Ask for a Zinfandel in most places in the US, and you’ll get a glass of White Zin. In my experiences, explaining that “White Zin” is NOT Zinfandel is pointless and futile, and usually just results in a confused look from the waitstaff. In fact, Sutter Home calls this one a California Zinfandel, attempting to circumvent these awkward encounters.
This common misconception is the primary reason I do not order it while dining out. Once in a while, I do crave a Zinfandel though, so I keep a cheap bottle of it at home on the wine rack.
Pro tip: Sutter Home is synonymous with “Cheap Wine” with most people, so don’t bring it on a date or to a dinner party unless your company has abandoned all the snobbish stereotypes of cheap wines that are commonly seen. You will get laughed at otherwise. If you still choose to socialize with these people, challenge them to a blind taste test. Nobody will be able to gauge price unless they taste wine for a living. In fact, most people I hang out with wouldn’t be able to pick out the varietal. I also have troubles with this, unless I’ve had the wine before. If you aren’t looking for a fight though, I suggest just bringing a wine from our Wine between $10-15 category and saving the Sutter Home for a dark room when you’re home alone.
Sutter Home does, however, seem to hold a level of respect in restaurants around here as far as cheap wines are concerned. Most restaurants that you wouldn’t expect to see people drinking wine at will have Sutter Home on the menu, and Sutter Home does have a few good, cheap wines to offer. The Zinfandel I’m sipping today is one of them.
From Napa, this cheap wine is a touch sweeter than I usually enjoy. I drank mine slightly chilled, and it wasn’t bad, just nothing great. Pepper and spice hits my nose initially. Sweet berry taste on the tongue. If you enjoy very “bright” tasting berries, give it a try, otherwise, hold off for the next Zinfandel Review.
Rating: 6.5
Price: $4.99
Winery Info:
Sutter Home Family Vineyards
Napa, California
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