I enjoy big reds on cold winter evenings.
And Zinfandel is among my favorites to curl up with in front of a roaring fire. The Zinfandel grape is genetically equivalent to Crljenak Katelanski, the Croatian grape and the Primitivo variety from Italy. By the mid 19th Century, the grape—known by variations of the word, “Zinfandel”—had made its way to the United States. Frank Family Vineyards Napa Valley Zinfandel 2007 ($36.75) makes a perfect cold weather sipper.

Richard Frank and Connie Frank produce small quantities of high quality, handcrafted wines in Napa Valley, California. Their winery was first constructed as the Larkmead Winery in 1884. In 1906 it was refinished with native sandstone from the nearby hills and appears on the National Register of Historical Places and is listed as a Point of Historical Interest in the state of California.

Their newly released 2007 vintage of Frank Family Vineyards Napa Valley Zinfandel is scarlet in color with aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, raspberry, pepper and cinnamon. The wine is a blend of 84 percent Zinfandel, nine percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and seven percent Petite Sirah. It is well balanced and displays weighty tannins, a juicy, chewy richness with a lingering finish. Food matches include a hearty cassoulet, pizza, Mexican fare, or other meat, sausage dishes—especially spicy ones.