention its versatility with food, everyday can be Zinfandel Day.
