Book Description
This user-friendly and highly discerning Field Guide focuses on the Golden States most popular and newsworthy wine regionsfrom Napa Valley to the Central Coast to fast-growing Baja. This full-flavored guide will please the palates and temperaments of beginning and experienced wine enthusiasts alike, with all the breadth and expertise readers expect from Sunset. Based on rigorous in-the-field research by two of Sunset magazines most respected staffers, the recommendations are intentionally selective, rather than comprehensive, directing readers only to Californias best wineries and wine-country travel experiences. California Wine Country has all the bells and whistles of a classic travel guide: compact size, gorgeous maps, concise itineraries, and colorful illustrations. Plus easy-to-follow listings for everything from cant-miss wineries to must-see, off-the-path discoveries. And, of course, all the essentials for planning an exceptional trip: information on lodging, restaurants, routes, destinations, and activities.
Customer Reviews:
A pick for any California visitor or resident who loves wine and travel........2007-06-18
There are plenty of wine travel books on the market, but what makes CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY special is several attributes. First, a coat-pocket-sized appearance with a hard cover lends to take-along tote and easy consultation, especially the numerous maps and charts with display the latest wine country wineries, hotels, restaurants and more. Review of hundreds of wineries from 11 top regions throughout the state also lend to travelers who plan on going beyond the usual Napa/Sonoma Northern California regions. From suggested touring routes to winery web pages, phones, descriptions of wines and more, CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY is a top field guide not to be missed: a pick for any California visitor or resident who loves wine and travel.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
California Wine Country: A Sunset Field Guide.......2007-05-14
Ordered this book as a gift and received it just before we were heading for visit to California. We decided to keep it and use it for ourselves. We visited areas "off the beaten path" and were delighted to visit some of the wineries highlighted and to find others on our own. Would have liked maps to have given greater detail, but that would be our only quibble.
Book Description
The rich and varied architectural history of the northern California wine country and the fertile soils that produce abundant vineyards has attracted those who are conscious of preserving the qualities inherent to the area. Wine Country Style takes an intimate look at the lifestyle of nineteen homeowners of the Napa and Sonoma valleys, an area of the country that shuns fast-food restaurants, billboards, and commercial motels. These residents understand that the fine attributes of well-designed architecture are the integration of personal taste with the microclimate and history of their surroundings. People in the wine country today are passionate about the excellent wines produced in the agricultural region in which they choose to live. These inhabitants have personalized the architectural forms that express who they are and how they live, while maintaining the heritage of the area through a variety of styles: Tuscan, French Country, Franciscan Mission, Mediterranean, Modern, Rustic, American Colonial, Victorian, Palladian, Italianate, Asian, with farmhouses, barns, and cottages completing the eclectic blend that comprises the architectural styles of the bucolic wine-making Napa and Sonoma valleys. Yearning for a rural lifestyle in climatic conditions and verdant landscapes much like that in Europe's wine country? Then this is a must-have publication, full of lush photography and descriptive prose, a perfect addition to a home reference library or coffee table. Eminent designer Mary Whitesides has designed everything from interiors and home furnishings to pottery and coffee mugs. Her Peruvian-inspired furniture collections are widely distributed and featured in museums, including the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. In addition, she was one of the four founding members of the Sundance Catalog and a partner in developing the Sundance look, as well as the author of Desert Style, Mountain Style, and Wicker Design for Gibbs Smith, Publisher. She lives in Park City, Utah.
Customer Reviews:
Not what I was hoping for...............2007-04-03
I have spent many weekends in Napa Valley and did not feel that this book captured the many beautiful homes and wineries it has to offer. The book was uninspiring and I have not picked up the book once since I first looked at it.
Phenomenal Book.......2005-11-20
Just like all the other books in Whitesides' books, this one is artistic, beautiful, and unique. A Fabulous Book!!
Great wine country architecture!!!.......2005-03-04
We are in the process of building a home and have wanted to incorporate the architecture of Napa Valley in our home. I have purchased several books and this is by far the best depiction of Napa Style!! I highly recommend!!
Average customer rating:
- California Wine Simplified.
- I've read it, I've used it, I drank it (well, not really)
- Excellent and Entertaining Info on California Wine
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Matt Kramer's New California Wine: Making Sense of Napa Valley, Sonoma, Central Coast, and Beyond
Matt Kramer
Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Spirits
| Drinks & Beverages
| Cooking, Food & Wine
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Wine
| Drinks & Beverages
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General
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Similar Items:
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Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
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North American Pinot Noir
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Matt Kramer's Making Sense of Italian Wine: Discovering Italy's Greatest Wines and Best Values
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Wine Report 2007 (Wine Report)
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The Emperor of Wine : The Rise of Robert M. Parker, Jr. and the Reign of American Taste
ASIN: 0762419644
Release Date: 2004-09-14 |
Book Description
California has become the hottest wine producing area in the world, and it happened in less than 25 years. Now the acclaimed Wine Spectator columnist and critic Matt Kramer traces the dramatic progress of the California winemaking industry--the who, how, why, what, and where. No one is better equipped to provide insight into the ways in which West Coast vintners are working to create extraordinary wines, and to explain the myriad developments in character, quality, and technology that have taken place. Kramer's book provides the first comprehensive look at how new approaches to wine making have contributed to California's current high status in the world order of wine.
Customer Reviews:
California Wine Simplified........2007-04-08
By far, the most complete and easily read book of its type. It puts all of the recent changes in the California AVA's in perspective.
I've read it, I've used it, I drank it (well, not really).......2006-11-10
I have already nipped into this book several times, especially before trips to nearby Santa Barbara wine country, and Kramer has never steered me wrong yet. Based on his recommendations, I experienced some great wines at Foley and Longoria - not really a GUIDE BOOK per se, no fancy graphics or easy to turn to index pages, but Kramer does have his own wine guide for this. I highly recommend for wino-folks living right here on the left coast.
Excellent and Entertaining Info on California Wine.......2005-09-28
Matt Kramer's New California Wine starts with a section that describes the thinking and mentalities behind the California wine industry (he named this part "Thinking California"). He then goes on to describe California's American Viticultural Areas (AVA) and different activities going on in each in a part named "Drinking California". He mentions quite a number of wineries - in ways that offer details that go beyond the usual, dry descriptions often found elsewhere. The "Thinking California" part of the book provides the reader with an excellent overview of the state of California wines - the thinking that has evolved the European wine mentality/tradition as opposed to the California approach to the crafting of fine wines. Kramer's writing style is quite entertaining - he's descriptive with word choices that vividly portray California. At the start of key parts of the book he sets the scene with a quote and then moves into descriptions that inform and entertain. In "Thinking California" his insights into changes and evolutions that have transpired in California wines through descriptions of the history, the wine plant, the climate, and the soil provide an overview helpful when thinking about California wines. In "Drinking California" he gives descriptions of areas (AVA) and different wine operations. Quite a lot of detail that I'll use when planning my next visit to California - the kind of detail one might want when doing advance planning - necessary when visiting wineries. As a native Californian who now lives in Europe I've tried to answer questions about California wines - what I've learned from Mr. Kramer gives an understanding of and a perspective about California wines that I'll find helpful. I'm glad I bought the book and consider its price to be a good investment.
Book Description
The poisoning of a Napa Valley bride has oenophile Nikki Sands researching what may have been a killer bottle of wine.
Customer Reviews:
Like A Fine Wine, This Series Keeps Improving with Age.......2007-08-19
Failed actress Nikki Sands, introduced to us in "Murder Uncorked", has moved to the Napa Valley, where she has started her new job as assistant to winery owner Derek Malveaux. The story opens with Derek and Nikki attending a swanky Napa Valley wedding, only to have Nikki stumble across the body of the bride shortly after the wedding. But when one of Nikki's new friends, Isabel Fernandez, is accused of the murder, Nikki is sure that Isabel is innocent and sets out to find the murderer. "Murder by the Glass" features a lot more sleuthing by Nikki, which I found enjoyable. Also a plus in this second book is the development of the characters of "The Boys of Summer" (a nickname given to Derek's half-brother Simon and his lover Mario). In the first story, Derek and Mario were made out to be the laughing stocks of the Malveaux family, but in this one we nmeet them and they play a key role in solving the mystery. There is lots of lots of very funny dialogue in this book.
Nikki's love interestes continue to develop as well, with her relationships with both Andres Fernandez and Derek Malveaux becoming heated. Like the first book, there are several recipes given, along with suggested wine pairings for the recipes.
All in all, this was a delightful cozy. Now I can't wait for my copy of "Silenced by Syrah" to get here, so I can find out what happens next in Nikki's Napa valley life.
The second in the series..........2007-05-23
This is the second book in the delightful series that is set in the Napa area of California. This story actually ranges farther afield geographically. This is a series of books that I have recommended (and in some cases purchased) for friends that are looking for an entertaining read that finsihes nicely without the heavy, cloying after-taste of some other stories.
Pleasant but predictable..........2007-03-09
Having read all of Michele Scott's wine mystery novels to date, I find her ability to spin a tale good, but not great... I wish she would employ more logical thinking in her main charater's ability to investigate a true murder and make the novel more believable. Her protaganist appears much to dumb and cutesy to be investigating a murder which makes the story line go flat in some places. Just a pinch of realism could go a long way in her writing...
On the other hand, I think she does provide the reader with an absorbing romantic saga and paints a delectable protrait of the Sonoma/Napa Valley wine country. I even tried one of the recipes!
Couldn't put it down!.......2007-02-24
As with the first in this series (Murder Uncorked) I LOVED THIS BOOK! It is one of the few books that I didn't want to put down. In both books I loved that I could not solve the mystery until she revealed the murderer to us! (Rare, I always seem to figure it out!). I also thorougly enjoyed the visual imagery Scott created for the reader. I really feel as though I know the characters, the wineries she takes us to, the restaurants they dine in etc. AND I love the wine education she has given me. As someone fairly new, but very interested in, the world of wine, Scott was able to mix in an education in wine, along with a wonderful romance, and intriguing murder mystery. Can't wait for #3 in the series, I just pre-ordered it!
romance or mystery.......2007-02-01
I like a good mystery and love good wine tips but both the authors books so far are dissapointing in that they are more in the catagory of romance rather than mystery.. the heroine in love with two men is just so old and her endings are rather dissapointing..
Average customer rating:
- The Grapes Grow Sweet
- I use it in my classroom!
- Beautiful illustrations and writing.
- A viticulturist
- A wonderful story as well as incredible art.
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The Grapes Grow Sweet: A Child's First Harvest in Wine Country
Llynne Tuft , and
Tessa Decarlo
Manufacturer: Studio 8/River Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Country Life
| Where We Live
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ASIN: 0965609294 |
Book Description
The Grapes Grow Sweet, a family book, tells the story of five-year-old Julian, the fourth generation of a wine grape growing family, and how he spends his summer watching his family's vineyards ripen in the sun and then participating for the first time in the excitement of the grape harvest. Along the way, we learn about the different stages of the vine and the ecology of the vineyard, and a child's fascination with his family's vocation.
Customer Reviews:
The Grapes Grow Sweet.......2005-09-08
My son received this book as a birthday present when he was five years old. He was fascinated by the story and beautiful pictures. Since we live in the wine country, and watch the "grapes grow sweet" in real life, it was wonderful to have such a wonderful book to read. Now that he is eleven, he reads it to my grandson who is equally enchanted, and asks us to read it each time he visits.
I use it in my classroom!.......2005-09-04
As a resident of northern California I enjoy reading "The Grapes Grow Sweet" to my daughter, which describes a fall grape harvest from the perspective of a young boy growing up in a family vineyard. I am also a school teacher and use the book in my classroom. Many of my students have family members who are farm workers so they have background knowledge of life in a vineyard and can relate to the story being told. We spend a few days in my class each fall completing an integrated thematic unit that includes reading, descriptive writing and art. We finish the unit by bringing in different foods made with grapes that we can eat in class. Typically we have grape juice, grape jelly, raisins, grapes, etc. It is easily adaptable to the state standards and has amazing water color art that inspires the children to create their own works of art! The text offers descriptive writing samples to students by describing the pale green leaves, rattling, roaring tractor, shiny bunch of grapes, bouncing jackrabbit and sunbathing lizard. I look forward to fall each year and the opportunity to read "The Grapes Grow Sweet" with a new group of students.
Beautiful illustrations and writing........2001-02-23
"The Grapes Grow Sweet" is well-summarized in the other reviews, so I won't go into that. My four-year old and I really enjoyed this book he received as a present. The pictures are copy an Impressionist-era style (nice for adults) but have a lot going on in them, from the bees that constantly hover over the sweet grapes to the grape pickers rushing to fill the gondolas. I love the fact that the author doesn't talk down to her audience, she talks about gondolas instead of "big trucks" and grape cutting knives instead of "cutters." Every character has a different voice, and the aspects of family life, community pride, migrant farming, and the life of a four-year old are all highlighted without the author shoving it in your face.
I highly recommend this book to children 4-8 and their parents.
A viticulturist.......2000-08-18
I bought this book not knowing anything about it for my nephew who lives in a large city so he could have a book about what I do out in the country. I was VERY pleasantly surprised by just how nice a book it is. The story is great and the pictures are wonderful. It now tops my list for baby/childrens presents.
A wonderful story as well as incredible art........1998-12-07
Lynne Tuft is a fabulous artist. I think she should win an Emmy award for the best artwork of the year!!The story hooks you from the start, and she gives you such description that you can practically taste the grapes in your mouth and feel the summer heat and the years that Julian has waited to work in the fields! I would recommend this book to everyone because of the wonderful story as well as the incredible art.
This narrative proves that us kids and our parents are safe around wine despite what others may think! Lynne teaches us about the way it is when the grapes, which are made into wine, jelly, or jam, remember this book and all the hard work, long years, and effort put into it. If you read this book, I can guarantee many readings of pure enjoyment!! Estelle Wagner, Age 10, grade 6
Amazon.com
"I have always thought of Mustards as a cross between a roadside rib joint and a French country restaurant," writes chef-owner Cindy Pawlcyn, neatly characterizing the culinary pedigree of her famed Napa Valley, California, dining spot. Pawlcyn's Mustards Grill Napa Valley Cookbook, written with Brigid Callinan, offers 150 popular recipes from the restaurant, treats like Slow-Smoked BBQ Pork Sandwiches with Ooo-Eee! Sauce, Wild Mushroom "Burgers" with Apple-Jicama Slaw, and Artichokes with James Beard's Beer Batter and Tarragon Aioli. The recipes can entail a kitchen workout, but they are easy enough to do once the commitment is made. Readers wanting to treat family or guests to sophisticated down-home eating will welcome Pawlcyn's unique repertoire.
In chapters that cover appetizers, soups, and salads, Pawlcyn presents standout recipes like Crab Cakes with Red Beet and Horseradish Rémoulade; Tomato, Basil, and Tortilla Soup; and Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Noodles and Rice Vinegar Cucumbers. Smoker- and grill-derived specialties, including Half-Slab BBQ Baby Back Ribs with Crispy Yams and Coleslaw and Tea-Smoked Duck with 100-Almond Sauce and Ginger Pickled Mango, receive their own seductive space, as do pan and sandwich delights like Louise's Bouillabaisse with Rouille and Ahi Tuna and Shiitake Mini Burgers. Desserts such as Lemon-Lime Meringue Pie and Red Raspberry, White Peach, and Blueberry Cobbler follow in the deluxe-diner spirit of the place and should prove an irresistible finale to any meal. They're further tribute to Pawlcyn's one-of-a kind restaurant and its instantly seductive cooking. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
As anyone knows who has spent time in Napa Valley, Mustard's Grill is an institution in the wine country-the friendly restaurant where locals first started going for a full plate of fabulous food and a glass of Napa's finest. Chef-owner Cindy Pawlcyn, founding chef of San Francisco's original Fog City Diner, put down her roots in Napa over 15 years ago when she brought her midwestern sensibility and flair for reinventing American food to the valley. Ever since then, Mustard's has been affectionately known as the fancy rib joint with way, way too many wines. With its ranch house feel, its roadhouse welcome, mustard fields and vineyards as a backdrop, and a dash of whimsy that defies pretentiousness, Mustard's Grill offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience in the valley. And with over 125 of the restaurant's signature dishes, Pawlcyn's MUSTARD'S GRILL COOKBOOK delivers all the flavor-with none of the fuss-that Napa is famous for.
Customer Reviews:
Mustard's Cookbook.......2007-05-13
Love the cookbook and am looking forward to cooking from it right away. Thanks
Fab cookbook -- even if you are a novice!.......2007-02-06
I was given this cookbook for Christmas and was a little intimidated by it. It looks more like a coffee table cookbook at first glance -- something fun to look at and read but too challenging to actually use. However, I have fallen in love with this cookbook!! The Jack Daniel's Pecan Chocolate Cake with chocolate sauce is divine AND easy (and for those who don't eat wheat or gluten, totally flourless). The House-Made Ketchup is extremely good and makes a great bbq sauce (recipe also included). Even though the recipes are not hard, this is no canned-mushroom-soup cookbook. If you're the king (or queen) of fresh and don't mind spending a little time in the kitchen now and then, you might just love it. Kudos to Mustard's for sharing their best.
yummy.......2007-01-09
My mom and I had a chance to eat at the restaurant Oct. 2007. Our experience was positive. I had to try the Mongolian Pork Chops from the reviews I'd read. Every bit as good as people reported. The only thing was that a month after I'd returned home, I was craving it (the whole meal)! I promptly ordered the cookbook. Again, I was impressed. Lots of beautiful pictures. I immediately set about trying the recipe, which not only included the entree, but the side dishes as well. My husband loved it too (he didn't get to experience the meal at the restaurant). I was so pleaseed, also bought the book for my aunt!
Eat at Mustard's Grill! (Or buy the cookbook!).......2003-04-20
When you visit the Napa wine region you must eat at Mustard's Grill. If that is not possible then you should buy Cindy Pawlcyn and Brigid Callinan's cookbook. The recipes for fantastic grilled food, unique side dishes, and incredible desserts found in this book will make you plan your next vacation to northern California. If you like pork you will love her Mongolian pork chops with chinese mustard sauce. Serve it with her mashed potatoes and braised red cabbage for a winning meal reminiscent of the friendly restaurant nestled among Napa's vineyards. Buy this cookbook and you will immediately understand why it won a James Beard award. And I hear that another cookbook is in the works ...
Should have been 5 stars..........2003-02-14
I would recommend this cookbook to those with some experience - this is not a recipe guide, but rather an inspiration source from a chef with well-grounded tastes. The recipes are easy to follow, are not difficult or overly time consuming in preparation, and show culinary flair and wisdom without being trendy for trend's sake. I would describe the dishes as simple food for gourmets. The book's design and photographs are tasteful.
With this praise in mind, I am disappointed in the book's production - unforgivable oversights such as: three prominent photographs throughout the book of what appears to be plates of crispy fried onion rings... but no mention or recipe. Or the recipe for a Salmon Roulade accompanied by eight very clear how-to photos - the photos show skinless salmon, butterflied and pounded, but the recipe calls for fillets with skin on, and no mention of pounding. An edit for future releases would be welcome. My opinion is this would be a logical cookbook for those who appreciate Jaques Pépin's series of books aimed at the aspiring novice, as well as for more experienced cooks who would like some inspiration for higher-end simple food.
Amazon.com
Restaurant Terra provides fine dining in a century-old former foundry. The very personal creation of husband-and-wife chefs Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani, the Napa Valley dining spot is noted for its relaxed yet sophisticated cuisine--French- and Italian-influenced cooking that also reflects Sone's Japanese culinary heritage. Terra tells the restaurant's story and offers over 175 of its recipes, from appetizers such as Goat Cheese and Artichoke Spring Rolls with Arugula and Tomato Salad to desserts such as Chocolate Mousseline on Pecan Sablé with Coffee Granité. The authors are unapologetic about the work required to prepare many of the recipes, but they've also made them models of clarity and, better still, instruction. Readers who like to cook and those who enjoy armchair restaurant touring will welcome the book.
Beginning with a day-in-the-life restaurant diary--work starts at 4:30 a.m. and ends some 20 hours later--the book then offers recipes organized by course or food type. Standouts include Mussel Seafood Soup with Caramelized Onions, Bone Marrow Risotto with Braised Veal Shanks, and Chinese Egg Noodles with Gulf Shrimp, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Pea Tendrils. Desserts, which should bring any meal to a delirious close, include Fig Fritters with Ginger Ice Cream and Feuilleté of Caramelized Bananas with Chocolate Fudge Sauce. Present also is a particularly useful chapter on basic techniques--photos depicting various vegetable cuts are a valuable bonus--as well as basic and pantry recipes. Illustrated with color photos throughout, the book provides a sense of a restaurant performing at the top of its game, plus a blueprint for preparing its most delicious fare. --Arthur Boehm
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding.......2006-03-04
A book of artistry and inspiration, Terra is sure to please the intermediate to advance chef and their diners. A cookbook and a reference, simply wonderful.
Great resource for special occasions.......2002-12-14
Great cookbook for those special occasions where you want to spend the time and resources on making something special. The recipes are a little more time-consuming, the ingredients a little harder to find, but the result is wonderful. Jacques Pepin is simpler (and excellent) and French Laundry Cookbook is even more complicated (but also excellent) - Terra is a great in-between.
I've cooked over 10 of their recipes already and every single one has turned out really well. They're not simple nor for a beginner cook, but if you have a little experience, it'll make for some very memorable dinners.
The desserts are especially great, as are the appetizers.
A Masterpiece for the Kitchen.......2001-03-25
For those of you fortunate enough to have dined at this world class restaurant, Hiro & Lissa'a book needs no introduction. I was fortunate enough to have found Terra shortly after it opened in 1988 (living in St. Helena at the time) & have been hooked ever since. The BEST dishes of their menus past & present are included in this beautifully illustrated book. Most importantly the instructions are well detailed & the dishes turn out exactly as they do in the restaurant. What more can I say? THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK!!!!!
Awesome and amazing..........2001-01-03
Much like it's worthy counterpart's book (Tra Vigne), this wonderful piece should not fail to delight and please all those who happen across it.
First, if you are lucky enough to have dined at Terra, you'll already understand the beauty of (and behind) this book. Quite simply, this is a work of art. Why is that the case? Well...
Design--Beautiful graphic design and photographs. The layout is incredible and the photos are enough to make you drool.
Dialogue--Add to that delightful text and dialogue. Much closer to what this book achieves is the word "prose" as opposed to merely "text." The stories and dialogue are true pleasure to read. It makes this much more than simply a "cookbook."
Recipes--The recipes are, much like the food at the restaurant, exquisite. They are just delicious. Their difficulty ranges from relatively easy to moderately difficult. But, they are very easy to follow, making even the harder recipes accessible to the average "joe."
I strongly urge those considering this one to just go ahead and make the purchase. You will not be disappointed. It will be book you will treasure, and will reach for time and again.
Also, look into the Tra Vigne cookbook. It too is on the same level as this piece.
Drool.......2000-12-22
A mouth water sensantion to read and view - before you even get to cook a dish. If you'v ever been to Terra you know what I mean and if you ever go to Napa Valley - you won't want to miss the opportunity to dine at Terra.
Average customer rating:
- Essential
- Glossy, beautiful, informative
- I want more
- Winery Guide for Wine Country Residents
- Don't go without it
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Napa Valley: The Ultimate Winery Guide--Revised and Updated, Fourth Edition
Antonia Allegra
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Spirits
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| Cooking, Food & Wine
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Wine & Winemaking
| Wine
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The Food Lover's Companion to the Napa Valley: Where to Eat, Cook, and Shop in the Wine Country Plus 50 Irresistible Recipes
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The Napa & Sonoma Book: A Complete Guide, Seventh Edition (Great Destinations)
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Frommer's Portable California Wine Country (Frommer's Portable)
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Sonoma: The Ultimate Winery Guide Second Edition
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California Wine Country: The Most Beautiful Wineries, Vineyards, and Destinations
ASIN: 0811840883 |
Book Description
Brimming with both magnificent vistas and practical information, Napa Valley is the ultimate guide to a rich region. This new edition is not only fully updated, it includes three marvelous new winery profiles and boasts a fresh interior design -- and a fetching new cover. Whether it's a garden to die for, a tour that tops all the others, spectacular views, or a combination of virtues, these are the places worth seeing, and going back to again and again. Along the way, author Antonia Allegra delivers a lively survey of winemaking and local history and suggests great places to visit. Sidebars give directions, visiting hours, and highlights, and an appendix lists nearly every winery in the area. Illustrated with spectacular full-color photographs on practically every page, Napa Valley is as beautiful as it is informative -- a treasure for those who know Napa Valley as much as for those planning to visit.
Customer Reviews:
Essential.......2007-05-12
This book is all you need to visit Napa. The explanations are great, and the pictures are excellent. If you do not know where to go or which ones to visit in a short stay (needless to say that you can't visit ALL of them unless you are planning to move in), after reading the book you have all the information to make a plan. I loved the detail explanations about the wine tours. Did I mention that the pictures are excellent?
Glossy, beautiful, informative.......2007-04-24
First, let's ignore the oxymoron of the "ultimate" guide's fourth edition - if that first edition was so "ultimate," how come three (so far) came after?
The format is straightforward: two or four pages per winery, with glorious photos of the vineyards, buildings, or other distinguishing features of each winery. The tourist's basics are spelled out on the first of that winery's pages: address and contact information hours of operation, tour arrangements, typical offerings in the tasting room, and tasting fees. A brief, enthusiastic description follows, often with a sound bite or two from the owners.
It's a great help in planning your wine country vacation, or reminder of the good times you had in the Napa valley. Don't expect serious criticism or comparison of the wines - that's for a different book. Do check the information presented, since it's been at least three years (as of this writing) since the most recent edition came out. But dig in and enjoy, since that's what wine and travel are all about.
//wiredweird
I want more.......2002-05-24
I have been researching my vacation to wine country for about a month now and have been unable to find a book that gives an objective viewpoint. I want a book to actually recommend a winery in addition to explaining what the winery has to offer. This book goes over the tours available at most wineries in the area which is helpful, but not exhaustive.
Winery Guide for Wine Country Residents.......2001-05-30
As a California native, and a person who has lived in the Napa Valley and Sonoma County wine country for years, I keep my copy of "Napa Valley The Ultimate Winery Guide" in the trunk of my car. It is not only my guide to wineries in each particular geographic section of Napa Valley, but also my resource for tracking down a certain vintage or type of wine.
It also assists me in planning short excursions during which I may want to visit an art gallery along with a winery, and long weekend tours with friends when I want to give an overview with a bit of everything Napa Valley has to offer: a small town not well-known by tourists, a French-Chateau, the best view in the Valley, wonderful walks and, always, pointers on events--both fixed offerings at each winery and seasonal goings-on. The detailed information and directions make this guide a user-friendly pleasure.
In short, this is a convenient reference book on how to get the most out of Napa Valley...whether you are a resident who hasn't yet had the opportunity to discover all of Ms. Allegra's wonderful finds, or a visitor wanting to pack a variety of the Valley's best into a day or two.
This is a must for anyone visiting Napa Valley, or vicariously enjoying an armchair tour through the beautiful photographs.
Don't go without it.......2001-05-23
If you travel to the Napa Valley without this book, you will commit the unpardonable vacation crime of being uninformed about the must-see, must-taste nooks and crannies of your destination. You can purchase other Napa Valley books, but they won't be this well-written, this beautifully rendered, and this chock-full of mouth-watering recommendations and tips. The authors are true food and wine insiders, and they're not impressed by trendiness for its own sake. If you want the most interesting winery experience possible in the Napa Valley, check out this book.
Book Description
Discover fine dining, wineries, and specialty shops in this guide designed for sophisticated visitors to the Napa Valley. Also included are recipes from the region's top chefs, lists of festivals, and recommended accommodations.
Customer Reviews:
Very detailed guide to Napa.......2001-01-29
This book provides an enormously detailed, accurate guide to Napa Valley. You can literally move from building to building along the main roads of Napa and know what sits in each one when using this guide. It provides phone numbers, hours of operation, and all that one needs to enjoy a visit to Napa. It's almost TOO detailed... if I had one complaint it would be that I wished the authors would provide some more hints on which of the many places they describe so well are REALLY worth a visit! A great companion during a trip to Napa, though.
Best for self guided Napa tour. Quips were great!.......1999-10-10
This book is a must for a self-guided Napa tour. The quips about wineries provided a view not oftern seen. Comments about the smaller producing wineries were true and personal. We met the winemaker, owner, the bookkeeper and cashier at Dutch Henry only to learn they are the only employees. The information in the book is helpful to find not only wineries but eateries too. We even dined at the French Laundry. Ask about the waiting list! Don't leave home without this book!
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- Cook Right 4 Your Type: The Practical Kitchen Companion to Eat Right 4 Your Type
- Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, from Cocaine to Foie Gras
- Cooking from Quilt Country : Hearty Recipes from Amish and Mennonite Kitchens
- Cooking from Quilt Country : Hearty Recipes from Amish and Mennonite Kitchens
- Cooking with the Bible: Biblical Food, Feasts, and Lore
- Damon Lee Fowler's New Southern Kitchen: Traditional Flavors for Contemporary Cooks
- Dishes from the Wild Horse Desert: Norteño Cooking of South Texas
Books Index
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