Blossom Hill White Zinfandel

I can be quite picky when it comes to my wine. I am a fan of having a nice glass of wine etc with a meal, but my pallate is quite fussy, and prefers a rose wine to a white or a red.
A long time ago, I discovered the delights of Blossom Hill white zinfandel, and have been drinking it regularly (almost too regularly) ever since.

*History*

Blossom Hill's winery became as such in approx 1993 when it took over another winery in California. From that day it's been sold in over 30 countries.

*Zinfandel*

Zinfandel is a red vine grape that is heavily planted in California, but according to my research, it is rumoured to have originated from Albania or Greece. A nursery man brought it to the USA in the early 1900's.

*The wine*

Displayed to us mortals in a standard 75cl clear bottle, showing off it's delicate rose colour. The labelling is minimalistic, yet stylish as it incorporates a silver and red design.

Uncorking this beauty can be somewhat of a chore as the cork is a waxy variety. I find this style sometimes difficult to remove, and then even more so to replace into the bottle. This suggests to me I have to drain a bottle in one sitting, which is not an unheard of task, but it's a wine to be enjoyed.

As the cork is removed, the liquid spills over into a glass I prepared earlier. The aromas coming off the wine are heavily fruity, with a slight sweetness to it.

*Taste*

A smooth, sweet taste immediately hits my tastebuds, and if you're not a fan of the sweeter variety of wine then this wont be for you. However it's not overly sweet and it's very drinkable just on it's own.
Unfortunately, it's also very moreish, especially when drank accompanied by a piece of chocolate or two. It's certainly a drinkable wine, not one that you have to sip in very long gaps, just to get through the glass to be polite to your host.

*Price*

A standard 75cl bottle will set you back in the region of 4.50 - 4.99 gbp, depending on where you purchase it from. You can also get this beauty in a 3litre box for around 16.00gbp. I've never let myself be persuaded by this option, as I know it would save me money, but I fear for my liver at the same time, and whilst I don't have any in the fridge I'm not tempted to get a glass.

*Comparison to other rose wine*

My other frequent buy if I can't get my hands on Blossom Hill would be the Earnest and Julio white grenache. This tastes almost similar to the Blossom Hill version, but slightly drier, and I find it's not quite as drinkable at my first love.
Blossom Hill is also a bit more pleasing on the eye, as sometimes a bottle of E&J can look to be almost aneamic, depending on the year of the grape.

*My experiences*

I found Blossom Hill to be one of those wines that once tasted never forgotten, and it's always my first choice now for the dinner table, an evening in with the girls, or even with the Christmas dinner. I find it to be a lot less heavy than red wine, and possibly even some white wines, as they both affect me quite badly. (I know this depends on the amount I may drink as well).
I do find that I am quite reluctant to share with people when I have Blossom Hill. I would much rather give them a glass of the E&J and try to pass it off.
With a 10% alcohol content it's a middle of the range wine in the old headache stakes.

*Where to find it*

It can be found in many of the major supermarkets, having recently arriving in Morrisons for a short while, but it seems to have disappeared again. I'm also finding a lot more pubs and chain restaurants are selling it now, which is great when I know I'm going to get a glass of wine I will definitely enjoy with dinner instead of taking pot luck with the "house white".

So next time you're stuck for a new wine to try, have a go. Boys don't be afraid to drink a "pink" wine, it wont hurt you and you may even like it (my brother does). Just remember to serve chilled for the best results (am I on a cooking show now).

Enjoy.