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 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 Other varietals farmed in different regions took on different names even though the grapes are genetically identical, such as zinfandel and primitivo. Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023 There are limitless places to taste vinos from Healdsburg, which include pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and zinfandel. Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2023 Coto’s hobbies included model trains, full runs of Doc Savage and The Shadow and a backyard vineyard that yields 200 bottles of a zinfandel/petite sirah a year. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 July 2023 The owner and winemaker, Julie Johnson, will happily show you around the 35-acre estate that spans old vines, gardens, and olive groves and sit down for a tasting (the Burgundian-style zinfandel is particularly memorable) and seasonal lunch afterward. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2023 Best bets are fruity reds, such as a bright zinfandel or a juicy Australian shiraz. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2023 See More

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 30 Nov. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!