Zinfandel = Primitivo?

Question

Saw a bottle yesterday at an Italian trade tasting that prominently displayed "ZINFANDEL" on the label of an IGT wine.

Thinking it to be a marketing gimmick to target the US, I inquired of the producers. They said "no", the stuff sells in Italy just fine.

Furthermore, they claimed that Primitivo and Zinfandel are the same grape--you can't tell them apart visually and DNA testing indicates they are one and the same. In effect, Zinfandel was just Primitivo which had come from the Checkoslovaquia area.

I had read somewhere along the way that Zinfandel could be traced to Eastern Europe, but never heard before that it was in fact primitivo.

Any info on the subject?

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Mark Lipton · Accepted Answer

Yes:

Leo Bueno · Answer

Thanks.

Yes, it look fairly clear-cut now. See

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I saw a reference somewhere that the TTB is considering allowing Italian Primitivo producers to use Zinfandel on their labels. Problem is that US Zinfandel producers apparently feel threatened by the competition.

How is that battle turning out?

If I had to put my money on it, I would bet for the US Zinfandel producers. In bureaucratic political battles, bul$hit generally beats truth.

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James Silverton · Answer

Leo wrote on Sat, 11 Feb 2006 16:09:32 GMT:

LB> Yes, it look fairly clear-cut now. See LB>

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LB> I saw a reference somewhere that the TTB is considering LB> allowing Italian Primitivo producers to use Zinfandel on LB> their labels. Problem is that US Zinfandel producers LB> apparently feel threatened by the competition.

LB> How is that battle turning out?

The evidence that Zinfandel and Primitivo are the same variety seems very conclusive. I don't think even European vintners have tried to patent names like Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir tho' I can see the logic of registering territorial (forgive me if there is a more popular word among wine enthusiasts) names like Champagne.

James Silverton.

Joe "Beppe"Rosenberg · Answer

This was on our FAQ page

Vilco · Answer

I guess that was a bottle from Leone de Castris.

Zinfandel = Primitivo?

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