What Kind of Wine Is Beringer White Zinfandel?
Beringer White Zinfandel is an off-dry rosé wine with pronounced strawberry notes from St. Helena, California. The wine highlights fresh red berry, citrus, and melon aromas and flavors and rounds them nicely with hints of clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon spice. An enjoyable sipper on its own, Beringer White Zinfandel is incredibly tasty with a variety of dishes. White Zinfandel wine was created back in 1972 when winemakers attempted to find a way to take advantage of underused Zinfandel vines. But instead, they came up with this wine style. Over the decades, this blush beverage increased in popularity, becoming America’s favorite wine.
White Zinfandel is an offshoot of Zinfandel, which was thought to have originated from Italy’s Primitivo. However, recent DNA research and testing have traced its roots back further to Croatian vineyards. Generally considered easy-sippers that do not cost a fortune to purchase, White Zinfandel wines are of medium quality. Some wineries are trying to redefine the wine by producing exclusively dry Rosé with luscious flavors. These, depending on the vintage, may command a high price and are perfect for a different, bolder wine-drinking experience.
Beringer California Collection White Zinfandel
- Winery — Beringer
- Country/Region — United States, California, Napa Valley County, St. Helena
- Type — Californian White Zinfandel
- Aroma — Violet, Rose Petals, Apple, Pear, Strawberry, Raspberry, Mango, Rhubarb, Mint, Licorice
- Grapes — Zinfandel
- Taste — Pineapple, Lychee, Watermelon, Peach, Apricot, Lemon, Grapefruit, Bubblegum, Cocoa, Cinnamon Spice
- Alcohol Content — 9%
- Sugar — Off-Dry
- Pairing — Chicken, Pork, Seafood, Crab Cakes, Pasta, Cheesecake, Seasonal Fruits
Light and fruity, with an intense strawberry nose and a palate of tropical and stone fruit flavors, Beringer White Zinfandel is super fun and tasty. It’s a seriously great wine to share with friends and family on a hot summer day and makes a solid wedding wine, too. Very smooth and unbelievably easy to drink. Enjoy this fruity goodness in a glass!
Tasting Notes
Beringer White Zinfandel wine has a bright and fresh-tasting profile. Mellow aromas of strawberry and candy surface on the nose, mingling with violet and rose petal fragrances for a sweet-smelling bouquet. On the palate, notes of lychee and citrus commence a fruity dance packed with energy and flavor. Meanwhile, the wine’s texture is creamy with defining nutty and spice elements. On top of that, Beringer White Zinfandel is very refreshing, with a subtle but persistent effervescence. The finish is straightforward and clean, with a bitter-sweet aftertaste of cocoa and mango.
Appearance
The Beringer White Zinfandel appearance is undoubtedly beautiful. As soon as you pour the wine into the glass, a pale ruby-red color appears. That’s really a captivating spectacle! Then, a light orange-pink reflection develops from the translucent core to the rim, indicative of the wine’s vivid and playful character. There are no legs here. Instead, there’s a sheeting action near the glass rim that dissipates quickly. After the wine is consumed, though, there’s a layer of sugar residue on the bottom of the glass.
Aroma
Beringer White Zinfandel’s nose is charming with pronounced fruitiness. The classic White Zinfandel scents of strawberry and raspberry are here, as well as fragrances of violet and rose petals. On top of this, aromas of mango and rhubarb unfold as you swirl the glass, blending with subtle, fainted mint and licorice notes. Apple and pear perfumes complete the aromatic bouquet.
Taste
In the mouth, Beringer White Zinfandel gets tropical, with pineapple and lychee flavors dominating. Some banana notes are discernible, too, but they play a secondary role. Also, stone fruit and Jolly Rancher notes are present on the palate. At the same time, tastes of lemon and grapefruit counterbalance the off-dryness. But what distinguishes Beringer White Zinfandel is stimulating acidity. In this way, the wine remains very refreshing.
Finish
The conclusion to the flavor profile is straightforward and bitter-sweet. A flood of nutty and baking spice flavors lingers on the tip of the tongue, creating a dynamic sensation to the back palate. In addition, the Beringer White Zinfandel finish shows notes of cocoa and mango and a creamy texture. Therefore, this Zin has a gratifying finish.
Rating
Beringer White Zinfandel is an exceptional warm-weather sipper. Light, crispy, and stimulating. The fact that it’s off-dry should not be off-putting because that’s part of its charm and freshness. Fruit-forward and creamy, Beringer White Zinfandel tastes like summer. You definitely have to serve it chilled, however, to enjoy it to the fullest. In total, this is a fabulous lightweight and invigorating Zin. Perfect for a cookout on the grill or poolside.
Beringer White Zinfandel Food Pairing
Pair Beringer White Zinfandel with chicken or pork. As a general rule, strive to pair with white meats and not red meat, such as venison. As a sweet wine, this Zin is best paired with light flavors that are not overpowering. Chicken thighs in white wine sauce are a sample food option. Other possible white meat choices include grilled chicken with dried herbs, pork chops, or chicken sandwiches. What’s more, Beringer White Zinfandel is fantastic with seafood. Think of lobster, crab cakes, and clam chowder.
On top of that, tomato-based pasta dishes accompany Beringer White Zinfandel divinely because of the acid content of the tomatoes. Remember that acid foods clash with the acids present in red wines with high tannins. Consequently, acidic foods are best served together with low-acid wines, such as this Zin. Fettuccine mushroom with milky Parmesan cheese goes well with this wine, too. As a final note, Beringer White Zinfandel is very tasty when enjoyed with cream-based or fruit desserts. In fact, the wine’s strawberry and crisp flavors make it the ideal companion to cheesecakes, crème brûlée, fresh seasonal fruits, cookies, or lemon cakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Beringer White Zinfandel?
Beringer White Zinfandel is a product of Beringer Vineyards, located in Napa Valley, California. Founded in 1876 by Frederick Beringer, Beringer Vineyards have established the Beringer Founders’ Estate line of wines, offering concentrated expressions of popular varietals. Chief winemaker at Beringer Vineyards is Mark Beringer, great-great-grandson of the founder’s brother, Jacob Beringer. Mark knew from a young age that he had to step right in the footsteps of the family’s wine-making heritage.
He started working at the family’s wine store in St. Helena, expanding his knowledge of wine, before becoming involved with wine-growing and wine-making. In 1992, he joined Duckhorn, where he worked his way up to become Vice President of Wine-making. In 2009, he joined Artesa as Vice President and Winemaker. And in 2015, Mark was appointed Chief Winemaker at Beringer Vineyards, his home winery, replacing acclaimed Winemaker Emeritus Laurie Hook.
How Is Beringer White Zinfandel Made?
As an off-dry rosé wine made from the red-skinned Zinfandel grape, the White Zinfandel wine begins its journey to the glass with the standard vinification process. Unlike the fruit used in the typical red Zinfandel wines, the grapes used in the production of White Zinfandel are picked early in the harvest season when the acids are high. Now, the wine gets its rose-pink color from the Zinfandel grape skins. These are crushed and then removed from the juice during the maceration process.
The Zinfandel grapes are picked early from the vines when the tannins are green, and the flavors fresh and unripe. Next, the fruit is de-stemmed and crushed. Crushing breaks the skins of the grapes and liberates a quantity of juice. But damaging the seeds should be avoided. Otherwise, they release bitter oils and tannin, and the resulting beverage turns astringent and bitter. After a quick crushing, pressing follows. Pressing separates the liquid and the solid constituents of grapes. Seeds should remain undamaged once again. Afterward, the crushed grapes are separated from the juice, which goes into a stainless-steel tank until the alcoholic fermentation begins.
This process is responsible for giving the final wine its texture as well as candied flavors. Before the fermentation ends, the winemaker typically halts the process before all the sugar converts into alcohol to create distinctive White Zinfandel. A wine that tends to be slightly sweeter than traditional Rosé. At this point, the acidity, alcohol levels, and residual sweetness are in perfect balance, with the final wine being refreshing and fizzy.
Where Is Beringer White Zinfandel Made?
Beringer White Zinfandel is from St. Helena, California, where vineyards inspire, offering remarkable fruit. California is considered the center of the American wine-making industry. The Mediterranean type climate provides crucial warmth to the vines, resulting in elegant wines. Unlike wines produced in other parts of the world, Californian wines prefer to conserve their refreshing fruitiness in favor of structure and great elaborateness. They remain delicate, ignoring unnecessary complexity.
St. Helena is in the Northern Napa County. It receives the warmest daytime temperatures of the region, producing some of the most concentrated, full-bodied wines of the United States. Cool air through the Chalk Hill and the Mayacamas Mountains provides relief from oppressive afternoon temperatures. Although Cabernet Sauvignon is the focus here, Zinfandel and Syrah are also grown.
How to Serve Beringer White Zinfandel?
Beringer White Zinfandel is best served in medium-sized white wine glasses. The large surface offers essential aeration to the wine. As the air comes into contact with the wine surface, the aromatic and flavor intensity of Beringer White Zinfandel rises, becoming irresistible. On top of that, serve the wine well-chilled at temperatures of 45-50°F (7-10°C). Cold temperatures heighten the structure of wines and lift delicate aromas and acidity. So, when chilled, this Zin becomes even more crispy and fruity.
Remember also that Beringer White Zinfandel has to stay cool during service to remain delicious. Just take an ice bucket and fill it with equal quantities of ice and water so that iced water surrounds the bottle. The water is then able to transfer the heat from the bottle to melt the ice. Air acts as an insulator, and the bottle chills. That said, remember that over-chilling masks flavors and mutes aromatics in wines, whether red, white, or rosé.
How Much Does Beringer White Zinfandel Cost?
Like most California wines, this Zin is super affordable. Beringer White Zinfandel price ranges between $6 to $9 per 750ml bottle, depending on the wine merchant. In fact, the wine is a steal at this price. It’s so well-made and rounded; one of the best White Zinfandels out there, for sure. Don’t think twice, buy it!
How Long Does Beringer White Zinfandel Last?
Wine fans should consume white and rosé wines within a year or two from the date of bottling. Exceptions are only full-bodied, creamy wines such as Chardonnay, Roussane, or Riesling. Beringer White Zinfandel is vivid, so it has to be consumed young. To put it differently, this Zin does not benefit from bottle aging. It is meant to be enjoyed as young as possible. So, do not leave it in the cabinet for too long, as its refreshing character will decrease, resulting in an uninspiring, muted wine.
How Many Calories Does Beringer White Zinfandel Have?
Beringer White Zinfandel is a great wine option for consumers on a diet. There are about 21 calories in 1 fluid ounce of the drink, equating to almost 120 calories per serving. The calorie breakdown is 0 grams of fats, 7.6 milligrams of sodium, 5.8 grams of total carbohydrate, 0.6 grams of protein, and approximately 5.8 grams of total sugars. As such, Beringer White Zinfandel calories are low, it’s a fantastic wine for people following a healthy lifestyle.
Further, Beringer White Zinfandel alcohol content sits at 9%. The low alcohol concentration is not surprising, as it’s typical for White Zinfandels. However, do check the label to be more precise. Remember to enjoy your wine responsibly, too. Bear in mind that unless specified on the label, most wines are not vegan. During wine-making, wines are clarified through fining, where the most commonly fining agents are animal-based. Vegans, consequently, need to consider this information before taking a sip of Beringer White Zinfandel.
Conclusion
Light and fruity, with an intense strawberry nose and a palate of tropical and stone fruit flavors, Beringer White Zinfandel is super fun and tasty. It’s a seriously great wine to share with friends and family on a hot summer day and makes a solid wedding wine, too. Very smooth and unbelievably easy to drink. Enjoy this fruity goodness in a glass!
