Zinfandel: A History of a Grape and Its Wine by Charles L. Sullivan. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.
Charles presents both the scientific and historical background of the grape which is considered to be the heritage grape of California and the San Luis Obispo County. Its mysterious origins are illuminated with the scientific research of Dr. Carol Meredith at the University of California at Davis. Dr. Sullivan’s own research celebrates the long voyage of Zinfandel from its place of origin to California in the 1850s. This is an important read for those who want to learn about California wine history and mystery of Zin.