Frommer's Portable California Wine Country [Paperback]

Erika Lenkert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2004 | Series: Frommer's Portable (Book 4)

Frommer's Portable Guides offer all the detailed information and insider advice of a Frommer's Complete Guide—but in a concise, pocket-sized format.

Perfect for the short-term traveler who insists on value and doesn't want to wade through or carry a full-size guidebook, this series selects the very best choices in all price categories and takes you straight to the top sights.

Lush, opulent pinot noir; rich, robust zinfandel; fruity, full-bodied Chardonnay—you can sample them all in Californias Napa and Sonoma Valleys, which together comprise one of the world's premier wine regions. Completely up-to-date, Frommer's Portable California Wine Country is a handy guide that will give you proven strategies for exploring the region. Our candid reviews of the top wineries will tell you which tours are worth your time and which wineries offer affordable bottles. You'll also get a beginner's guide to California wines: varietals, recommendations on recent vintages, tips on wine-tasting protocol (how to sniff, swish, and spit like a pro), tips on shipping, and much, much more.

And when wine-tasting is done for the day, turn to our candid, complete reviews of the region's fabulous inns and restaurants!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Lush, opulent pinot noir; rich, robust zinfandel; fruity, full-bodied Chardonnayyou can sample them all in Californias Napa and Sonoma Valleys, which together comprise one of the worlds premier wine regions. The 2nd Edition of Frommers Portable California Wine Country gives readers proven strategies for exploring the region, with candid reviews of the top wineries-including which tours are worth your time and which wineries offer affordable bottles. Also included is a beginners guide to California wines: varietals, recommendations on recent vintages, tips on winetasting protocol (how to sniff, swish, and spit like a pro), tips on shipping, and much, much more.

And when wine-tasting is done for the day, readers can turn to our candid, complete reviews of the regions fabulous inns and restaurants! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. And avoid tourist traps. At Frommer’s, we use 150 outspoken travel experts around the world to help you make the right choices. Frommer’s. Your guide to a world of travel experience.

Put the Best of California Wine Country in Your Pocket

• Insider tips on how to wine-taste like a pro.
• Outspoken opinions on what’s worth your time and what’s not.
• Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget.
• Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.
• The best hotels and restaurants in every price range, with candid reviews.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Frommer's; 4th edition (April 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764544446
• ISBN-13: 978-0764544446
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,903,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As a lifestyle journalist and entertaining expert, I am a frequent contributor to In Style, Everyday with Rachel Ray, and dozens of other national publications. I have also authored several lifestyle books, including "The Last-Minute Party Girl: Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining" and "Raw: The Uncook Book." Known for combining wit and wisdom, I am committed to helping today's mommy-to-be shirk the prevailing pregnancy paranoia so that she can confidently revel in all of the weird, wacky, and downright funky stuff that comes with making a human from scratch.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wine Country Wisdom, November 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Frommer's Portable California Wine Country (Paperback)

There's a lot of detail packed into this small guide. I liked the winery reviews because they outline what kind of experience each winery offers along with the basics about their history and wines. And restaurant reviews were frank and on the money.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have on a trip to Wine country, March 30, 2004

By 

LMT78 (LOS ANGELES, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's Portable California Wine Country (Paperback)

I used this book to plan a short weekend trip to Napa Valley from Los Angeles. This book packed with all sorts of great information for each different wine country city (napa, yountville, etc) from best types of hotels for every budget, nearby attractions, spas, picnic spots, restaurants, etc. And of course a concise review and rating of the wineries in each city.

I found myself taking the bag out of my bag during the trip to read up on different wineries and attractions I wanted to visit.

It is very small and compact so it's easy to take with you too.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent little book, February 24, 2006

By 

Diva Denise "Diva" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's Portable California Wine Country (Paperback)

This small book (only 172 pages) is perfect for planning your next Sonoma/Napa visit. In fact, although I have been many times to Napa, I wanted a new place to stay with a fireplace and jacuzzi bath and privacy. I found a great place in the book called Cottage Grove Inn - with 2 Frommers stars.

Because it is so portable, not all the wineries are listed, so if what you need is a listing of all wineries this may not be your book. However, if you need to find the best in hotels and dining experiences as well as some of the best wineries to discover for yourself, then this little jewel is perfect.