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Primitivo (pree-me-tee-voh)

Regions and Vineyards

Plymouth, Lockeford, Somerset, Drytown, Camino, Nevada City, Murphys, Fair Play, Shingle Springs, Ione, Clarksburg

Wineries

Bantam Cellars, Bella Piazza, Boitano Family Wines, Bray Vineyards, C.G. Di Arie Vineyard & Winery, Charles Spinetta Winery, Colibri Ridge Winery & Vineyard, Cooper Vineyards, Drytown Cellars, Garnet Sun Winery, Indian Springs Vineyards, Milliaire Winery, Oakstone Winery, Perry Creek Winery, Renwood Winery, Sobon Estate, Sogno Winery, Tanis Vineyards, Todd Taylor Wines, Windwalker Vineyards ...more

Flavor

By DNA profiling, primitivo and zinfandel are the same variety of grape, yielding similar berry and cherry flavors in the wines they yield.

Body

Tends to be marginally slimmer and sharper than zinfandels, but winemakers occasionally also turn out rather voluptuous takes on the varietal.

At the table, pour it with...

Fresh berry flavors, solid structure and finely honed acidity make it ideal with beefy pastas and substantial meats.

Curiosities

Though European Union winemakers can use zinfandel and primitivo interchangeably on their labels, American vintners have to stick with one or the other term.

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