Paul Lukacs Paul Lukacs Excerpt from American Vintage : From Isolation to International Renown - The Rise of American Wine Introduction Doubtless As Good "We in America," declared Thomas Jefferson in 1808, can make wine "doubtless as good" as the great wines of Europe. No one in young America...

In the mid-1860s, grapevines in southeastern France inexplicably began to wither and die. French botanist Jules-mile Planchon was sent to investigate. Magnifying glass in hand, he discovered that the vine roots were covered in microscopic yellow insects. The aphids would be named Phylloxera vastatrix - the dry leaf devastator. Where they had come from was a mystery.

A Captivating, Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of a Premium California Wine Situated amidst the lush soils of Sonoma County in the heart of California's wine country, the Ferrari-Carano Vineyards produce some of the best-loved wines in America. Founded by casino mogul Don Carano and his wife Rhonda just over twenty years ago, the winemaker has won praise from consumers and connoisseurs alike for its affordably priced premium bottles, particularly its Fume Blanc.

Hailed as the most entertaining reference to wine culture, this book arms readers with valuable knowledge of wine etiquette, while identifying those senseless acts of snobbery that often lead to embrassing situations.

Hailed by Paul Levy in The Wall Street Journal as "our cleverest, most thoughtful wine writer," Jancis Robinson makes learning about wine almost as enjoyable as drinking it. With How to Taste, she's put together a unique wine-tasting course based on practical exercises that appeal to wine connoisseurs of all levels.

This luxury box-set includes two of the world's most successful and bestselling wine books by the two foremost wine writers on t

Through 128 pages of over 200 vintage images, the reader is pulled back in time to 1880 Napa, where a scant but diverse 4,000 residents reside. The images in this book, with some photographs never before collected, demonstrate the architectural and historical diversity of this beautiful region,...

This fully revised edition from the senior editor of a trusted wine authority features descriptions and ratings for 5,000 California wines. Included are tasting notes and in-depth profiles on more than 700 California wineries, along with starred ratings and details on history, vineyards, and...

The experts at Wine Spectator magazine contribute their knowledge and insight to this ultimate resource for oenophiles. Every page is packed with information on grape varieties, winemaking techniques, styles, flavors, and prices. With full-color photographs throughout, this handy guide also...

Beginning in 1857 with Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma became one of the preeminent winemaking regions in the world. Chronicled here in 128 pages of over 200 vintage images is Sonoma's wine producing history, covering its many wineries, vineyards, towns, and townsfolk that grew up alongside the development of this fantastic enterprise.