Yes.  Remember there are not "real" wineries where I live, we can't grow "real" grape varieties here, especially reds.  Zinfandel is the box and $3/bottle stuff here.  Can't say I've ever seen a quality zinfandel or possibly the name caused instant association with homeless man's swill and I looked past it before I realized it was good stuff.

World of difference between that stuff and some decent old vine red Zinfandel.  Unfortunately the former has rather tarnished the image of a wine which can, on occasion, be superb.

Try and find someone who sells good Italian reds, and ask them for a Barolo.  If you enjoy that try an Amarone.  You will not be disappointed.

 

Spaniel.  Zinfandel is a noble fruit that makes complex, intense, thick and lovely wines. They can get quite expensive too.

 

 

White Zin is a rose wine often mixed bastardized with loads of sugar and / or fruit juice and sold cheaply. 

 

White Zin ≠ Zinfandel.  At. All.  STOP calling white zin Zinfandel or I will ban your ass from the swamp. ()

I should chap your ass for using an emoticon, but given the current swamp fever I cannot blame you for covering yourself!

Grew up not knowing any beer existed bu Busch Lite and Bud Light....went to college having no exposure to wine other than copious amounts of Boone's Farm during Winter Carnival but finally accessed good beer....got cultured in grad school on wine but quickly went to making my own as I was still too poor to be buying much of the stuff.  Dinners for work with customers have gone a long way, that's how I learned about Pinot.  Nobody has picked a Zinfandel yet so this is the first I've had the opportunity to pick that up.

C-R, we get out to that area on rare occasion but it's 45-50min from me.  I'll try it next time we need to go to Keystone for something.  We've got an "ok" liquor store here but in typical Indiana fashion it's overpriced.

I can't even remember the last time I had wine.  My wife doesn't drink it so unless we have company it's not in the house.

I think I had Boones Farm in high school but I'm pretty sure that doesn't count.

It's really cold out and I'm tired....

 ...oh, wrong kind of whine...

Steve, who really is effin tired of this effin cold weather! And yes, I'm tired!

And I have to agree, Napa isn't pinot territory, it's mostly cab sav. I like cab sav a lot, so I likewise liked Napa. BV has some great cabs, as well as Franciscan. And a few of the Mondavi's are good.

And isn't the Willamette Valley becoming the pinot paradise?