Ghost Wineries of Napa Valley


Book Description

Extensively researched by a resident grape grower and historian, this is the fascinating photographic tour of historic Napa wineries. The historical details and photographs of more than 65 wineries bring vision of the vibrant California wine industry of more than 100 years ago and the roots of many of today's great vintners are exposed in these photos and historical vignettes.




Prohibition in the Napa Valley


Book Description

To a region flush with the success of alcohol, Prohibition was a sobering thought. Against the backdrop of national events, author Lin Weber introduces a cast of Napa Valley's leading citizens, embroiled in a fight for their livelihood with temperance champions and federal agents. Theodore Bell filed a Hail Mary suit to stop California's ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment. Vintner Georges de Latour made money hand over fist on altar wine. The Nichelini winery hid a cache of contraband under the floorboards, and the Blaufuss Brewery avoided prosecution when the law turned a blind eye. Join Weber as she relates a wry tale of cherished vines, widespread corruption and alcohol-inspired mayhem during a time when "morality" tightened the noose around Napa's prized alcohol industry.




Napa Valley Tour Guide


Book Description




A Perfect Score


Book Description

A lively husband and wife team recounts their twenty-year climb from amateur winemakers to recipients of an almost unheard-of perfect score from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. Kathryn and Craig Hall launched themselves head first into Napa Valley 20 years ago with the purchase of an 1885 winery and never looked back. Since the couple's purchase of their debut winery, their critically acclaimed HALL Wines and WALT Wines have become fixtures of the California wine industry, winning numerous accolades including a coveted 100-point "perfect score." A PERFECT SCORE weaves a vibrant tale of the HALL brand's meteoric rise to success, Napa Valley's tug-of-war between localism and tourism, and the evolving nature of the wine industry as a whole. Readers who love a good glass of wine will find much to savor in the Halls' expert account of the art, soul, and business of a modern winery.




Appellation Napa Valley


Book Description

Thanks to a far-sighted band of creative pioneers, and thanks to a very special community intelligence and spirit, the Napa Valley has transformed itself from a sleepy, inward-looking farm and ranching enclave into one of the most prestigious and exciting wine-growing regions in the world. In Appellation Napa Valley, the renowned wine lawyer and industry authority Richard Mendelson takes us inside the legal and commercial struggles that did so much to make the Napa Valley into what it is today. Along the way, he brings us incisive portraits of the men and women who joined hands in common cause and common spirit, igniting a revolution in American wine and food in the process. Enlivened by exquisite maps and drawings from vineyards and cellars, plus a foreword by the celebrated French Laundry chef Thomas Keller, Appellation Napa Valley is a unique keepsake book to be savored and cherished for many years to come.




Wine for Normal People


Book Description

This is a fun but respectful (and very comprehensive) guide to everything you ever wanted to know about wine from the creator and host of the popular podcast Wine for Normal People, described by Imbibe magazine as "a wine podcast for the people." More than 60,000 listeners tune in every month to learn a not-snobby wine vocabulary, how and where to buy wine, how to read a wine label, how to smell, swirl, and taste wine, and so much more! Rich with charts, maps, and lists—and the author's deep knowledge and unpretentious delivery—this vividly illustrated, down-to-earth handbook is a must-have resource for millennials starting to buy, boomers who suddenly have the time and money to hone their appreciation, and anyone seeking a relatable introduction to the world of wine.




Wine. All the Time.


Book Description

“Can I just be Marissa, please? I want to be hilarious and sexy and smart and insanely knowledgeable about wine.” —Mindy Kaling A fresh, fun, and unpretentious guide to wine from Marissa A. Ross, official wine columnist for Bon Appétit. Does the thought of having to buy wine for a dinner party stress you out? Is your go-to strategy to pick the bottle with the coolest label? Are you tired of choosing pairings based on your wallet, instead of your palate? Fear not! Bon Appétit wine columnist and Wine. All The Time. blogger Marissa A. Ross is here to help. In this utterly accessible yet comprehensive guide to wine, Ross will walk you through the ins and outs of wine culture. Told in her signature comedic voice, with personal anecdotes woven in among its lessons, Wine. All the Time. will teach you to sip confidently, and make you laugh as you're doing it. In Wine. All The Time., you’ll learn how to: • Describe what you’re drinking, and recognize your preferences • Find the best bottle for you budget and occasion • Read and understand what’s written on a wine label • Make the perfect pairings between what you’re drinking and what you’re eating • Throw the best damn dinner party your guests will ever attend • And much more




Decanting Napa Valley: The Cookbook


Book Description

Decanting Wine Country: The Cookbook unifies hundreds of talented and enthusiastic people within the Napa Valley: the winemakers, the vintners, the chefs and the creative professionals, who, in collaboration, shape America's premier viticultural region.




Ghost Hunter's Guide to California's Wine Country


Book Description

"Fantastic! I've learned there's much more to this valley than first meets the eye. I had no idea the dead population was so lively here. Truly, Dwyer brings the past to life." --Mick Winter, author of The Napa Valley Book "Filled with fascinating historical details that few locals even know, the book is eerily convincing in its convictions."--Santa Rosa (CA) Press Democrat "A handy guide to curdling your blood and raising your hair."--Napa Valley Register Serving as a guide to one of America's most treasured lands, the Ghost Hunter's Guide to California's Wine Country takes readers to the rolling hills, old wineries, and beautiful vineyards of the California Wine Country. With more than eighty haunted locations described in great historical detail, experienced and novice ghost hunters alike can search this famous region for encounters with ghosts of explorers, Indians, soldiers, and others. Recommended locations include the famous novelist Jack London's homestead, where apparitions and other phenomena have been experienced. Many believe London's ghost still haunts his beloved ranch. After traveling the vineyards and wineries, the counties of Napa and Sonoma offer more ghostly adventures. The Cinedome movie house in Napa is said to hold the ghosts of an older couple who were often found cuddling in the back of the theatre. In Sonoma, hauntings have occurred in the popular park known as the Plaza. Sem-Yeto, one of the last Pomo Indian chiefs, is buried in the park's northwest corner, and some have witnessed the spirit of his ghost wandering the site. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ghost hunting guru Jeff Dwyer, a resident of the California Wine Country, has been fascinated with ghosts since childhood. He is an experienced paranormal investigator and the author of Ghost Hunter's Guide to the San Francisco Bay Area, Ghost Hunter's Guide to Los Angeles, Ghost Hunter's Guide to New Orleans, and Ghost Hunters Guide to Seattle and Puget Sound, all published by Pelican.




Hess Art Collection


Book Description

The Hess Art Collection is one of the world's most distinguished private collections of contemporary art. It was assembled by the Swiss businessman and wine producer Donald M. Hess. The collection unites extraordinary works by numerous artists now known around the world as well as excellent pieces by artists whose names are (as yet) less well known. This mixture is part of the ensemble's particular charm, making a glance through this copiously illustrated catalogue a veritable expedition. Hess's collecting activities primarily focus on the individual work. Accompanied by an unmistakable sense of quality, he judiciously selected the works he acquired over a period of more than forty years. A large part of the collection's holdings is open to the public in the museums of the Hess wineries in Napa, California, Glen Carlou in Paarl, South Africa, and Bodega Colomé in Calchaquí Valley, Argentina. A fourth museum is being planned at the Peter Lehmann Winery in Barossa Valley, Australia.