Napa: The Story of an American Eden (Paperback)

by James Conaway (Author) "FOR MORE THAN a year now they had been searching: on the highway, near the river, atop oaky knolls that rose abruptly from the valley..." (more)
Key Phrases: winery definition, grape requirement, winery activities, Napa Valley, San Francisco, Wine Train (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
James Conaway's remarkable bestseller delves into the heart of California's lush and verdant Napa Valley, also known as America's Eden. Long the source of succulent grapes and singular wines, this region is also the setting for the remarkable true saga of the personalities behind the winemaking empires. This is the story of Gallos and Mondavis, of fortunes made and lost, of dynasties and destinies. In this delightful, full-bodied social history, James Conaway charts the rise of a new aristocracy and, in so doing, chronicles the collective ripening of the American dream. More than a wine book, Napa is a must-read for anyone interested in our country's obsession with money, land, power, and prestige.

About the Author
James Conaway, the author of nine previous books, is a contributing editor for Preservation and a regular contributor to Smithsonian, National Geographic Traveler, and Food & Wine magazines, among many others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (October 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618257985
• ISBN-13: 978-0618257980
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,559 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Book -- One Caveat, August 11, 2003

By A Customer

I ordered this book thinking that it was, as stated in one of the reviews, the sequel to Conaway's 1990 book "Napa." Actually, this edition IS the 1990 book, only published in 2002 by a different company, with a subtitle and without the photos that appeared in the earlier edition that I have. I enjoyed Conaway's book immensely when I read the earlier edition, but take care not to buy this edition thinking that it is the sequel.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Napa, not Utopia, December 2, 2002

By	"michele_lewis" (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This book is a crash course in modern Napa Valley politics that reads like a novel. Conaway profiles the main characters in the Valley's battle to balance growth with preservation with both historical accuracy and insight. For anyone interested in the American wine industry, Conaway's book is a primer on how the movers and shakers got to the top and how they intend to stay there.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Conaway, Veritas..., July 7, 2004

By	David Gaier (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a masterful narrative, of interest to enophiles, wine drinkers, travellers, and cultural historians, too. Compelling personal stories, enough details about the challenges and processes of the business, and a good sense of the times in which these pioneers found themselves add up to a wonderful page turner.

Read this before your first visit to Napa and your experience will be all the more wonderful...and you'll know why, for example, it's "Neibaum-Coppola" and not just "Coppola."