zinfandel

noun

zin·​fan·​del ˈzin-fən-ˌdel 

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

Their success with these grapes and a handful of others, like merlot, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and zinfandel, led to hordes of imitators who planted the same set of grapes. —Eric Asimov, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025

Five miles northeast of Somerset, Miraflores Winery’s Primitivo grapes are cloned from the same vines as its zinfandel, but grown and processed separately to bring out their minute differences. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 6 Feb. 2025

For dark-chocolate lovers Bedrock Wine Company Old Vine Zinfandel 2022 This zinfandel balances the bitterness of dark chocolate, which may be on the menu come Valentine’s Day. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025

The family has also planted some new zinfandel vines which have yet to be ready for harvest. —Andrew Watman, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024

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