The Wines of California

California is one of the world's most feted wine regions. Elaine Chukan Brown, one of the world’s leading authority on the region, analyses all of the main AVAs, from the North Coast, to the celebrated Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

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A concise, complete, smartly delivered and cohesive book for serious readers and students of wine. Focusing on the world’s fourth largest producer of wine – California – the book takes readers on a journey through the golden state’s wines, paying due attention to famous regions such as Sonoma and Napa as well as introducing readers to exciting up-and-coming regions to explore.


The book is divided into three major sections. The first presents the key ideas that help make sense of California wine as a whole, including the history of California wine in brief, how the topography delivers California’s overarching climatic and soil conditions, and the basics of vineyard and winery factors relevant to the state such as the role of the AVA.


The second section takes each major region in turn and looks into its history, growing conditions and varieties, as well as discussing the most significant and interesting producers. A final section looks at current themes in Californian wine and discusses the future of the industry across the state.









Explains all the state’s AVAs, examining the development, growing conditions and varietal trends for each.
Profiles the main producers and individuals shaping the wine industry today.
A useful reference on California that also provides alternative insights and insider knowledge.
Author Elaine Chukan Brown is a prolific commentator on the wines of California and a speaker at events around the globe.
Supported by colour maps and photos.