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Zinfandel

ZINFANDEL CLOSER TO BECOMING STATES HISTORIC WINE
With the approval Thursday of the California State Assembly, zinfandel could soon be officially the state's "historic wine," according to the office of state Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco. Zinfandel vines were brought to California in the mid-1800s and some of the oldest zinfandel vineyards in the world, with vines up to 100 years old, are in California, according to the text of a Senate bill analysis.

Line of wine targets women
"White Zinfandel is primarily for the female palette; some of the lighter wines generally are," Sudano said.

Zinfandel bill hangs on governors vote
Among all of the weighty issues being debated here this summer, here's one question that, ahem, consumed some Capitol watchers Thursday: What's Arnold Schwarzenegger's position on zinfandel? Originally the measure would have named zinfandel the state's ''official'' wine, but lawmakers amended it after howls of protests from cabernet and pinot noir devotees.

You drink: White Zinfandel
You think that White Zinfandel is made from white grapes. Try these: If you are drinking White Zinfandel, try Riesling.

RAVENS TO RICHES
He's among the men most responsible for establishing Zinfandel as a world-class grape. Though Zinfandel was not well regarded in 1976, Peterson was interested in it from the beginning; he had prepared for entrepreneurship by helping Zinfandel pioneer Joseph Swan make five vintages.

Sonoma Pomegranate Syrups
Made by two childhood friends in Brooklyn, sorbets currently come in seven different vintages starring some familiar wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and Zinfandel.

Oriel travels the world ... affordably
 by a 46-20 vote (SB 1253), to give zinfandel the legal honor of being known in the future as Californias historic wine. ...

Local winegrape harvest begins; will be in full gear Monday
Vino Farms, on East Lodi Avenue and East Peltier Road, began its harvest on Wednesday, while Stanton Lange picked some white zinfandel grapes on Thursday morning near Woodbridge Winery. John Baker and Francesca Pellegi sort the MOG -- materials other than grapes -- at the sugar stand at Woodbridge Winery Friday as a truck of white zinfandel grapes arrived from Harris Ranch.

Colby Adds Sutter Home Winery Creative
Sutter seeks to broaden its image beyond Zinfandel. One of Sutter's challenges is that it is mainly known for white Zinfandel, "so we have to broaden Sutter's image," she said.

Napa Valley Register
Prices are fair, with options running from Pine Ridge viognier ($28) to Stags Leap Wine Cellars sauvignon blanc ($30), from a Franus Mount Veeder zinfandel ($26) to Flora Springs merlot ($34).

Lodi News-Sentinel
Zinfandel may be Lodis best-known wine varietal, but savvy consumers may not want just any zin, but one that has the characteristics they crave. In a region as large as the Lodi appellation, the zinfandel grapes near the Mokelumne River are far different than those cultivated on the small hills outside of Clements.

Vancouver Courier
Plantings around the tasting room will include Rhone whites, such as Roussanne-Marsanne, as well as new clones of Pinot Gris, Malbec and Zinfandel, which are all expected to do well in the rocky soil and warm site. Look for the chewy cherried and black fruited 2004 Discovery Series Zinfandel (from Osoyoos Lake Bench, $29.73) in private wine stores, as well as the broad textured and rose petal toned 2005 Discovery Series Viognier with vibrant acidity, ($19.99).

THE WINES OF DIRECTOR COPPOLA IN DISTRIBUTION IN ITALY
His companies are called Rubicon Estate, producing the red 'Rubicon', FFCoppola Winery created the whites Diamone Zinfandel and the Chardonnay.

TCS Daily
Not surprisingly, we usually cut our wine teeth on wine coolers or, at best, intensely sweet White Zinfandel. Or, to move down the rusticity scale, Pot au Feu with a still youthful Northern Rhone Côte-Rôtie, South Australian Shiraz, or Sonoma Zinfandel?

Please Don't Be Jealous
Not surprisingly, the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) organization is happy. "It's unprecedented that a state legislature would recognize wine and celebrate the agricultural foundation that produces it," commented Zinfandel vintner Julie Johnson (of Tres Sabores in Napa ), ZAP's immediate past Board President.

Inniskillin opens its new tasting centre
Plantings around the tasting room will include Rhone whites, such as Roussanne-Marsanne, as well as new clones of Pinot Gris, Malbec and Zinfandel, which are all expected to do well in the rocky soil and warm site. Look for the chewy cherried and black fruited 2004 Discovery Series Zinfandel (from Osoyoos Lake Bench, $29.73) in private wine stores, as well as the broad textured and rose petal toned 2005 Discovery Series Viognier with vibrant acidity, ($19.99).

Help yourself
Barefoot California White Zinfandel (barefootwine.com): This refreshing wine offers tropical aromas of fresh pineapple and sweet citrus.

Pools of paradise
Carlos Badilla introduced his wife and children -- 7 and 9 years old -- to his river refuge under the Zinfandel Bridge as they drove back to Napa after an outing to Calistoga on an uncomfortably warm Saturday afternoon. Badilla's uncle first brought him and some cousins to "Zinfandel" on a summer day back in 1984.

Find a good wine for less than $10
Aroma: This was like a fruit bomb, almost like a zinfandel, with aromas of cherries, cherry cough drops, cedar and coffee.

All American Grape
Zinfandel is the only grape native to the Americas. Zinfandels characteristics are unlike any other grape.