The Napa Valley has been recognized as the premier wine producing area of California since the 1870s. This is the first study that explains how Napa acquired this unique reputation. The soils, climate, grapes and human resources that have built this panorama of viticultural excellence over 160 years. The author has visited every historic sight and talked with every living history resource as well as dug into the original documents and periodicals. Published in cooperation with the Napa Valley Wine Library, every attention to scholarly detail has been given. The modern wine lover will appreciate the connections between the original vineyards and today's great wine producers. Fascinating for any wine aficionado or history buff.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
A marvellous resource, telling the story of virtually every Napa vintage from the 1860's to present... special emphasis is placed on the modern wine revolution and Napa's unique contributions since the 1960's --Robert Mondavi
Sullivan has given us, in gripping detail, a history of wine in the state. Napa Wine makes a rich and exciting contribution to our understanding of who Americans are and why. --Gerald Asher, Gourmet Magazine
First published in 1994, this Napa history has been revised and brought current through 2007. However, as is the case with any history and especially one where the target moves as rapidly as wine in Napa, it is not complete. Yet, it is as complete as can be expected and covers almost everything which one could wish to know about the history of Napa winemaking.
Sullivan begins his exploration even before there was wine in Napa with
a discussion of grape growing at California missions. From there he
introduces the reader to the Napa pioneers like Joseph Osborne at Oak
Knoll-Eschol Vineyard, Charles Krug, and George Yount. He discusses land
transactions, wine production, grape varieties etc. beginning in about
1860. After this introductory material, he covers Napa wine from land
through grape, winemaking, and sale in thirteen more chapters. He
devotes about a chapter to each decade from 1860 to 1900 plus a summary chapter. The discussions cover virtually everything the reader could want to know including evaluations of almost every vintage.
For the years from 1900-2007, the divisions are more topical, e.g.
Prohibition, with more than one-half of the book discussing the period
since the end of Prohibition. As with the earlier years, Sullivan covers
everything about the people and the wines with the exception of some
skeletons which, perhaps, are better left buried. What isn t discussed
in the text is probably found in the fourteen pages of appendices which
contain information on wineries, their owners, and their production;
vintages, planted acreage, and even the amount for which the fruit was
sold. There are also five maps showing winery locations.
If you find the text and appendices provide insufficient information,
there are extensive endnotes at the end of each chapter and a
bibliography. The book also has numerous photographs, illustrations, and tables all of which serve to provide more insight into Napa s history and people.
With such extensive coverage, it may seem untoward to quibble about the
fact that when the second edition was released references to the BATF
were not updated nor the description of Stag s Leap Winery was not corrected nor some ownership information was not changed. (Most regrettable because it may lead to confusion is the claim that Mataro is the Spanish name for Mourvèdre. (p. 137) In Spain the grape is most commonly called Monastrell with some occasional regional variations.
Mataro is now used in Australia and elsewhere and was common in France before the phylloxera epidemic decimated the vines there.) But, like much of the story of wine, it is any Napa history is a constantly moving target and will always need emendation.
For those who know only today s Napa wines, this book is a revelation. Though current production centers on Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varieties, until Prohibition the best wines were often Riesling and sauternes. Sullivan s exploration of why that was and what led to the change to the reds is something everyone interested in wine should know.
That alone would justify reading this book. But the story beyond
Cabernet s current dominance is not only worth learning but is
fascinating in itself.
Well written and highly recommended. --Harold Baer, Jr., Colorado Wine News --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
Sullivan has given us, in gripping detail, a history of wine in the state. Napa Wine makes a rich and exciting contribution to our understanding of who Americans are and why. --Gerald Asher, Gourmet Magazine
First published in 1994, this Napa history has been revised and brought current through 2007. However, as is the case with any history and especially one where the target moves as rapidly as wine in Napa, it is not complete. Yet, it is as complete as can be expected and covers almost everything which one could wish to know about the history of Napa winemaking.
Sullivan begins his exploration even before there was wine in Napa with
a discussion of grape growing at California missions. From there he
introduces the reader to the Napa pioneers like Joseph Osborne at Oak
Knoll-Eschol Vineyard, Charles Krug, and George Yount. He discusses land
transactions, wine production, grape varieties etc. beginning in about
1860. After this introductory material, he covers Napa wine from land
through grape, winemaking, and sale in thirteen more chapters. He
devotes about a chapter to each decade from 1860 to 1900 plus a summary chapter. The discussions cover virtually everything the reader could want to know including evaluations of almost every vintage.
For the years from 1900-2007, the divisions are more topical, e.g.
Prohibition, with more than one-half of the book discussing the period
since the end of Prohibition. As with the earlier years, Sullivan covers
everything about the people and the wines with the exception of some
skeletons which, perhaps, are better left buried. What isn t discussed
in the text is probably found in the fourteen pages of appendices which
contain information on wineries, their owners, and their production;
vintages, planted acreage, and even the amount for which the fruit was
sold. There are also five maps showing winery locations.
If you find the text and appendices provide insufficient information,
there are extensive endnotes at the end of each chapter and a
bibliography. The book also has numerous photographs, illustrations, and tables all of which serve to provide more insight into Napa s history and people.
With such extensive coverage, it may seem untoward to quibble about the
fact that when the second edition was released references to the BATF
were not updated nor the description of Stag s Leap Winery was not corrected nor some ownership information was not changed. (Most regrettable because it may lead to confusion is the claim that Mataro is the Spanish name for Mourvèdre. (p. 137) In Spain the grape is most commonly called Monastrell with some occasional regional variations.
Mataro is now used in Australia and elsewhere and was common in France before the phylloxera epidemic decimated the vines there.) But, like much of the story of wine, it is any Napa history is a constantly moving target and will always need emendation.
For those who know only today s Napa wines, this book is a revelation. Though current production centers on Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varieties, until Prohibition the best wines were often Riesling and sauternes. Sullivan s exploration of why that was and what led to the change to the reds is something everyone interested in wine should know.
That alone would justify reading this book. But the story beyond
Cabernet s current dominance is not only worth learning but is
fascinating in itself.
Well written and highly recommended. --Harold Baer, Jr., Colorado Wine News --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Book,
By Anthony Gruen (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Napa Wine: A History from Mission Days to Present, 2nd. Edition (Hardcover)
This book offers a very detailed account of the history of the Napa Valley. Thoroughly researched and well presented.
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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wine world, agricultural preserve, fresh grape deal, poor berry set, premium wine production, nonbearing acreage, table wine consumption, wine grape acreage, table wine production, grape prices, wine operation, red wine varieties, wine revolution, little winery, viticultural district, premium producers, brandy production, winegrowing community, vineyard acreage, wine men, dry table wine, wine scene, independent growers, wine boom, premium sector Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Napa Valley, San Francisco, Cabernet Sauvignon, Wine Spectator, Northern California, Charles Krug, Howell Mountain, Central Valley, Robert Mondavi, Christian Brothers, Bay Area, Spring Mountain, North Coast, New York, White Riesling, Napa County, Stag's Leap, Freemark Abbey, East Coast, Petite Sirah, World War, San Jose Mercury, Alta California, Southern California, Bancroft Oral History Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
wine world, agricultural preserve, fresh grape deal, poor berry set, premium wine production, nonbearing acreage, table wine consumption, wine grape acreage, table wine production, grape prices, wine operation, red wine varieties, wine revolution, little winery, viticultural district, premium producers, brandy production, winegrowing community, vineyard acreage, wine men, dry table wine, wine scene, independent growers, wine boom, premium sector Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Napa Valley, San Francisco, Cabernet Sauvignon, Wine Spectator, Northern California, Charles Krug, Howell Mountain, Central Valley, Robert Mondavi, Christian Brothers, Bay Area, Spring Mountain, North Coast, New York, White Riesling, Napa County, Stag's Leap, Freemark Abbey, East Coast, Petite Sirah, World War, San Jose Mercury, Alta California, Southern California, Bancroft Oral History Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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