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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 29, 2004 Off The Vine Zinfandel attracts a following Lorn Razzano I was bopping down Oak Street the other day on my bike heading for the cool guys at Cycle Sport for a little tire pressure help. Once inside I spied a patron wearing a deep purple shirt that had written on the back "Life is Hell without Zinfandel!" This was the third purple "Zinfandel" shirt I had seen in two days, which reminded me of the solid following this massive grape has on the world of wine. Zinfandel lovers are variously called "Zin Freaks," "Zinners," "Zin Heads" or "Zinaholics." The love of this grape crosses all genders and economic levels and produces zinfandel festivals and clubs across the world. No other grape variety has its groupies like zinfandel. On the other hand, there are wine drinkers who simply avoid zinfandel at all costs. Zinfandel has split the wine world in two for more than 50 years. Zinfandel is arguably the "largest" red grape on the planet, producing huge alcohol levels and tastes that can be described as blackberry jam layered on dark toast. Zinfandel polarizes simply because it is what it is, spicy, rich, palate gripping and alcoholic with twists and turns in ribbons of extended aftertastes. Its detractors call the grape "one dimensional" and too huge to use effectively with any cuisine except barely cooked beef. Those who look for subtlety and nuance with allusive complexities in their wines find zinfandels as heavyweights with one punch: the massive knockout. The biggest complaint that one hears again and again is the heart throbbing high alcohol levels seen in almost all zinfandels. It is not uncommon for the average zinfandel to hit above the 13.5 percent level and rising. The truth of the matter is that if wine were chocolate, zinfandel would be fudge. For my money, Amador County, Calif., is the place to look for the classic zinfandels. This hilly, road twisting zinfandel country is in the heart of the gold mining country about 35 miles east of Sacramento off of Highway 16. The center of the action is around the town of Plymouth. There are many nice tasting rooms in the vicinity of Plymouth as well as wineries tucked in the foothills. Visit the little curve in the road called Sutter Creek, which is a Jacksonville-type village complete with Victorian homes, bed and breakfasts, small shops and long time eateries filled with locals. If you stay at the charming Historic Inn, you will be central to all of the winery action as well as a classic small town diner next door. If you are buying zinfandel, look for Amador County on the label and try to find a zin less than 14.5 percent alcohol. Serve with grilled meats, rich pastas or any rich type of fare. I like airing out these powerhouses for half an hour before serving. This helps bring up the complexities of the wine which would otherwise lay dormant in the brooding darkness of the wine. There was a famous zinfandel club I visited some years ago named "The Purple Tooth Club." This about says it all. Lorn Razzano is a commercial wine and spirits judge and is a co-founder of KSOR wine tasting. He was on winery staffs of various Italian and French wineries in the 1970s and has owned Ashland Wine Cellar since 1980. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams