Zinfandel is the variety America has adopted as its own, the exact origin of the clone is uncertain, though the most likely source is Italy or Croatia. A notoriously thin skinned variety, Zinfandel is mainly planted in warm, dry regions. This begs the question as to why Nepenthe are making Zinfandel in the cool heights of the Adelaide Hills? the simple answer is it works! Nepenthe has been producing Zinfandel since 1997 and are delighted if somewhat amazed at the rich, spicy and exotic styles possible in the cool climes of the Adelaide Hills.

A pure Zinfandel wine, the pinnacle of the Nepenthe range wines, made only in limited quantities. Exciting, innovative wines with complexity, subtlety, balance and length. Grapes are sourced from estate vineyards at Lenswood and Charleston. Due to the thin skins of the variety it is exclusively hand picked. During fermentation the grapes spend seven to ten days on skins before they are pressed after reaching dryness. The wine is transferred into one to four years old oak barrels, predominantly French with some Russian and American, for malolatic and eighteen months maturation. Each barrel is then blind tasted, classified and racked to tank before assemblage. Approx 15.5%