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California Wine Magazine PresentsZinfandel
   
Acid
Medium to Medium +
Body
Medium to Full
Tannin
Medium to High
Sweetness
Usually Dry
Alcohol
Medium to High
Food Style Pairing Characteristics
Mexican Style: Tacos, Burritos, Tortilla Soup Somewhat Spicy, Red salsa style with The fruitiness and apparent sweetness of the wine can soften the spice.
Beef Steaks Grilled or Barbequed The medium to full body pairs well with full fattier, bolder bodied meats. The charcoal flavors pairs with oak aging spices.
Lamb Grilled, with mint sauce The spicy sweetness of lamb matches the same in the wine. The mint is a bridge to the wine's herbaceous possibilites.
Hamburger Based Foods Baked, Grilled, Fried, Barbequed, etc. The medium to full body, pairs well with full fattier, bolder bodied meats and cooking methods
Fruit Sauces Primarily berry sauces. The fruit in the sauces will bring out the fruit in the wine.
Greek Foods Usually a bit salty, a bit acidic, and often with fruit and olives. The decent acidity and fruitiness of the wine works well with the same characters of Greek style food.
Sausages: Pork, Chicken, Turkey, Beef In a sauce or grilled, barbequed, etc. The spiciness of wine works well with the spice in the sausage.
Chocolate or fruit topped desserts The dessert should not be too sweet. . Pair with the Late Harvest or Port style Zin.
Fruit:Big condensed fruit, red and black cherries, raspberries, boysenberry, blackberry and raisins. Often berry like and spicy. Can be jammy if grapes were overripe. Non-Fruit: Black & white pepper, briar, brambly, cloves, anise, herbs, tea, cola and coffee. Oak aging gives it leather, vanilla and caramel. can have an earthy note to it.
Region(s): Contra Costa, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, San Luis Obispo & Sonoma Counties. Lodi, the Sierra Foothills, San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California.

Other Notes: Based on region and style Zin wines can have high acid and be lighter bodied or high alcohol and bigger body. There are also Late Harvest and Port versions. Because of the good acid, fruitiness and oak aging characteristics, Zinfandel is one of the easiest red wines to pair with food. See the full article at Zinfandel. .