American Winescapes: The Cultural Landscapes Of America's Wine Country (Geographies of Imagination) [Paperback]

Gary L Peters (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 1997 | Series: Geographies of Imagination

Winescapes are unique agricultural landscapes that are shaped by the presence of vineyards, wine-making activities, and the wineries where wines are produced and stored. Where viticulture is successful it transforms the local landscape into a combination of agriculture, industry, and tourism. This book demystifies viticulture in a way that helps the reader understand the environmental and economic conditions necessary in the art and practice of wine making.Distinctive characteristics of the book include a detailed discussion of more than thirty grape cultivars, an overview of wine regions around the country, and a survey of wine publications and festivals. Gary Peters discusses the major environmental conditions affecting viticulture, especially weather and climate, and outlines the special problems the industry faces from lack of capital, competition, and changing public tastes.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Peters (geography, California State Univ., Long Beach) presents the usual information about varieties of grapes and grapevines and the ideal climate for growing grapes, but he does so in a most interesting and understandable fashion. His emphasis is on the wine regions of America and how vineyards affect the urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. We learn about wine laws in America and about the social and economic problems facing vintners in America today. We also learn how the American wine scene has changed over the years, from the 19th century to Prohibition to its coming of age in post-Prohibition times. This is not a comprehensive view of all the wineries of America but a lucid, intelligent approach to the subject of wines, winemaking, and wineries presented in an attractive format. Highly recommended.?George M. Jenks, Bucknell Univ., Lewisburg, Pa.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Plenty of wine guides cover wine appreciation and recognition with a smattering of history: here enjoy an excellent guide to American winemaking and viticulture's impact upon tourism and local commerce. It's rare to find a wine guide which focuses on the economic and environmental conditions essential to successful wine making: this makes for a unique presentation. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (April 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081332856X
• ISBN-13: 978-0813328560
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,135,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book.....Must Read!!, August 4, 2000

By 

Erica Poppen (Paso Robles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Winescapes: The Cultural Landscapes Of America's Wine Country (Geographies of Imagination) (Paperback)

I found this book to be very readable and inforamative. It covers many different types of grapes, winemaking, wine regions around the country, and a variety of other things that I found interesting. It doesn't get bogged down in jargon, doesn't tell you what wine to drink with what, rather it lets you see how wine regions are shaped and why they are so appealing. I would definitely recommend this book to you!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very imformative and fast reading!!!!, November 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: American Winescapes: The Cultural Landscapes Of America's Wine Country (Geographies of Imagination) (Paperback)

I found this book to be very informative and extremely fast reading. I am not one to fully immerse myself into a book, but I found myself becoming more interested in the subject, page-by-page. If anyone is a novice like myself in the field of wines, I highly recommend this book. It will bring you up to speed in no-time!

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Fully Disappointed!, February 26, 2007

By 

Eric Behnke "Eric" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Winescapes: The Cultural Landscapes Of America's Wine Country (Geographies of Imagination) (Paperback)

Not at all what I was looking for. There are several books out there that cover wine and its origins better than this one.