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Published by Academie du Vin Library Ltd
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
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.
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.
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 color maps and photos.
Product Details
- Publisher: Academie du Vin Library Ltd (May 6, 2025)
- Length: 360 pages
- ISBN13: 9781913141875
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Raves and Reviews
"Elaine Chukan Brown’s new book, The Wines of California, examines this shifting reality with a clear-eyed approach. More than a history of vineyards and vintages, the book connects the industry’s past to the forces shaping it today. Brown traces how California’s wine culture was shaped by colonization, economic booms and political upheaval, while also looking at the pressures driving change now. Labor rights, sustainability and the growing push for inclusion all play a role in defining what comes next."
– Rachel King, Forbes
"This is as thoughtful, erudite, and well-considered a tome on Califrornia wine as you’d expect from someone like Elaine, and much care has been taken to represent the newer guard of California winemaking, its major players, and how the area collectively got to this point in its winegrowing evolution. Personally, I especially enjoyed how Elaine explores the history of the region and how she represents its importance. This is a fine addition to the Classic Wine Library‘s classy lineup of overview books."
– Joe Roberts, 1 Wine Dude
"This is as thoughtful, erudite, and well-considered a tome on Califrornia wine as you’d expect from someone like Elaine, and much care has been taken to represent the newer guard of California winemaking, its major players, and how the area collectively got to this point in its winegrowing evolution. Personally, I especially enjoyed how Elaine explores the history of the region and how she represents its importance. This is a fine addition to the Classic Wine Library‘s classy lineup of overview books."
– Joe Roberts, 1 Wine Dude
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Wines of California Trade Paperback 9781913141875
