The Wines of California - (Classic Wine Library) by Elaine Chukan Brown (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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.

"It's less of a traditional reference book and more of a meditation on place - through its people, purpose, and possibility. With a healthy yet necessary and perhaps overdue dose of historical context, political awareness, nuance, and care, they offer a portrait of California wine that finally acknowledges all the hands that shaped it." -- Decanter

"This book is core, essential. For anyone just beginning their journey, this will put wine in context in straightforward language with little jargon.... Brown's book is both current and timeless. Chukan Brown takes at in-depth look at the forces that made, moved and continue to shape Califorina wine. In investigating the history, they look hard at the instrumental part played by Indigenous Peoples and the reliance of the wine (and other agricultural sectors) on inexpensive farm labour. It will appeal to an audience far beyond the typical wine book reader." -- Grape Collective

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.

Review Quotes

"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"

About the Author

Elaine Chukan Brown is a writer, speaker, and global wine educator. Brown is the Napa Valley specialist for Wine Enthusiast and previously served as the Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com, a columnist for Decanter magazine, and a contributing writer to Wine & Spirits magazine. They contributed to both the 4th and 5th editions of Oxford Companion to Wine, the 8th edition of the World Atlas of Wine, and the compilations On Burgundy and On California from Académie du Vin Library. Indigenous (Inupiaq and Unangan-Sugpiaq) from what is now Alaska, Brown has dedicated their career to the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and reducing gatekeeping in the wine industry. They co-founded the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum and have advised diversity initiatives in multiple countries. Brown serves as a judge for the Texsom Awards, head judge for the 67 Pall Mall Communicator Awards, and is a board member of the Wine Writer Symposium.