Does the "Average American" wine drinker consider zinfandel a dark red, a pink colored or white wine?

Question

OK, so what is the "Average American" wine drinker? Obviously a somewhat subjective assumption. But if you had to estimate using your own interpretation of what the average American wine drinker would expect to receive if they asked for a glass of zinfandel in a restaurant, do you think that more than 50% would expect it to be a dark red wine or would more than 50% expect it to be the pink rose' colored wine that is white zinfandel. Just curious, trying to settle a little debate among friends and was curious to see what others out there thought.

Answer 1

Depends on what restaurant you're in.

At Sizzler: almost everyone would expect a slightly sweet rose wine.

At any respectable establishment with a decent wine list: almost everyone would expect a full bodied, robust, rich red.

White Zinfandel is NOT a real wine.

Answer 2

I think it really depends on if you mean the 'Average American Wine Drinker' (ie the average person in the US who would define themselves as a lover of wine, and for whom wine is their primary alcoholic drink) or an 'Average Wine Drinking American' (ie a typical US resident, who is happening to order a glass of wine right now, although who will generally more often drink beer, cider, or coolers).

If you're asking about the latter, then sadly yes, they'd expect a light, candied sweet, pink wine. They want something that doesn't take much effort to understand, they can store in their fridge, and bring out for barbecues and girls' nights on the town.

If you mean the former, and we're talking about the average person who drinks wine as a hobby (with most meals, probably a small cellar in the basement, enjoys arguing with his friends about the relative merits of Californian versus Burgundian Pinot Noir (hint: it's a surprisingly short argument), then when they ask for Zinfandel they want the dark, broody, spicy red.

I was fortunate when I was working in the retail side of the industry that I rapidly got promoted to the fine wine department - everybody who asked me was the sort to want the real stuff.

As an aside, generally those who think of it as a rose will be more likely to say 'Zin' rather than 'Zinfandel', but this isn't always true, just an observation.

Answer 3

OK, I'll bite and weigh in on a question that has no verifiable answer. I think most people would expect a red (hope, hope), if they ordered a Zin, but I also think most people would order a white zin.
EDIT ADDITION: I guess there is always something to be learned on Yahoo answers. To the people who said White Zinfandel is not a wine. Really? Now I've got a few cases of the good red stuff aging, and I enjoy it much more than the white, but I always thought white was still a wine. I've actually served it, (with other selections) on a summer evening with strawberry cheesecake, and it was fun. So, enlighten me please, it's really not wine?

Answer 4

A big full bodied red with some spiciness or a light easy sipping red from Italy labelled a Primitivo. That's the wines I expect from the Zinfandel Grapes.

Primitivo is the Italian name for Zinfandel.

Edit:
Anna next time check your facts or read the link you post. Your statement is dead wrong. Monks have been making wine from the Primitivo grapes since the 17th century.

A link proving that Primitivo and Zinfandel are the same species.
http://www.winepros.org/wine101/grape_profiles/zinfandel.htm

A link proving the history of Primitivo cultivation in Europe
http://www.cal-italia.org/varietals/primitivo.html

Answer 5

Definitely a white or blush wine. The "Average American's" decision usually is Red? or White? I constantly find people surprised to find out zinfandel can be red. Sigh. Unfortunately, the people in this forum will be a lot more knowledgable - and so will their friends. That's why you get answers like "Gee, after my friends and I finished off a robust, yet refined 02 Bordeaux I posed this question to them. They all thought of zinfandel as red and ideal for pairing with wild game."

Answer 6

I'm always surprised when I ask if Zinfandel is served by the glass and the server asks me red or white. (I suppose I should take it as a warning that this restaurant is not "into wines".)

If I wanted white zinfandel, I would ask for it. In my opinion....Zinfandel is a red wine.

Answer 7

Being a Zinfandel lover, I would expect to be asked. I think most people who don't know alot about wines would expect the white. Mostly, because I think the white is more popular, so that is what most often found/seen.

Answer 8

Zin is red. As far as the Average American is concerned, I guess it would depend on the knowledge of the Average American when wine is concerned.
When I think Zin, I think red wine. White Zin is the pink stuff. From my experience, people who normally consume White Zin are those who are not wine drinkers, but want something fruity and sweet, older people, and people that have no clue as to what wine is really about and just want to seem as if they do.
Red is better.

Answer 9

I was a bartender in a posh downtown Chicago bar a few years ago. THEN: when someone asked for a Zinfandel, we would "size them up" (something bartenders are good at doing) and determine if they wanted our glass of red or "pink" zin. Basically, if they seemed, ummm... "uncultured" (white trash), they were asking for the pink stuff. If they seemed moderately refined, or in the industry, then I'd confirm with them that they wanted the good stuff. Also, far more women than men order "white zinfandel." I would, in fact, be pretty suspect of a guy who ordered the stuff. But I'd still serve you with a smile and take your tip.

Answer 10

Well, here in outstate Nebraska, we don't have many people who know anything about wine. Mostly pretentious snobs who think Riunite Lambrusco is a delicacy. But as far as here goes, most people would be expecting a white zin, the pink colored one. Rose'. Most of the wine lists I've seen here have merlot, cabernet and pinot noir as their only reds.