ZPC (Zinfandel, Primitivo, Crljenak Kaštelanski)

It is not uncommon to find matching DNA in what were thought to be different grape varieties. When a new grapevine variety is found, it is named as the first-time discovery it is believed to be. What if years before it had been transported in from its native region during wars, or by explorers or new settlers and the original name forgotten, never noted, or mistaken for other varieties planted nearby? Such is the case with the Croatian grape called crljenak kaštelanski. It is called primitivo in Italy, and kratošija in Macedonia, and zinfandel in North America. These are but a few of its names around the world. Some even call it ZPC (Zinfandel Primitivo Crljenak Kaštelanski).

In the 18th century, the Croatian grape, crljenak kaštelanski, was brought to and planted in Italy. These grapes ripened earlier than expected and so were called primitivo (first one). Primitivo vines were well suited for rapid growth in the heat of Southern Italy and quickly became one of the most planted varieties in Apulia.

In 1829, the crljenak kaštelanski grape arrived in Boston, most likely via Austria. It was called zenfendal and used as a table, rather than a wine, grape. It didn’t grow well on the East Coast of the United States but made it to a more suitable growing region on the West Coast during the gold rush 20 years later.

In 1857, shortly after the gold rush ended, this grape was first used in the United States for winemaking by the Oak Knoll Vineyard in Napa. It was not only thought to be native to the US but many thought it native to the West Coast.

In 1967, a University of California Davis Professor, Austin Goheen, visited Italy, and recognized a similarity between primitivo and zinfandel. They were analyzed and proven identical.

In the 1990s, Carole Meredith of UC Davis, put in years of effort to locate this grape’s birthplace. In 2001, after sampling and analyzing grapes from only 9 remaining vines found mixed in a field with other varieties, in Kaštel Novi, Croatia, it was determined that the grape called crljenak kaštelanski contains the same DNA and that the earliest recordings of this vine were in Croatia.

Although the above names all refer to the same grape, the profiles of the wines produced from them are varied, due to differences in soil, weather, climate, regional restrictions, and farming practices.