Jump To:

• zinfandel
  zinfandel

  noun

  a black vinifera grape, grown in California.
• Zinfandel
  Zinfandel

  noun

  a Californian wine grape originally transplanted from Europe and producing a quick-maturing fruity red wine

zinfandel

American  

[zin-fuhn-del] / ˈzɪn fənˌdɛl /

noun

1. a black vinifera grape, grown in California.

2. a dry red wine made from this grape in California.

---

Zinfandel British  

/ ˈzɪnfənˌdɛl /

noun

1. a Californian wine grape originally transplanted from Europe and producing a quick-maturing fruity red wine

---

Etymology

Origin of zinfandel

First recorded in 1895–1900; origin uncertain, perhaps via Czech or Hungarian as a corruption of Zierfandler, an Austrian grape

Example Sentences

Launched in March 2021, the California Zinfandel Trail hopes to reintroduce wine drinkers to zinfandels — and in doing so, change some preconceived notions about Paso’s heritage grape variety.

From Washington Post • Feb. 10, 2022

For a Zinfandel parallel, Jukes 6 bursts with dark berries like blackberry and black currant, and is sweet, tart, and just a tiny bit bitter in all the right amounts.

From Salon • Nov. 24, 2021

Zinfandel, for all its alluring qualities of spicy fruit flavors, can, depending on the vintage, lack other attributes.

From New York Times • Sep. 3, 2020

Another popular pink wine, White Zinfandel, long stood in the way of rosé’s popularity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 13, 2018

On Fridays, back in Chicago, we had a standing date night, usually meeting downtown at a restaurant called Zinfandel after we’d both finished up work.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama