The origin of Zinfandel is a subject that has sparked some debate and confusion over the years as, while it is widely accepted as a Californian grape, its origins are a bit more controversial since it is believed to be both Croatian and Italian. In fact, this  variety  of black-skinned  wine grape s, grown in over 10 percent of  California’s  vineyards , has been deemed genetically equivalent via DNA analysis, to the  Croatian  grapes Crljenak Kaštelanski and Tribidrag, as well as to the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in  Apulia ,  Italy . Zinfandel is to California what Malbec is to Argentina, however, it's a grape that is very rarely planted in this country, or even the continent. However, despite its rarity,  Thursday Food  managed to unearth a few Zinfandel wines from South America on the heels of the November 17th commemoration of International Zinfandel Day.  The most widely accepted theory is the Italian connectio...

In honour of International Merlot Day, which is commemorated on November 7 every year, Thursday Food shares the remarkable story of this beloved French grape’s cultivation in Argentina. Merlot, regarded as one of the world's most noble and widely cultivated grape varieties, offers a wide variety of flavours that range from black cherry to hints of vanilla. Its roots can be traced back to the 18th century vineyards of Bordeaux in France, where it has long been a beloved cornerstone of classic wine blends. Argentina's love affair with Merlot started much later, but has since evolved into something truly remarkable and highly sought after by vinophiles locally and internationally.  The word "Merlot" is believed to have originated from local dialects of the Bordeaux region in France, where the words "merle" or "merlau" mean "blackbird." This name was likely chosen because of its dark blue-black colour and the resemblance of its small, round b...