Best Zinfandels Under $25

Not Just a Blending Wine

Zinfandels sure have come a long way, haven’t they? The Zinfandel varietal has made its way up through the wine ranks to gain a spot among the other great wines, but it was a long road. For more history and background of Zinfandel, check the Zinfandel article here on LovetoKnow.com

Main Styles

There are two camps with Zinfandels right now, and I’ll simplify it by saying they are 1) higher alcohol, riper flavored, darker and slightly sweeter producers and then 2) lower alcohol, higher acid, and lighter/medium bodied producers. I am a fan of both in different occasions/settings, so I’ll include some of both in my recommendations for great Zins under $25.

Characteristics

So when we talk about Zinfandel characteristics, what jumps to mind is the intense fruit/jam characters that the wine has. Zins are notorious for having that wonderful red raspberry and blackberry aromas, almost like you’ve picked them off the bush fresh which gives that brambly character. Another characteristic of Zin is the spicey pepper and subtle vanilla aromas that are really apparent on the nose and in the finish of the wine.

Some Zinfandels to look for under $25:

• Rosenblum Cellars out of Alameda, California, produces a gamut of fantastic Zinfandels. Frequently high scored in mainstream wine publications, Rosenblum produces many different Zins at different price points. Try their appellation series wines based out of different California appellations…they have many, but one of my favorites is the San Francisco Bay ($18). This wine has nice fruit character with zesty jam and dark berry zing.

• Michael David Vineyards in Lodi, California, makes one of my favorite Zin finds this last year: 7 Deadly Zins. The bottle itself is a good read with its humorous references to the 7 deadly sins (do you know them, hmm?) but what’s inside the bottle is nothing to laugh at. This wine is a blend of grapes from old vines in seven Lodi, CA vineyards, and the flavor is what you might expect from old vines—concentrated, rich, and that dark jam/brambly character. For $17 retail, 7 Deadly Zins flies off the shelf at my favorite wine store, and from what I’ve seen and heard from others, this is the norm.

• Seghesio Family Vineyards. This family has a rich history with Zinfandel grapes in Sonoma County, California, and the heritage is still strong today with Ted and his cousin Peter Seghesio at the helm of the winery. This family planted Zin over a hundred years ago in the county and sold it to bulk producers via railroad car for decades. It was not until the mid 1980s that the newer generation began to rethink this practice and decided to use these phenomenal vineyard sites with century-old vines for themselves, and boy have they! Although this winery produces many wines over $35, there is one cheaper wine—the Sonoma Zinfandel. The Sonoma Zin is a collage of Northern Sonoma’s vineyard landscape. While primarily estate grown, they purchase additional fruit from trusted growers to meet the demand for Zinfandel drinkers. This wine is not showy, but has nice balance of red raspberry with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla with a higher acidity to top it off, which makes this a great food wine.

• Renwood Winery. These guys boast some of the oldest Zin vineyards in California. Located in Amador, Renwood produces some of the most concentrated and lush Zins I’ve ever tasted. Cracked pepper and blackberry syrup coats the glass as you swirl these wines in your glass and give them a big whiff. While the Grand Pere and Grand Mere (French for grandfather and grandmother) are the high-end offerings (and quite good), the Old Vine is a great value at $19. Located at about 1,400 feet, the high elevation and cool evenings make for a great growing region for Zin.

• Ridge Vineyards. To finish our list of Zinfandel favorites under $25, it’s hard not to mention Ridge Vineyards out of Santa Cruz Mountains, California. This winery was one of the pioneers in putting Zinfandel on the map in California. Winemaker Paul Draper has been there since the inception of the winery in 1967 as head winemaker, and he still is today. Needless to say that makes for a very consistent style of winemaking. His Zinfandels come from different areas around California, but a good one for $24 is the Buchignani from Alexander Valley in California. What I personally like about Ridge is that they hide nothing from you as far as winemaking techniques are concerned. On the label they tell you exactly what percentage of grapes went into the bottle, how it was made, how long it was in barrel or tank, etc. You really know what you’re getting, which is a bonus. This wine displays ripe boysenberry/dark cherry flavors, but the alcohol is not out of balance. While good now, a couple of years in the bottle will give it another layer of complexity.

Explore Your Own!

While by no means is this list the end-all be-all of Zins under $25, it is a great starting place to explore these mid-priced gems. As always, ask your favorite wine shops for recommendations based on your price point you’re looking for; they can always help you. Have fun discovering your favorite Zins!

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