Customer Reviews

Compass American Guides: Wine Country, 3rd Edition

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone visiting Napa and/or Sonoma Valleys. We were able to trust the information in this book and it did cover a lot of information, from: restaurants, vineyards, antique shops and farmer's markets (plus much more). To the author John Doerper, thank you for making our holiday very enjoyable by writing candid and factual information for this guide book.

This is a great book on the wine country. Full of some of the most informative prose regarding where to go, how to get there and what to expect. Doerper sets out mini "tours" of the area. My wife and I mapped out our trip by the book and had a wonderful time. The book was right on. Highly recommended!

Since this is a Fodor's guide, you get decent coverage of lodging and dining at the end of the book. What makes the book worthwhile, though, is the photographs. They are plentiful and great. Most are current color photos, but some of the vintage black-and-white (some from Ansel Adams) are excellent. Many of the wineries are shown as well as different aspects of the wine-making business. Even street signs and other everyday activities are included, making it a down-to-earth tour guide and photo book. Very appealing to the eye.

Do not be mislead by the book - it IS NOT a complete guide to Napa and Sonoma County wineries. While this book has great historical and wine production reference information,it seems to be a pay to play publication. Many of these books feature only wineries that are willing to pay to be a part of the publication, If you don't pay, you're winery is not included. Many, many fine wineries in both Sonoma and Napa are not listed in this book. DO NOT use it as a guide to all wineries in the area - you will miss many of the best. Some of the smallest wineries, with limited budgets have the best wine - they are not represented in this book - probably because they couldn't afford to pay for inclusion. The so called "Master List" in the back is very misleading - it is missing many wineries. Use the free publication "Wine Country This Week" for a complete list of all wineries in Sonoma and Napa Counties! The same goes for the restaurants and lodging.