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see Zinfandel Advocates and Producers

see Bombino Bianco

Although there are a number of German towns and villages named Zell, the best known in wine circles is the village on the Mosel River in Germany’s Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region. It’s this village that’s the genesis of Zeller Schwarze Katz, the wine with the familiar black cat (Schwarze Katz) on the label. In 1971, Zeller Schwarze Katz became the name of the Grosslage covering vineyards around Zell, and only wines from this Grosslage can use the name. Most wines using the Zeller Schwarze Katz … (view more)

see Zell

see Zell

A top wine-producing village in Germany’s mosel-sarr-ruwer region. It’s located in the same area as other esteemed villages of the Mosel—Bernkastel, Graach, and Wehlen. The vineyards of Zeltingen-Rachtig (its full name) exist on both sides of the Mosel River. Top einzellagen include Deutschherrenberg, Himmerlreich, Schlossberg, and Sonnenuhr (which lies adjacent to the Sonnenuhr vineyard of Wehlen). Zeltingener Riesling wines are known to be full-bodied (see body) yet elegant.

A German term meaning “central cellar,” referring to a very large cooperative cellar that gets its wine or must from smaller cooperative cellars (see Winzergenossenschaft). A large Zentralkellerei may have as many as 4,000 to 5,000 members and produce their own brand names of wine.

see Muscat

Grape that is considered California’s red-wine grape because it’s not widely grown in other parts of the world. Zinfandel vines were brought to California in the 1850s. By the 1880s, this variety was rapidly gaining acceptance by California growers, and it is now that state’s second most extensively planted red grape behind Cabernet Sauvignon. For years Zinfandel’s origins were very mysterious. Initially, research confirmed a relationship between Zinfandel and Primitivo (a variety grown … (view more)

A nonprofit, educational organization formed in 1991 to promote wines made from Zinfandel. It was established in the United States but now also includes international members. Today there are about 310 producer members and some 6,500 advocates that attend various organization-sponsored events. ZAP also supports a study at the University of California, Davis to document Zinfandel’s DNA, as well as a Heritage vineyard at the University’s research vineyards in Oakville in the Napa Valley. The Heritage vineyard is a collection of Zinfandel vine cuttings from all over California.