Zinfandel : a history of a grape and its wine / Charles L. Sullivan ; foreword by Paul Draper.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sullivan, Charles L. (Charles Lewis), 1932-

Series:

California studies in food and culture ; 10.

California studies in food and culture ; 10

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Grapes--California--History.

Grapes.

Viticulture--California--History.

Viticulture.

Wine and wine making--California--History.

Wine and wine making.

History.

California.

Physical Description:

xxii, 224 pages : illustrations, map ; 22 cm.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, [2003]

Summary:

The Zinfandel Grape -- Currently Producing big, rich, luscious styles of red wine -- has a large, loyal, even fanatical following in California and around the world. The grape, grown predominantly in California, has acquired an almost mythic status -- in part because of the caliber of its wines and in part because of the mystery surrounding its origins. Charles L. Sullivan, a leading expert on the history of California wine, has at last written the definitive history of Zinfandel. Here he brings his deep knowledge of wine together with the results of his extensive research on the grape in the United States and Europe in a book that will entertain and enlighten wine aficionados and casual enthusiasts. In it, Sullivan dispels the false legend that has obscured Zinfandel's history for almost a century, reveals the latest scientific findings about its European roots, and looks to the future of this remarkable grape.

Sullivan reconstructs Zinfandel's journey through history -- taking us from Austria to the East Coast of the United States in the 1820s to Gold Rush California. He considers the ups and downs of the grape's popularity, including its most recent and, according to Sullivan, most brilliant "up." He also unravels the two great mysteries surrounding Zinfandel: the myth of Agoston Haraszthy's role in importing Zinfandel, and the heated controversy over the relationship between California Zinfandel and Italian Primitivo. Sullivan ends with his assessments of the 2001 and 2002 vintages, firmly setting the history of Zinfandel into the chronicles of grape history.

Contents:

1. How I Solved the Historical Mysteries Surrounding Zinfandel

Sort Of 1

2. Sojourn in the East 9

3. Ho! For California! 23

4. Plant Your Vineyards! Begin Now! 31

5. Boom! 1872-1890 40

6. The Haraszthy Myth 51

7. The Stealth Grape, 1891-1918 72

8. Prohibition and the Fresh Grape Deal, 1919-1933 84

9. The Two Faces of Zin, 1934-1969 98

10. Of Pendulums and Roller Coasters, 1970-1990 116

11. Fat Years, 1991-2001 130

12. The Mystery of Origins Solved

Probably 147

13. Into the New Century 167.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 209-212) and index.

ISBN:

0520239695

OCLC:

51290219