Volcanic Wine Awards | The Jancis Robinson Story

Book review – Angels' Visits

Monday 29 September 2025 • 1 min read
Angel's Visits by David Darlington book cover

Not just an exploration of Zinfandel, but a window into a California wine scene that has long disappeared.

Angels’ Visits
An inquiry into the mystery of Zinfandel
David Darlington
Published by Henry Holt, 1991
ISBN 9780805016086
Reissued in 2001 by Da Capo Press as Zin: The history and mystery of Zinfandel (ISBN 9780306810299)

Appropriately enough, I was given a copy of Angels Visits earlier this year by a winemaker, Fred Peterson, whose Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel was described recently by the English wine writer Margaret Rand as ‘the poor man’s Ridge’. Peterson even makes a couple of appearances, described as...

Become a member to continue reading
Member
$135
/year
Save over 15% annually
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
  • Access 288,910 wine reviews & 15,879 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
 
Ideal for collectors
  • Access 288,910 wine reviews & 15,879 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
  • Access 288,910 wine reviews & 15,879 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
  • Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade
  • Access 288,910 wine reviews & 15,879 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
  • Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Pay with
Visa logo Mastercard logo American Express logo Logo for more payment options
Join our newsletter

Get the latest from Jancis and her team of leading wine experts.

By subscribing you agree with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.

More Book reviews

AdVL Smart Traveller's Guides covers
Book reviews Six sleek guides for wine lovers wanting on-the-ground advice on what and where to drink and eat. The Smart Traveller’s...
The Look of Wine by Florence de La Riviere cover
Book reviews A compelling call to really look at your wine before you drink it, and appreciate the power of colour. The...
Wine Snobbery book cover
Book reviews A scathing take on the wine industry that reminds us to keep asking questions – about wine, and about everything...
Rooted in Change by Jane Master and Andrew Neather - book jacket
Book reviews A courageous book that tackles the unwieldy subject of sustainability in wine with extraordinary detail, pragmatism and warmth. Rooted in...

More from JancisRobinson.com

Ryan Pass
Tasting articles Some promising representatives of the next generation of California wine brands. Above, w inemaker Ryan Pass of Pass Wines (photo...
The Marrone family, parents and three daughters
Wines of the week An incredibly refreshing Nebbiolo from a sustainably-minded family that sells for as little as €17.50, $24.94, £22.50. - - -...
Aerial view of various Asian ingredients
Inside information Part five of an eight-part series on how to pair wine with Asian flavours, adapted from Richard’s book. Click here...
Vineyards of Domaine Vaccelli on Corsica
Inside information Once on the fringes, Corsica has emerged as one of France’s most compelling wine regions. Paris-based writer Yasha Lysenko explores...
Les Halles de Narbonne
Tasting articles Ninety-nine wines showing the dazzling diversity of this often-underestimated region. Part 1 was published yesterday. See also Languedoc whites –...
September sunset Domaine de Montrose
Tasting articles Tam thinks so – and has nearly 200 red-wine recommendations to show for it. Come back tomorrow for the second...
Vietnamese pho at Med
Nick on restaurants Nick highlights something the Brits lack but the French have in spades – and it’s not French cuisine. This week...
Australian wine tanks and grapevines
Free for all The world is awash with unwanted wine. A version of this article is published by the Financial Times. Above, a...
Wine inspiration delivered directly to your inbox, weekly
Our weekly newsletter is free for all
By subscribing you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.