Shiraz vs. Zinfandel

[bancsu]

I'll be taking a bottle of wine to a friend's dinner party later tonight. I don't know much about Shiraz and Zinfandel wines. What is the main difference and which would you recommend?

Please help!

[Innkeeper]

Hi Bancsu, and welcome to the Wine Board. Since we don't know what will be served, it makes it difficult to give a straight answer. The two grapes have some similarities. They both have a certain spicyness. They both are usually fully bodied, even chewy reds. Zinfandel has slightly higher acidity, so if tomatoes are involved, that would be my choice. Otherwise, just ask your retailer what the best quality/price value in either wine he would recommend.

[wondersofwine]

If you haven't yet purchased the wine, Carolina Wine Company on Hillsborough (near the Cary border past the state fairgrounds) has a good selection of shiraz in all price ranges (Paringa is a good inexpensive one, the Marquis Philips line are medium-priced to expensive but very good, Cimicky is another they have been featuring). Their selection of zinfandels is more limited but I think I would favor a shiraz for a dinner wine if not familiar with the particular zinfandels (some are rather harsh or tannic when young). If you are making a grocery store purchase you could go for a Rosemount Diamond Label or Jacobs Creek shiraz from Australia or Rancho Zabaco Sonoma Heritage or Gallo of Sonoma Zinfandel.

[winoweenie]

BERRY good advice WOW. WW