Baseball, Apple pie and Zinfandel. Thats right. Zin is America's Grape. Italy has its Sangiovese and Nebbiolo among it's other two million forty nine varietals, Spain has claim to Tempranillo or whatever cute nickname you'd like to call it. And well, the French of course hold all the Aces with Cab, Pinot, Syrah, Chard, Sauvignon Blanc and list goes on but thats enough acknowledgment for them. They don't need any more.
We have Zin. Its been in this country for almost 200 years and has a compelling history associated with the Gold Rush miners in the 1850s, Italian Immigrants in the early 1900s and home wine makers during prohibition. There are now over 50,000 acres dedicated to Zinfandel production.
American Zinfandel.
I believe its the perfect fit for the American mentality. Its Bold, sometimes brash. Excessive if not sometimes extreme. A little alcoholic-well, maybe i shouldn't go there. It can be powerful but sometimes clumsy. But in the end it wins you over with its roguish character and a melting pot of exotic flavors.
So February is Zin month here at Divino. Not because I'm feeling particularly patriotic this month, but Zin just feels right this time of year. Come July I'll probably say the same thing once the grills start lighting up. But now is a good time to come on in and explore all the Zins and Zin blends we're featuring.
Here's a great website with all the Zin info you'll ever need.
ZAP
Wine of the Month
KLINKER BRICK
Old Vine Zinfandel
Lodi, CA
$14
regularly $17
LODI, BABY! Doesn't have the beauty and charm of Sonoma, or the highrollers of Napa. You won't see billion dollar Disney lookin Estates or limos filled with half drunk weekend "wine tasters". But what Lodi does have are the oldest and gnarliest vines in the U.S. and some of the most potent Zin on the market. Steve Felton and wife Lori, the folks behind Klinker Brick Winery, are 5th Generation Lodi grape growers. They're surrounded by Zin vines 50 to 112 years old and continue milking these artifacts for the nectar that goes into their two bottlings, Klinker Brick Old Vine and Old Ghost. We chose the Klinker for wine of the month not only for its incredibly bold and powerful flavors but this winery represents the heritage of viticulture in the states.
For some more info on Klinker, check out their website.
KLINKER
Here's a map to give you an idea where Klinker Brick is coming from.
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Klinker Brick Recipes
- Roasted Rack of Lamb with Icicle Radishes
- Phyllo-wrapped figs with prosciutto and stilton
- Cocoa and spice slow-roasted pork with onions
- Zinfandel Braised Beef Short Ribs
- Barbecue chicken pizza
Beer of the Month
DIXIE BREWING
Lager
New Orleans, Louisiana
$6.99 a sixer
Usually $7.99
Dixie Beer! Nothing goes better
with a po-boy, Muffaletta, boiled crawfish, the list goes on and on!
A lot of beer snobs talk trash about Dixie.
But Dixie is THE beer when in New Orleans, or when you're cooking up some New Orleans Cuisine. Crisp and refreshing. Nostalgia for Mardi Gras past. Dixie has been brewed in New Orleans since 1907.
go here for more the brewery info
DIXIE
10 Under $10 Rack
For February
Zin, Zin Blends, Primitivo(Italian Zin), Primitivo Blends
