White Zin

[karelou74]

It seems to me that White Zinfandels are almost universally poo-pooed by wine lovers. Why is that?

Also, is White Zinfandel a type of rose? It seems to fit the definitions that I have found, but then again no one really includes it in that category.

Curious...

[White Wine Lover]

I've wondered the same thing about White Merlot. It's certainly not white! And Merlot is red. So is White Merlot a rose? Or what?

[wineguruchgo]

It is my opinion, and many others may differ, that many of the producers of White Zinfandel and White Merlot are just producing too many grapes and are trying to figure out what to do with them.

These are American wines. If you have ever tried a true French Rose you will notice right away that it is dry, not sweet.

These wines are made from both the Red Zinfandel and Red Merlot grape. Their color stems from a limited amount of time spent with skin contact.

While for a while, when I was selling wine, White Zinfandel paid my mortgage. Personally I will not drink it because, to me, it doesn't have the complexity that I'm looking for. Take Iced Tea for example. When compared to water it has flavor and texture and tannin. Then add an orange to it and you are adding another layer. Then add a lemon to it and you are adding yet another layer. This is what I'm looking for in a wine.

I find myself fortunate that the first wines I fell in love with and drank on a regular basis was the Germanic wines from the Finger Lakes in New York. I was young, poor and from New York.

If you are looking to widen your circles of choices try a white wine from Germany. A nice Riesling or Gewurtztraminer (Ga-vurts-tra-meener). I think you will like them.

If you are content with the White Zinfandel and White Merlots, there is nothing wrong with them. Drink them and we will toast to you. Whatever you are comfortable with.

You asked the question. That is my answer.