zinfandel

noun

zin·​fan·​del ˈzin-fən-ˌdel How to pronounce zinfandel (audio)
often capitalized
: a dry red table wine made from a small black grape that is grown chiefly in California
also : the grape

Examples of zinfandel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Field Blend combines cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, petit verdot, zinfandel and merlot into a smooth, ripe, slightly sweet red, fine for casual sipping or to wash down burgers or takeout kebabs. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Argonaut The Claim, made by distiller Rita Hansen, is a blend of aged stocks that include barbera, grenache, zinfandel and a 25-year-aged Cabernet Sauvignon as the brandy’s backbone. Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Maybe their thoughts ran toward the tasting room featuring its old vine zinfandel. Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 Wine is the main attraction here: Sip your way through cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, merlot, and more at 200-plus wineries. Megan Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2024 Many were tasting past vintages of E&E zinfandel, for Ernst and Ernst. Eric Asimov, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023 The zinfandel gives it a decidedly juicy American accent. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2023 The pickers began to arrive at 7 a.m. at the home of Greg and Emily Ernst in Geyserville, Calif., to help harvest their half-acre zinfandel vineyard before the October day reached its 95-degree high. Eric Asimov, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023 Quintela and Cosma recommend grenache, tempranillo, primitivo, or zinfandel. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zinfandel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably modification of obsolete Hungarian tzinifándli, czirifandli, a white wine grape (misapplied to a grape variety of Dalmatian origin), from German Zierfandler

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zinfandel was in 1858

Dictionary Entries Near zinfandel

Cite this Entry

“Zinfandel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zinfandel. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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