What to Pair with Zinfandel

Known as the quintessential American wine, zinfandel offers something for everyone. The red wine boasts a range of styles from light and fruity to bold and spicy.

Zinfandel thrives in warmer climates and is sourced from many Californian subregions that have mastered the craft of creating beloved zinfandel that is intense and rich.

As the grapes mature, the flavors and sugars develop in such a way that they create a bold wine characterized by cherry, plum, blueberries, and licorice. When you first sip zinfandel, you are greeted with a burst of candied fruitiness. This is soon followed by spicy tones and later, a smoky finish.

What Pairs Well with Zinfandel

Zinfandel is a phenomenal wine for food pairing and combines well with a wide variety of foods, especially with meats like lamb, beef, and pork. Despite being the perfect pair for meat, zinfandel can also be enjoyed alongside certain poultry, pasta, cheeses, and vegetables as well as with decadent desserts.

Make the most of your next glass of zinfandel by combining it with the perfect meal at Christner’s. Food and wine pairings are not exclusive to the world of connoisseurs and artisans. With the best selections from our menu, you can learn the tricks of the trade and savor in an outstanding experience of flavor.

Lamb

Lamb and zinfandel pair strikingly, especially when the lamb is tender and the wine medium to full-bodied red. Full-bodied zinfandel is not only able to meet the richness of the lamb, but it enhances the robust meat without being overwhelmed by the distinct juiciness.

New York Strip

Our featured steak is cut to order, seasoned, and cooked to perfection. Finished with butter on a sizzling plate, the salty and umami butteriness of the steak combines well with the acidic tang and spectacular sweetness of great zinfandel.

Filet Mignon

Beef and zinfandel are a well-known pair and for good reason. When drinking zinfandel, you should avoid a steak with sweet seasoning and select one with dominant spicy and zesty flavors. The sweetness of the wine balances the spice, cleansing your palate with every bite.

Beefsteak Tomatoes and Sliced Onions

You do not have to be a meat-lover to delight in the flavor sensation of a perfect zinfandel pairing. Bright zinfandel pairs brilliantly with tomatoes and onions, which enhance the fruitiness in a glass of zinfandel.

Henning’s Plate

Zinfandel pairs best with salty and rich cheeses. The sweetness and fruit in the wine will balance the strong flavors in the cheese.

New York Style Cheesecake

Zinfandel is an acidic wine, which compliments desserts with fruity elements. This acidity makes Christner’s New York Style Cheesecake (which is served with Chambord infused berries) a perfect dessert to pair with zinfandel. A glass of late-harvest zinfandel wine is as sweet as the dessert without overwhelming it.

Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate mousse has a creamy texture and a bittersweet taste, making it the ideal pair for berry wines like zinfandel. The spicy, fruity wine combines well with the bitterness of chocolate and creates a perfect balance between opposing tastes. This harmony of flavor makes zinfandel a preferred partner for Christner’s chocolate cake as well.

For informational purposes only.