American Wine: The Ultimate Companion to the Wines and Wineries of the United States

by Jancis Robinson, Linda Murphy

Overview

Over the past three decades, a wine revolution has been taking place across the United States. There are now more than 7,000 American wine producers—up from 440 in 1970—and the best bottles are every bit as good as the finest wines of Europe. American Wine is the first comprehensive and authoritative reference on the wines, wineries, and winemakers of America. Written by world-renowned wine author Jancis Robinson and U.S. wine expert Linda Murphy, this book is the natural companion to the international bestseller, The World Atlas of Wine. More than 200 breathtaking photographs, profiles of key personalities, and informational graphics bring to life the vitality of American wine culture and 54 detailed full-color maps locate key regions, wineries, and vineyards. Organized by geographical region, American Wine concentrates on areas such as California, Oregon, and Washington that produce the best-known wines, and ventures across the country to introduce gems such as racy Rieslings from Michigan and New York, Bordeaux-style wines from Virginia, bright-fruited Tempranillo from Texas and southern Oregon, and characterful Nortons from the Midwest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520273214
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	03/01/2013
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.70(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jancis Robinson MW is the author of The Oxford Companion to Wine and coauthor of The World Atlas of Wine, among many other books. Linda Murphy was the wine section editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, where she won two James Beard awards, and managing editor of the New York Times’ WineToday.com.

Table of Contents

Preface

American Winemaking Comes of Age

The West

CALIFORNIA
Mendocino County
Lake County
Sonoma County
Los Carneros AVA
Napa Valley AVA
Bay Area
Monterey County
San Benito & Mount Harlan AVAs
San Luis Obispo County
Santa Barbara County
Sierra Foothills
Central Valley
South Coast

OREGON 1
Willamette Valley AVA
Southern Oregon

WASHINGTON
Columbia Valley AVA
Puget Sound AVA and Seattle

IDAHO

COLORADO

OTHER MOUNTAIN STATES
South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana,
Utah, Nevada, Wyoming

HAWAII AND ALASKA

The Southwest
ARIZONA
NEW MEXICO
TEXAS
OKLAHOMA

The Midwest
MISSOURI

OTHER WEST CENTRAL STATES
Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska
MICHIGAN

OTHER EAST CENTRAL STATES
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin

The Southeast
VIRGINIA

CENTRAL APPALACHIA
Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, West Virginia

LOWER SOUTH
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas

The Northeast
NEW ENGLAND
Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine

NEW YORK
Long Island AVA
Hudson River Region AVA
Finger Lakes AVA
Niagara Escarpment AVA
Lake Erie AVA

PENNSYLVANIA

MID-ATLANTIC STATES
New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland

Index
Acknowledgments/Credits

Editorial Reviews

This comprehensive reference tome from Robinson (The Oxford Companion to Wine) and James Beard award-winner Murphy provides oenophiles with an exhaustive and wildly informative survey of the current state of the American winemaking industry. They open with a fascinating account of grape cultivation from mid-1500s Florida, chronicling the evolution of the American wine industry through Prohibition to the present day, highlighting all 50 states along the way. That said, the contents reflect the industry's lopsided nature: California takes up nearly half of the book, followed by Washington and Oregon, with ample attention paid to New York. The duo's coverage includes immersive studies of even the most minor regions and profiles of notable winemakers, with recommendations for varietals and vintners worth seeking out. Asides and anecdotes, such as the French influence on Washington wines or the accidental history of white zinfandel, make the book eminently skimmable, but those with merely a passing interest in wine will find themselves sucked in to this expansive, readable tome that lives up to its titular promise. Approachable enough for the novice but insightful enough for the aficionado, this is one worth looking into. Color photos & maps. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

An informed, intelligent and entertaining tour, “American Wine” is your reader-friendly companion from the Napa Valley to the North Fork. Clear maps, knockout photos, valuable information."

Newsday

"American Wine is more than the ultimate reference guide on the subject, it leaves one feeling there is no better time to be an oenophile in America than today. Sip slowly and enjoy the ride."

Hudson Valley Wine

Glorious. . . . American Wine captures all the romance and allure of viniculture from Florida to Hawaii.

Campus Circle - Angela Matano

"Murphy and Robinson give us the new 'Ultimate Companion' to American Wine, taking into account the significant changes that have hit the U.S. wine industry over the past 20 years. An indispensable reference."

Tom Wark's Fermentation

"Glorious. . . . American Wine captures all the romance and allure of viniculture from Florida to Hawaii."--Campus Circle

From the Publisher

A gorgeous browse, this book practically guarantees daydreams of romantic vineyard picnics near and far. The authors demonstrate that American wineries are no longer confined to Napa Valley. As the world's fourth-largest wine maker, the United States currently boasts over 7,000 producers (compared to a mere 440 in 1970), from terrains as varied as Hawaii and Alaska. Here readers learn about up-and-coming wine regions such as Virginia, how to read wine labels, and about the ever-evolving technology involved in transforming a grape into vino. VERDICT A lushly photographed tribute to one of America's favorite products; purchase for public libraries.

Library Journal