Gallo Café Zinfandel
Price: $5
Maker: Ernest & Julio Gallo
Variety: Zinfandel
Packaging: bottle, natural cork
Our Rating: 5 out of 10
Is there any varietal designation as diverse as Zinfandel? I just tried Gallo Cafe Zinfandel… I’m a Zin fan, and the thought that a major winery could produce an affordable, plentiful Zinfandel was appealing. I wish I could say the same for the wine. The first oddity is the color. Gallo Cafe Zinfandel is a dark pink color, a bit darker than a typical white zin, and far lighter than what one wouild expect for a proper zin. It doesn’t taste much like a proper Zinfandel, either - it’s a sweet mix of melon, raspberry, and grapefruit. I suppose if you were looking for something to guzzle with fruit salad or a not-too-sweet dessert, this might do the trick; anyone expecting a conventional Zinfandel will be sorely disappointed.
Gallo calls it a “smoother, lighter-style Zinfandel” - I ‘ll let you decide on that. If you like sweet soft drinks, this might be the wine for you. If you are looking for complex sophistication, stay well away from this one.
Add this post to: del.icio.us - Digg it - Stumble it - Furl - Yahoo MyWeb
June 3rd, 2006 at 10:44 pm
[...] Barefoot Cellars seems to be a big presence in supermarket wine centers these days, and we were surprised to find they had a Zin. Previously, we recall seeing only Merlot and Cab in the red category. We popped the cork on a bottle of Barefoot Zinfandel, and found it to be a perfectly acceptable wine and a great bargain for six bucks or so. Cheap zins are hard to find (compared to cheap merlots, cabs, and shirazes, for example), and some of the bargain zinfandels are barely recognizable - or drinkable. (For an example of the vagaries of low-end zins, check out the truly awful Gallo Cafe Zinfandel.) [...]
September 2nd, 2006 at 11:29 am
I don’t care for sweet wines, and hate sweet soft drinks, but Cafe Zin is one of my favorite wines. I’ll let you reject it for it’s lack of complex sophistication, and I will keep on enjoying it for it’s great taste.
November 6th, 2006 at 10:22 pm
I have been looking for a light, semi-sweet red wine. I am a reisling drinker. Cafe Zin is a good choice with beef, pork and fish. It’s flavor doesn’t take over a well prepared meal, just compliments it. My friends and I enjoy it very much.
November 7th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Well, Tina, if you want a red (pinkish, really) semi-sweet wine, Cafe Zin may be just the ticket. It’s kind of a nasty surprise for anyone expecting a robust, complex Zinfandel, though…
December 5th, 2006 at 10:00 pm
[...] We approached Gallo Twin Valley Shiraz with a bit of trepidation. The last Gallo-brand product we tried was Gallo Café Zinfandel, a poor excuse for a Zin. We’re happy to report that although the Shiraz and the Café Zinfandel are brand siblings, we found the Shiraz more to our liking. The wine is impressively aromatic - we found strong berry, tobacco, and leather notes, with a touch of vanilla. The flavor is rounded and plummy, with leather and spice notes. This isn’t a big Shiraz - we found it to be rather light in body for that varietal, and a bit on the bland side. Nevertheless, it was quite drinkable and would probably prove inoffensive to a range of palates. [...]
December 14th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Sorry I disagree with anyone who has any bad comments about Cafe Zinfandel. It is superbly tasty and goes well with almost anything Italian or American for that matter. All you wine snobs beware!!! This is a very mellow wine and very enjoyable. Forget that it is reasonably priced and goes down smoothly without the stomach upset of some of the more expensive wines. I have “turned on quite a few people with this wine” and all have been pleasantly surprised by this aromatic and gentle soul of wines.
January 18th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
I bought a bottle of Cafe Zinfandel a couple of years ago, when it first came out, and I found it very tasty–but I got a whomping headache within an hour after drinking it with an informal Italian dinner. I’m not sure if the wine is entirely to blame, as I’ve gotten headaches after drinking certain wines and then not gotten them after trying those wines again, but the headache I got after the Cafe Zin was unusually bad. Just FYI.
March 7th, 2007 at 5:00 am
I am not a wine expert. This is my first time drink Cafe Zinfandel. I like it. The “smoother and light style” are just what I want. The reason I drink red wine because I was told that one glass of red wine before bed time is good for your health. Does anyone know is this Cafe Zinfandel just as good as other red wine? Thank you.
March 7th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Lisa, I don’t think scientists are 100% certain as to what makes a healthy red wine, but current thinking is that the main benefit is from resveratrol, a compound found in grape skins. Since Cafe Zinfandel is such a light color (kind of pinkish, though darker than a White Zinfandel), I would guess that it has less resveratrol than a wine with a deep, dark red color. How much of a difference this makes, I can’t say. If you enjoy the wine, though, “staying healthy” is as good an excuse as any to drink it.
March 8th, 2007 at 3:08 am
Roger, thank you for the input. I do enjoy the Cafe Zinfandel very much. I will continue to drink it if it does keep me staying healthy that will be a plus. I am happy anyway.
March 12th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I enjoy Cafe Zinfandel. If you like this you might like the White Merlot. It is not as sweet and has a bolder taste. I like alot of other wines from very expensive to less expensive and these are my pick for an everyday dinner wine. I find most red wines bitter. If any you know of a good dark red wine not too sweet or bitter, I would like to try it. Thanks
June 11th, 2007 at 7:21 am
The best wine is:
Gallo, Cafe, zinfandel, chardonnay
August 1st, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Not to be rude, Mr. Box Wine Guy, but how does one expect “robust, complex” Zinfandel from a 1.5L $6 bottle of table wine that has the tannins color somewhere between a blush and a rose? I supposed because it is typically blended and not drunk individually, I rarely if ever see a good 750mL bottle of Zin for less than $8-9 my area.
I would guess Cafe Zinfandel is 60% white zin, 20% zin, and 20% grenache or some other sweet medium bodied wine, since it seems even sweeter than White Zinfandel.
My wife and I keep either Cafe Zin or Rene Junot (highly recommend as a very good red French table wine with a good body and slight sweetness) around as our basic red table wines to enjoy. I particularly like the cleaner fruity body of Cafe Zin and the lack of buttery taste that some white zinfandels and most all Blush Chablis wines have.
I don’t know if anyone has had Lambrusco wine, the hefty sweet Italian wine, but I think that best sums up Cafe Zin - a white zinfandel blended down with a dose of Lambrusco. It has a fuller, fruitier body than most blush wines and goes well with typical red wine foods, or dessert.
August 9th, 2007 at 10:16 am
It just tastes good.
January 17th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
This response is for the first post. You are describing the exact charachteristics that make the Cafe Zin my favorite wine. It is a great blend of a white and red zine. The idea od sophistication may be in the eye of the consumer. Just because it is not the hearty red zin you were looking for doesn’t make it a decent wine. Also if you are a true wine drinker you would know that a true zin is not what the Gallo Cafe Zin was supposed to be, hence the “Cafe” in the wine name. I love the Cafe Zin I think it is a nice transition wine for the true white zin fans into a red wine.
February 15th, 2008 at 1:28 am
After reading all that was written, I am not sure that i want to taste the Cafe Zin in its unadulteraed form. I happened upon it looking for a red to use in making home made Sangria. It worked well when mixed with a bottle of Menage a Trois. Great fun at a Tapas Party!!
April 6th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I used to only drink beer or rum &cola. Since trying Cafe Zinfadel over a year ago this is the only drink for me for all occasions. I love the great taste and the quality put into this product. Thanks Gallo. P.S. To all you wine experts. Just enjoy this great wine-Cafe Zinfadel.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I as well enjoy the Cafe Zin. However I have came into a dilemma. I have just recently started drinking wine. The first glass I ever had was the Ernest & Julio Gallo White Zinfandel. I love this wine, but recently EVER store that has sold it in my area has taken it off the shelf. All they have now is the Gallo Family wines. Well I have tried them and they taste nothing like the E&J. To be honest, it tastes like whole different vineyard. Well if anyone could please help me and tell me where the Ernest & Julio wines have gone I would be so thankful. I have been running from store to store trying to find it. No one has it!!!
September 20th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
can I find Gallo Cafe Zinfandel in Canada
Province of Quebec or Ontation
please advise
September 25th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
i thought it was a very refreshing sweet wine. I enjoy very much and will continue buying it.
October 29th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I love Gallo’s Cafe Zinfandel! However, I am now having a hard time finding it. One store told me that it is no longer being produced. Has anybody heard this too? If anyone has any information, pleas post it.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I just bought the last 5 bottles of Cafe Zinfandel at our local grocery store. Can’t find it at WalMart any more and it is my husbands and my favorite to have with supper. Has it been discontinued? Or do I need to look for it in those nasty boxes???