The 30 Best Zinfandels for 2026

Though Zinfandel’s rich history reaches back to the vineyards of Croatia, the grape variety has had a massive impact on wine drinking culture in the U.S. Originally brought to California by a Boston ship captain, the Zinfandel grape carried winemakers through the Gold Rush and through the evolution of California wine country. Though Cabernet Sauvignon took over as the variety dominating the conversation around California wine, there are still some producers who embrace Zinfandel as one of the state’s most important grapes.