Similarities Of Zinfandel & Cabernet Sauvignon
Zinfandel is one of the most popular wine grapes grown in California. The variety is grown in over 10& of California vineyards including the popular vineyards of Napa Valley. The most common aromatic and flavor components found in Cabernet Sauvignon are dark fruits like plum, black cherry, and blackberry along with warm spice, vanilla, licorice, and black pepper. It has mainly gained popularity from growing in the Bordeaux region of France.
Differences Of Zinfandel & Cabernet Sauvignon
Zinfandel has a more intense berry-fruit character, while Cabernet has more herbal and earthy notes such as tobacco and leather. Zinfandel could be a great beginners wine to start with. Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied, complex, fruit-forward and dry wine whereas Zinfandel is a slightly less complex and lighter on the palette with lesser tannins and acidity.
How To Distinguish Zinfandel & Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful and bold, and produces a full-bodied red wine with dark fruit flavors like black cherry, blackberry, and black currant. Zinfandel is usually lighter in color than Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s also lighter in body, although it has a bold taste.
Zinfandel vs Cabernet Sauvignon Comparison Chart
| Characteristic | Zinfandel | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Sweetness | Dry | Dry |
| Acidity | Medium to high | Medium to high |
| Tannins | Medium to high | Medium to high |
| Body | Medium bodied | Full bodied |
| Tasting Notes | Berry and pepper | Dark fruit, leather, tobacco |
| Popularity | 27,100 | 90,500 |
| Calories Per Glass | 125 | 123 |
| ABV % | 11-14% | 11-14% |
Pairing Food With Zinfandel & Cabernet Sauvignon
A fruity and medium-bodied Zinfandel pairs best with rich foods like burgers, BBQ meats, spicy Chinese, rack of lamb or tacos with meaty fillings like pulled pork or carne asada. Zinfandel is an easy to pair wine that can also be served up with a variety of meats, cheese, nuts and crackers. Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with many varieties of steaks and in fact goes very well with New York steaks or filet mignons. You can also pair Cabernet Sauvignon with a host of Italian or French dishes such as lasagne or escargot and so on.
