By: David Ulrich
Zinfandel is grown in over 10 percent of California vineyards. Its Italian relative is known as Primativo. However, the origin of Zinfandel and Primativo is the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia where the grape is known as Plavic Mali.
Legendary U.S. winemaker Mike Grgich, a native Croatian, and founder of Grgich Hills Estate in Napa Valley, when he arrived in California in 1958. “Looking at the vines i wondered whether I was in Croatia or in California”, Grgich said.
Mike Grgich
The Croatian grapes Crljenak Kaštelanski and Tribidrag are mother vines of this delicious varietal.
Our Featured Zinfandel Relatives This Month:
- Basina – Tribidrag
- Korta Katarina – Plavic Mali
- Grgich – Plavic Mali
