Zinfandel / Primitivo
/ˈzɪn.fənˌdɛl/; /ˌpriː.miˈtiː.vo/
grape-variety, red-wine, synonyms, ampelography, california, puglia, high-alcohol, rosé, old-vines, dna-profiling, new-world, old-world•Last updated January 15, 2026
Zinfandel / Primitivo is a dark-skinned Vitis vinifera grape variety, known under different regional names but genetically identical, with its origin traced to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski (Tribidrag). In practice, “Zinfandel” usually refers to California wines ranging from fruity reds to powerful, high-alcohol styles and off-dry rosé (White Zinfandel), while “Primitivo” typically denotes robust, ripe, full-bodied reds from Puglia in southern Italy.
Examples
- A California winery releases an "Old Vine Zinfandel" from Sonoma, highlighting jammy blackberry fruit, black pepper spice, and 15% ABV on the back label.
- An Italian producer bottles a "Primitivo di Manduria DOC" with 14.5% ABV, rich flavors of black plum, fig, and sweet spice, marketed as a powerful southern Italian red.
- A wine educator tells a class that the Primitivo they are tasting from Puglia is genetically the same grape as California Zinfandel, even though the style and labeling differ by region.