The New Connoisseurs Guidebook To California Wine And Wineries

"I have depended on Charles Olken's Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine for more than 35 years. This new Guidebook is a perfect complement. No other book comes close to its thoroughness, accuracy, and usefulness. It is a must for travelers in California's wine country."—Charles L. Sullivan, author of Zinfandel "Olken's perspective on California wines is unmatched: he spans the landscape from the postwar pioneers to the newest garagistes, and wine criticism from before Parker to the age of blogs. This new guidebook is informed by his 35 years of careful, candid, and comprehensive attention to California wine."—John Winthrop Haeger, author of Pacific Pinot Noir

This essential guide to the wines and wineries of California--and the entire West Coast--has been freshly revised and expanded to include the latest available vintages, and details of many new wineries. The authors provide everything readers need to know, from the basics of winemaking to grape and wine varieties to harvest reports and reviews of more than 800 wineries.

This essential guide to the wines and wineries of California--and the entire West Coast--has been freshly revised and expanded to include the latest available vintages, and details of many new wineries. The authors provide everything readers need to know, from the basics of winemaking to grape and wine varieties to harvest reports and reviews of more than 800 wineries.

A comprehensive guide to the must-know wines and producers of California's "new generation," and the story of the iconoclastic young winemakers who have changed the face of California viniculture in recent years. The New California Wine is the untold story of the California wine industry: the young, innovative producers who are rewriting the rules of contemporary winemaking; their quest to express the uniqueness of California terroir; and the continuing battle to move the state away from the overly-technocratic, reactionary practices of its recent past. Jon Bonné writes from the front lines of the California wine revolution, where he has access to the fascinating stories, philosophies, and techniques of top producers. Part narrative, part authoritative purchasing reference, The New California Wine is a necessary addition to any wine lover's bookshelf.

A tasteful guide for California wine novices and connoisseurs alike California accounts for a large percentage of the total U.S. wine production — about two of every three bottles sold. This handy guide presents the latest information on California wines and the regions where they are produced, including Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Santa Barbara, and Monterey. Open the book and find: The areas where wine is produced in California Recommened wineries in Napa and Sonoma valleys An introduction to the wines south of San Francisco, including Monterey A glimpse into the wines of Santa Barbara and the rest of California

Frommer's Portable Guides offer all the detailed information and insider advice of a Frommer's Complete Guide--but in a concise, pocket-sized format. Perfect for the short-term traveler who insists on value and doesn't want to wade through or carry a full-size guidebook, this series selects the very best choices in all price categories and takes you straight to the top sights. Lush, opulent pinot noir; rich, robust zinfandel; fruity, full-bodied Chardonnay--you can sample them all in Californias Napa and Sonoma Valleys, which together comprise one of the world's premier wine regions. Completely up-to-date, Frommer's Portable California Wine Country is a handy guide that will give you proven strategies for exploring the region. Our candid reviews of the top wineries will tell you which tours are worth your time and which wineries offer affordable bottles. You'll also get a beginner's guide to California wines: varietals, recommendations on recent vintages, tips on wine-tasting protocol (how to sniff, swish, and spit like a pro), tips on shipping, and much, much more. And when wine-tasting is done for the day, turn to our candid, complete reviews of the region's fabulous inns and restaurants!

California is the nation's great vineyard, supplying grapes for most of the wine produced in the United States. The state is home to more than 700 wineries, and California's premier wines are recognized throughout the world. But until now there has been no comprehensive guide to California wine and winemaking. Charles L. Sullivan's A Companion to California Wine admirably fills that gap—here is the reference work for consumers, wine writers, producers, and scholars. Sullivan's encyclopedic handbook traces the Golden State's wine industry from its mission period and Gold Rush origins down to last year's planting and vintage statistics. All aspects of wine are included, and wine production from vine propagation to bottling is described in straightforward language. There are entries for some 750 wineries, both historical and contemporary; for more than 100 wine grape varieties, from Aleatico to Zinfandel; and for wine types from claret to vermouth—all given in a historical context. In the book's foreword the doyen of wine writers, Hugh Johnson, tells of his own forty-year appreciation of California wine and its history. "Charles Sullivan's Companion," he adds, "will provide the grist for debate, speculation, and reminiscence from now on. With admirable dispassion he sets before us just what has happened in the plot so far."