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    Zinfandel (Primitivo, Tribidrag)

    Vitis vinifera L.

    California's Zinfandel, Puglia's Primitivo and Croatia's Tribidrag are one variety.

    VIVC
    № 97031
    Berry skin
    black (noir)1
    Origin
    Balkans1
    Synonyms in VIVC
    641
    central lobepetiolar sinuslobes: 5cluster

    No parents confirmed by DNA (VIVC).

    vinoluma engraving: schematic leaf after the description (5 lobes).

    Where Zinfandel (Primitivo, Tribidrag) comes from and grows

    1. Origin (VIVC)Balkans
    2. Atlas regionNapa Valley

    Country of origin as given by VIVC. Regions are those where the atlas sources mention the variety; not a complete list of where it grows.

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    One grape, three names

    VIVC lists the variety under the prime name Primitivo, with origin given as the Balkans and Zinfandel and Crljenak Kaštelanski among its 64 synonyms.1 In Italy Primitivo is a traditional variety of Puglia.2

    A 2011 study genotyped a 90-year-old herbarium specimen labelled Tribidrag and found the same DNA profile as Zinfandel.5 Together with historical documents, it suggests the variety was grown in Croatia from the beginning of the 15th century.5

    Where it grows

    In 2015 the United States had 19,000 hectares of Zinfandel/Primitivo, 4.3% of its vineyard area.6 In Napa Valley it covered 508 hectares (1,256 acres), about 3% of plantings, in 2024.7

    Other names

    Examples of synonyms recorded in VIVC: Zinfandel, Crljenak Kastelanski, Black St. Peters, Gioia Del Colle, Bikaca.1

    Around the world

    In 2023 it covered 30,675 hectares of bearing vineyards worldwide, ranking 28 of 1497 varieties in the database.8

    The largest area is in the United States: 15,354 ha (50% of the world total), across 16 countries.8

    Between 2000 and 2023 its area grew by 14%.8

    1. the United States15,354 ha
    2. Italy14,035 ha
    3. North Macedonia1,050 ha
    4. Australia77 ha
    5. Croatia73 ha
    6. Chile67 ha
    7. Canada9.3 ha
    8. New Zealand2.2 ha
    9. Argentina1.8 ha
    10. France1.5 ha
    11. Uruguay1.1 ha
    12. Serbia0.9 ha

    Area, 2023

    26,89432,70833,62930,6752000201020162023

    Regions

    Sources

    1. VIVC passport data: PRIMITIVO. Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Geilweilerhof, accessed 2026-10-14. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    2. Primitivo N. plantGrape (IFV / INRAE / Institut Agro), accessed 2026-10-14. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    3. Maletić E. et al. Zinfandel, Dobričić, and Plavac mali: the genetic relationship among three cultivars of the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. Am J Enol Vitic (2004). CROSBI (Croatian Scientific Bibliography), record 108342, 2004. level 3 · checked 2026-10-13
    4. Pierce's Disease research update: summary of Maletić et al. 2004 (Am J Enol Vitic). California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004. level 4 · checked 2026-10-13
    5. Malenica N. et al. Whole genome amplification and microsatellite genotyping of herbarium DNA revealed the identity of an ancient grapevine cultivar. Naturwissenschaften 98(9):763-772, doi:10.1007/s00114-011-0826-8. CROSBI record, 2011. level 3 · checked 2026-10-13
    6. Focus OIV 2017: Distribution of the world's grapevine varieties. OIV, 2017. level 2 · checked 2026-10-13
    7. Napa Valley Fast Facts (2024 Napa County Crop Report data). Napa Valley Vintners, 2024. level 4 · checked 2026-10-13
    8. Database of Regional, National and Global Winegrape Bearing Areas by Variety, 2000 to 2023. Anderson K., Nelgen S., Puga G. Wine Economics Research Centre, University of Adelaide (CC BY 4.0), 2026. level 3 · checked 2026-10-13