zinfandel

noun

zin·​fan·​del ˈzin-fən-ˌdel 

variants often Zinfandel

: 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

According to the latest California Grape Crush Report, zinfandel and other grapes in the Lodi wine region are on the decline. —Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

There are limitless places to taste varietals from Healdsburg, which include pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and zinfandel. —Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026

While the industry here is best known for producing bulk grapes for conglomerates such as Gallo, there are high-quality zinfandel vines that are more than 100 years old, and vintners are experimenting with many other varieties. —Justin Goldman, AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025

It’s best known for its zinfandels, and specifically, its old vine zins (many upward of 100 years old) but is also a major producer of cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot and petite sirah. —Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing zinfandel

• white zinfandel

Rhymes for zinfandel

• bagatelle
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle
• infidel
• isabel