Saw a bottle yesterday at an Italian trade tasting that prominently
displayed "ZINFANDEL" on the label of an IGT wine.

Thinking it to be a marketing gimmick to target the US, I inquired of
the producers. They said "no", the stuff sells in Italy just fine.

Furthermore, they claimed that Primitivo and Zinfandel are the same
grape--you can't tell them apart visually and DNA testing indicates
they are one and the same. In effect, Zinfandel was just Primitivo
which had come from the Checkoslovaquia area.

I had read somewhere along the way that Zinfandel could be traced to
Eastern Europe, but never heard before that it was in fact primitivo.

Any info on the subject?

--
=================================================
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Visit the MIAMI WINE TASTERS group at
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Leo Bueno wrote:

> I had read somewhere along the way that Zinfandel could be traced to
> Eastern Europe, but never heard before that it was in fact primitivo.
>
> Any info on the subject?

Yes: http://tinyurl.com/dmjan

Thanks.

Yes, it look fairly clear-cut now. See
http://www.ajevonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/3/266

I saw a reference somewhere that the TTB is considering allowing
Italian Primitivo producers to use Zinfandel on their labels. Problem
is that US Zinfandel producers apparently feel threatened by the
competition.

How is that battle turning out?

If I had to put my money on it, I would bet for the US Zinfandel
producers. In bureaucratic political battles, bul$hit generally beats
truth.


On Fri, 10 Feb 2006 10:15:49 -0500, Mark Lipton >
wrote:

>Leo Bueno wrote:
>
>> I had read somewhere along the way that Zinfandel could be traced to
>> Eastern Europe, but never heard before that it was in fact primitivo.
>>
>> Any info on the subject?
>
>Yes: http://tinyurl.com/dmjan

--
=================================================
Do you like wine? Do you live in South Florida?
Visit the MIAMI WINE TASTERS group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/miamiWINE
=================================================

Leo wrote on Sat, 11 Feb 2006 16:09:32 GMT:

LB> Yes, it look fairly clear-cut now. See
LB> http://www.ajevonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/3/266

LB> I saw a reference somewhere that the TTB is considering
LB> allowing Italian Primitivo producers to use Zinfandel on
LB> their labels. Problem is that US Zinfandel producers
LB> apparently feel threatened by the competition.

LB> How is that battle turning out?

The evidence that Zinfandel and Primitivo are the same variety
seems very conclusive. I don't think even European vintners have
tried to patent names like Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir tho'
I can see the logic of registering territorial (forgive me if
there is a more popular word among wine enthusiasts) names like
Champagne.

James Silverton.

This was on our FAQ page

http://web.archive.org/web/200202012...faq/faq003.htm


"Mark Lipton" > wrote in message
...
> Leo Bueno wrote:
>
> > I had read somewhere along the way that Zinfandel could be traced to
> > Eastern Europe, but never heard before that it was in fact primitivo.
> >
> > Any info on the subject?
>
> Yes: http://tinyurl.com/dmjan

Leo Bueno wrote:

> Saw a bottle yesterday at an Italian trade tasting that
> prominently
> displayed "ZINFANDEL" on the label of an IGT wine.
> Thinking it to be a marketing gimmick to target the US, I
> inquired of
> the producers. They said "no", the stuff sells in Italy just
> fine.

I guess that was a bottle from Leone de Castris.
--
Vilco
Think Pink , Drink Rose'