San Francisco’s ZAP Tasting a Big, Brash Blast for Zin Lovers

Big, raucous, fun. Not only are these appropriate adjectives for the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) Grand Tasting I attended in San Francisco on January 28, they also aptly describe the red varietal that was poured at the event in copious quantities.

ZAP touts its festival as the largest single varietal tasting in the world; and Executive Director Rebecca Robinson notes that it’s “sometimes recognized as the Super Bowl of wine tastings.”

So how big is big? Try about 250 California wineries pouring anywhere from two to four zins each. That’s an amazing 500 to 1,000 different zinfandels under one roof…and all available for tasting. No wonder it took me an extra day to recuperate from my “zin binge” and purple-stained teeth that festival attendees seemed to wear like a badge of honor.

Keeping in mind that I was unable to put even a small dent in the total number of wines, and – as any wine drinker can attest – that wines sampled towards the end of the three-hour event seemed to taste better, here are my festival favorites:

Best budget-priced wine – Old Moon 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel (about $6). This product of Trader Joe’s offers one heck of a zin for the money with its blueberry and blackberry aromas and flavors, a hint of licorice on the finish, and ample tannins.

Best mid-range priced wine – Klinker Brick Winery 2009 Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (about $18). Inky, black cherry flavors, plenty of spice and a vanilla-like finish make this big, bold zin a pleasure to drink. I’ve purchased it locally at the Barkley Village Haggen.

Best splurge wine – Soulmates Wines 2008 California Zinfandel (about $48) – This inaugural effort from the Stockton winery is an absolute grand slam. Beautiful flavors of rum raisin, lush blackberry and cherry and an ultra-long finish with smoky nuances and hints of pepper and cocoa highlight this elegant zin. Honorable mention – Rosenblum Cellars 2009 Maggie’s Reserve (about $45).

Most unusual wine – Unruly Wine Cellars 2010 California Zinfandel (about $12). This zin tasted a bit like black-strap molasses and brown sugar without the sweetness. As odd as it sounds the wine seemed to work, with a price that easily makes it worth a try.

Other notable wineries included Easton Wines, Fritz Winery, J Dusi Wines, Lava Cap Winery, Seghesio Family Vineyards, and XYZin.

A final note: many of the wines poured, particularly from smaller boutique wineries, are not distributed in Washington. Fortunately, a visit to the winery web site with an online order is all it takes to have them delivered to your door.