Ina's wine tip of the month: 2014 White Zinfandel Woodbridge, California

In collaboration with vinoa.de, Germany's largest wine search engine, we regularly present delicious, uncomplicated wines on Idee für mich. The selection is made by vinoa wine expert Ina Finn, author of the book "Weinwissen - In zwei Tagen zum Weinkenner". She has been an independent sommelier and wine consultant for over 15 years . With her company Ina Finn Weinkonzepte and her own event space, Villa Verde, she regularly gives courses for wine beginners and connoisseurs in Hamburg.

Idee für mich
via Jessica
08/01/2016, 11:10
© vinoa.de
Wine tip of the week: 2014 Woodbridge White Zinfandel from California

The Americans love exactly this style of rosé. Their summer wine is White Zinfandel. Zinfandel is their grape variety, whether as a rosé wine or a strong red wine. They call their favorite type of rosé Blush Wine. It has a pleasingly low alcohol content and is incredibly drinkable. Even though I am an absolute purist, I like to make an exception with this wine and prefer to serve it on ice cubes with a few leaves of fresh mint. Girls - it's summer time!

Profile

Wine:2014 White Zinfandel
Winemaker: Woodbridge/Mondavi
Grape variety: Zinfandel, touch of Muscadet
Vintage: 2014
Region: Central Valley, California
Ideal drinking temperature: 6 degrees Celsius
Price: from €7.90 / bottle

The wine

With its delightful candy-colored rosé, it makes you want to take the first sip. It smells of red berries and fresh flowers. On the palate, it presents rich fruit aromas and a pleasant residual sweetness. It is pleasantly light and fresh. There's no need to analyze this wine, you should just drink it and have fun. It couldn't be more summer wine. However, it is worth writing a few words about the Zinfandel grape variety.

Originally from Croatia, it has traveled the world and is known as Primitivo in Apulia, Italy. It then came to North America in the 19th century and has settled in perfectly there. It can tolerate a lot of heat. Its berries ripen very differently on a single bunch, which results in a colorful mix of aromas - from fresh red and dark berry fruit to dried fruit and spicy notes. As a red wine it can be a real crusher, but as a White Zinfandel you can always look forward to a particularly fruity and drinkable rosé.

This one has been given a touch of the Muscat grape variety, which gives it a special exoticism and also brings floral notes into play.

The winemaker and the region

The Woodbridge Winery was founded by Robert Mondavi. As a visionary, he led Californian wine to international success. He was an impressive personality. His legacy lives on in his wines. The Woodbridge Winery produces typical Californian wines for every day.

Most of the wines produced in the USA come from California. It is the largest wine-growing region in North America. Spoiled by the sun, the grapes ripen wonderfully. California has a wide variety of wines to offer. The two best-known areas of California are certainly Napa and Sonoma Valley, but there is much more to discover.

Robert Mondavi was the first to design his winery in Oakville in such a way that visitors are always welcome. This has given rise to its own form of wine tourism and today you can make a pilgrimage from one winery in California to the next and get to know a wide variety of wines and their makers.

A perfect match

As an aperitif or as a soloist in summer, with light summer dishes, picnics or fruit

Would you like to get more wine tips from Ina?

Let the sommelière inspire you! It's always worth taking a look at "Ina's wine tips" archive. From crémant to red wine, there is something for every taste!