Adam's Wine Guide » Primitivo http://www.adamswineguide.com From Vine To Bottle Sat, 15 May 2010 03:03:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Is Zinfandel Really The Same as Primitivo? http://www.adamswineguide.com/2009/08/16/is-zinfandel-really-the-same-as-primitivo/ http://www.adamswineguide.com/2009/08/16/is-zinfandel-really-the-same-as-primitivo/#comments Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:48:08 +0000 Adam Weiner http://adamswineguide.com/?p=74 This has been an ongoing debate for quite a while now, and customers frequently ask me this.  Primitivo and Zinfandel are genetically very similar.  They are both clones of the ancient Croatian grape Crljenak.  Since both clones come from the same original varietal, most of the differences we see today have come about from normal mutation.  Grape vines are very prone to mutation, and not necessarily in a bad sense.  Grapes tend to adjust to their growing conditions, or terroir.  The Pinot Noir varietal is particularly susceptible to mutation.

We typically see Primitivo grown in Italy and Zinfandel grown elsewhere.  Sometimes, we will even see blends of Zinfandel and Primitivo here in the US, strictly because US law does not allow the names to be used interchangeably.  Over in Europe, they are allowed to be used interchangably.

The only main difference I typically see between the two is Primitvo ripens slightly earlier, lending itself to lighter, fruitier wines.

]]> http://www.adamswineguide.com/2009/08/16/is-zinfandel-really-the-same-as-primitivo/feed/ 1