The California Directory Of Fine Wineries

"Sixty of California's prestigious wineries invite you on an irresistible journey to the congenial tasting rooms of a tri-county vineyard paradise. With 'The California Directory of Fine Wineries' as your guide, you'll wander through world-famous Napa, home of the state's most recognized cellar landmarks. You'll meander scenic back roads on the way to Sonoma's premier wineries. You'll travel to rustic Mendocino, where the winemakers themselves will pour you a glass of their specialty. Covering both glamorous estates and intimate, family-owned vineyards, 'The California Directory of Fine Wineries' is an essential, up-to-date guide to destinations of charm and character. Profiles by award-winning travel writer Marty Olmstead of the 60 wineries -- their striking architecture, behind-the-scenes tours, and beautiful gardens. Descriptions of the wineries' distinctive features, from 100-year old wine caves and museum-quality art exhibitions, to bocce ball courts and a wildlife preserve, to tastings of local olive oils and markets selling artisanal foods. More than 180 color images by renowned photographer Robert Holmes. Sidebars listing directions, vineyard tours, wine tastings, special culinary events, and nearby attractions. Full-page maps showing the 60 profiled destinations, plus more than 100 additional wineries in the three counties."--

California's Most Prestigious Wineries Invite You on an Irresistible Journey... to the congenial tasting rooms of a tri-county paradise. With The California Directory of Fine Wineries as your guide, you'll wander through world-famous Napa Valley, home of the state's most recognized cellar landmarks. Meandering scenic back roads, you'll discover Sonoma County's premier wineries. This fully updated, ninth edition of The California Directory of Fine Wineries is an essential guide to both glamorous estates and intimate, family-owned vineyards. Profiles of 56 Northern California wineries-- describing their striking architecture, behind-the-scenes tours, and bountiful gardens. Descriptions of the wineries' distinctive features, from 100-year-old wine caves and museum-quality art exhibitions to bocce ball courts and tastings of local olive oils and other gourmet foods. More than 170 color images by renowned photographer Robert Holmes. Sidebars listing directions, vineyard tours, wine tastings, special culinary events, and nearby attractions. Full-page maps showing the 56 profiled destinations, plus more than 100 additional wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma County.

The essential guide to both glamorous estates and intimate, family-owned vineyards, The California Directory of Fine Wineries is an indispensible travel companion to the Golden State’s world-renowned wine country. Scenic back roads meander past Napa’s elegant tasting rooms, through Sonoma's premier wineries, and into laid-back Mendocino, where the winemakers themselves will pour visitors a glass of their specialty. Profiles cover 68 of Northern California’s wineries, describing their striking architecture, bountiful gardens, and distinctive features, from 100-year-old wine caves and museum-quality art exhibitions to bocce ball courts and tastings of local olive oils and other gourmet foods. Also included are more than 200 color images, full-page maps, and sidebars listing directions, vineyard tours, wine tastings, special culinary events, and nearby attractions.

"Covering boutique tasting rooms, working ranches, warehouse wineries, and intimate, family-owned vineyards, this fully updated, second edition of The California Directory of Fine Wineries is an essential guide to destinations of charm and character. [Includes] profiles of 51 California Central Coast wineries, describing their signature wines, beautiful settings, and picturesque rural architecture, as well as telling the fascinating story of each winery owner; highlights of the wineries' distinctive offerings, from theater performances and concerts, to food-and-wine pairings and outdoor barbecues, to inviting gardens, bocce ball courts, and picnic areas; more than 170 color images by renowned photographer Robert Holmes"--Page 4 of cover.

Covering boutique tasting rooms, working ranches, warehouse wineries, and intimate, family-owned vineyards, this fully updated, third edition of The California Directory of Fine Wineries is an essential guide to destinations of charm and character.

A comprehensive full-color guide to Northern California's wine country. This guide provides a breathtaking photographic tour through the wine country's vineyards and winding roads: from Napa Valley's world-famous cellars through Sonoma's rolling pastures and Mendocino's rustic tasting rooms. Each entry represents a special destination winery that is open to the public and offers visitors something extraordinary beyond terrific wine, such as spectacular gardens, architecture, or art exhibitions. This edition offers updated information that no wine country navigator can do without.

Unconstrained by tradition or viticultural regulation, California winemakers enjoy a freedom that has resulted in a remarkable range of world-class wines. Beautifully illustrated with original photographs and detailed color maps, this guide introduces California wine by exploring the best that the state has to offer —from lush Sonoma Chardonnay to spicy Santa Barbara Syrah to heady Amador Zinfandel. At the heart of the book, award-winning wine writer Stephen Brook offers 90 intimate profiles of top producers—from Napa and Sonoma to the North and Central coasts, the Sierra foothills, and beyond. Brook also includes general information on California wine history, wine culture, grape varieties, and more. Throughout, he searches for the characteristics that make California wine distinctive despite its tremendous diversity—and finds the answer in the state’s unusual climate, especially the shifting interplay between fog and sun, as well as a lively and constant questioning of received ideas about viticulture, vine age, terroir, and winemaking techniques, all of which have helped winemakers to create complexity,individuality, and nuance in their wines.

Discover the nuances of California wines and increase your drinking pleasure Want to be a California wine connoisseur? This friendly guide gives you the knowledge you need to appreciate these fine wines, showing you how to taste them, select a good bottle, pair wine with food, and much more. You'll see why certain wine regions are renowned and how to further enrich your wine-drinking experience. California wine 101 — understand the range of California wines, what makes them unique, and what a varietal wine is Review the regions — explore the major wine regions of California and what makes each one special, from the soil to the climate Open the bottle — become fluent in the Big Six: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel Go beyond the basics — appreciate Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Syrah, sparkling wines, and more Round out your wine experience — pair and share wines, learn about the proper glassware and serving temperatures, and prepare for a winery visit Open the book and find: An overview of California wine today Wine recommendations for all budgets Explanations of wine label language A map of wine regions Tips for aging and collecting California wines Winery tasting etiquette The ins and outs of recent vintages Top wine country travel destinations