I can say in all truthfulness that White Zinfandel is the only alcoholic drink that I enjoy. Known colloquially as white zin, it is a pink-colored blush wine which is extremely popular with young and old alike. It is inexpensive and does not require aging. White zin has a taste similar to fruit punch and is low in alcohol content which allows recreational drinkers to enjoy an evening without the fear of becoming inebriated.
You may find that sophisticated wine drinkers may laugh at your taste for white zinfandel. Ignore them. It is exactly that – a matter of taste. I tend to prefer a sweeter wine, rather than a dry and bitter product. You need not apologize when ordering white zinfandel.
Sutter Home Winery is one of the biggest producers of white zinfandel and with good reason. Originally a producer of Red Zinfandel Wine, a happy accident with a problem juice produced a sweet pink wine which Sutter named White Zinfandel and began to market it in large volume, outselling their Red Zinfandel six to one. It is no doubt the most popular white zinfandel wine on the market, having originated at Sutter Home.
In order to manufacture a white zinfandel, the red skins must be peeled away from the red zinfandel grape resulting in a wine which is light in color and sweet in flavor. Blush wines are all produced in this manner.
White zin tastes best at or near room temperature rather than over ice or in a chilled glass. The word for this style of service is “neat” which means poured straight from the bottle.
I have found that white zinfandel made by Berenger Vineyards is not as sweet as the Sutter Home variety and may therefore appeal to a different customer base. However, the slightly bitter taste of Berenger holds no allure for me.
The only brand I have found that can compete with Sutter Home for its white zinfandel is Woodbridge Wineries of California. It is difficult to obtain; I found it just once at an Outback Restaurant in western New York. It appears that interstate regulations control shipments to some states. I believe that if it became more easily available, it would soon become my all-time favorite. In the meantime, I will put my money on Sutter Home for its distinctive flavor.
You will find that a 1.5 liter bottle of Sutter Home White Zinfandel will cost around ten dollars. My personal preference is the four-pack of 187 ML bottles which holds about 6 ounces in each bottle and costs about nine dollars. It is the perfect size for drinking alone or for serving a guest.
