Ross Halleck and Harris Miner are back at the estate in Sebastopol for a sweet and dry White Zinfandel wine tasting, and discussing about their differences, similarities, and pairing possibilities.
On one side of the table, we have the wine that has come to be synonymous with White Zinfandel over the years, Sutter Home White Zinfandel.
On the other, we’ve got a new wine by Halleck Vineyard crafted with old school traditions that we call “Not Your Mother’s White Zinfandel.” But before we talk about the sweet and dry White Zinfandel wine tasting, some backstory on the evolution of White Zinfandel in New World viticulture.
Is White Zinfandel sweet? Yes, White Zinfandel is a sweeter style wine. It’s also sweeter than other rosé wines but still greatly refreshing and deliciously fruity like Pink Moscatos.
History of New World White Zinfandel
Although Sutter Home White Zinfandel is widely credited with being the first New World winery to produce White Zinfandel, the honor actually goes to El Pinal Winery in Lodi, which began producing rosé Zinfandel in 1869. Rosé Zinfandel evolved as the result of a process known as “bleeding off,” which was used in the production of red Zinfandel wine. Excess grape juice was drained to elevate the concentration of tannins, and the leftover juice was fermented to make a dry rosé.
The result was well-regarded, and other wineries soon followed suit. California vintners continued producing dry rosé Zinfandel for decades. Sutter Home started producing off-dry rosé Zinfandel in 1948 and called it White Zinfandel for marketing purposes. In 1975, an overnight — and accidental — sensation was born. Sutter Home White Zinfandel is the result of what’s known in the wine world as stuck fermentation — which simply means that the yeast prematurely stopped converting sugars into alcohol.
Vintner decided to bottle it anyway the sweet stuff anyway, and it became an overnight sensation, and people who’d never drank much wine before were buying it by the case. In 1994, Wine Spectator awarded Sutter Hom with its Distinguished Service Award for introducing more consumers to the pleasure of the grape than any other wine in history. It’s even displayed in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. White Zinfandel’s story is still evolving, however. Russian River Valley Dry White Zinfandel from Halleck Vineyard takes it back to its roots in the New World and gives it a 21st-century twist.
Sutter Home Sweet White Zinfandel Wine Tasting Notes
We liked the way this wine’s light, almost amber color mimicked the onion-skin hues traditionally associated with French winemaking tradition.
However, that’s where the similarity ended — the nose was pure marshmallow, followed by notes of sugared peaches, strawberry cream, and ripe melon. It’s a happy, sweet, uncomplicated wine. Although Sutter Home White Zinfandel doesn’t have the structure necessary for successful main course pairings, we can see it with a summer fruit course, light salads, and mild cheese.
We think that where it really shines is as a warm-season cocktail wine served cold with a side of sunlight.
- Brand: Sutter Home
- Country/State: California
- Vintage: Non-vintage
- Appellation: California
- Varietal: White Zinfandel
- Body: Light Bodied
- Style: Sweet
- Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 9.5%
- Retail Price: $5
- Restaurant Price: $15
- Food Pairings: Fruit course, mild cheese, summer salads
- BUY Sutter Home White Zinfandel
White Zinfandel Wine explained.
FAQ
Is rosé sweeter than White Zinfandel?
Is Zinfandel wine dry or sweet?
Is White Zinfandel better than Moscato?
Why is White Zinfandel so cheap?
Is White Zinfandel sweet?
In fact, White Zinfandel is not all that sweet on its own. When left to its own devices, White Zinfandel wine is quite dry, like many other rosé wines. Winemakers have simply chosen to make White Zinfandel sweet over the years. So why do other rosés have such a positive reputation, and White Zinfandel such a negative one?
How do you know if a White Zinfandel is sweet?
If you are looking for a White Zinfandel that is sweet, search for one with low acidity levels. Any acidity in the wine will start to counterbalance the sweetness and make it appear drier. Your sense of smell also greatly affects your perception of a wine’s sweetness. However, if a wine smells sweeter it does not necessarily taste sweeter.
Is White Zinfandel a good dessert wine?
When compared to an “official dessert wine,” White Zinfandel has not been fortified, is less sweet, less strong, and easier to consume. White Zinfandel wines also pair much better with savory, spicy, acidic, and creamy food.
What color is White Zinfandel wine?
White Zinfandel wine is known for its tinted pink color. Unlike the classic Zinfandel, this white variety sports a clear color, much like a rose. Although it uses the same wine grapes that produce the red Zinfandel blend, the lesser amount of yeast and juice makes the color lighter and more transparent.