Seasons Among the Vines explores the pleasures and pitfalls of following a lifelong dream. For Paula Moulton it was the dream of leaving the city for the California wine country to take up viticulture and gardening. In the process, she finds unexpected frustrations in running a farm and seeks help from some skeptical farmers who initially challenge her. As she finds her stride, her story resonates with her passion for the outdoors and the rewards of risk-taking. Organized by the seasons, the book shows how experimenting with vines can be a joyful reality, not simply an unattainable fantasy. Moulton's enthusiasm and "you can do it, too!" attitude add an inspiring touch to a compelling story of the rich rewards that authentic living can bring. This enchanting memoir is accompanied by photos and illustrations.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Seasons Among the Vines interweaves the practicalities of farming and making wine with the changes of the seasons and life. Paula Moulton's charming anecdotes of her personal experiences unfold into vital details for growing grapes. Moulton ultimately gives the reader a story about life - and the emotional and spiritual development associated with farming and making wine."
- Rob Loutherback, The Wine Club
"Everything the urban and suburban backyard vinegrower needs to know to design and grow a small vineyard and make a bottle of wine. Seasons Among the Vines comes complete with war stories and inspiration."
- Mike Benziger, Benziger Family Winery
"Paula Moulton's fresh approach and passion for the vineyard, combined with her extensive knowledge, make for humorous experiences that arise from practical application. Seasons Among the Vines is a wonderful reference to the natural progression of the seasons from the vineyard to the bottle."
- Joan Coleman Little, granddaughter of Julio Gallo and owner of Little Vineyards Family Winery
- Rob Loutherback, The Wine Club
"Everything the urban and suburban backyard vinegrower needs to know to design and grow a small vineyard and make a bottle of wine. Seasons Among the Vines comes complete with war stories and inspiration."
- Mike Benziger, Benziger Family Winery
"Paula Moulton's fresh approach and passion for the vineyard, combined with her extensive knowledge, make for humorous experiences that arise from practical application. Seasons Among the Vines is a wonderful reference to the natural progression of the seasons from the vineyard to the bottle."
- Joan Coleman Little, granddaughter of Julio Gallo and owner of Little Vineyards Family Winery
From the Inside Flap
Seasons Among the Vines invites the reader to experience the California wine country through the eyes of a city girl turned country. Paula Moulton’s story is one of wonder and enchantment, unpreparedness and hard lessons. Ten years into her metamorphosis, she hasn’t looked back (well, maybe a glance), as she’s survived the ups and downs associated with producing wine grapes for some of California wine country’s best-known wineries, including Glen Ellen and Ravenswood. This fun-loving tale is both adventurous and informative; interspersed throughout are solutions for weekend gardeners and wine-loving suburbanites who will find that making wine at home is not only possible, it’s all right here! Tips and instructions correlate to each season, encouraging the reader to consider the prospect of bringing self-made bottles of wine to future dinner parties. For the casual weekend gardener who has looked to vines with a mix of wonder and trepidation or for the city-stress! ed who fantasize about escaping to the country, Moulton lays out all the stops of country living. From animal escapades, to unforeseen disasters, to trial and error with the vines, events both charming and rueful make for a very bona fide picture of what it means to follow a dream.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb,
By A Customer
This review is from: Seasons Among the Vines: Life Lessons from the California Wine Country (Paperback)
This book is the most superb book I have ever read. From the moment I opened the front page and read the first couple of pages I knew it was the book I had been searching for all my life. This book really inspired me on how to follow my dreams in a cool and stylish way. From the tales of her three children to the excitement from a city girl gone country I would recommend this book to any type of readers out there. Beginners advanced whatever you are this is the book for you.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
More like 4 1/2 stars...,
By
This review is from: Seasons Among the Vines: Life Lessons from the California Wine Country (Paperback)
Have you ever wondered just exactly what goes into the process of growing grapes to make wine?There is a certain mystique to wine making and how the grapes are grown. Paula Moulton tells her story of how she and her family left life in the city to be farmers in the California wine country. Interspersed with facts about how to grow grapes, SEASONS AMONG THE VINES: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY details Ms. Moulton's adventures and struggles in her new lifestyle. Successes and failures are a part of each step along the way as Paula Moulton pens a memoir that is both inspirational and informative. Paula Moulton's passion for her vineyard shines through on every page. From her struggles with Mother Nature over water to the various animals that want to eat her grapes, Ms. Moulton's joy at what she is doing is evident. In fact, her passion is so great that event the most brown thumbed reader (such as myself!) will be tempted to give it a try. SEASONS AMONG THE VINES: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY is aptly named. Paula Moulton writes far more than just a book about how to grow grapes or make homemade wine. Instead, she uses the seasons to reflect both on the process of growing grapes to the actual stages in her life as a farmer. The use of the seasons is almost allegorical as she starts with Fall and the changes in her life, going from a city resident to living in the vast open country. Paula Moulton proceeds through each season, ending with the successes in the Summer. One can't help but appreciate her dedication and commitment. SEASONS AMONG THE VINES: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY is a tale that will be appreciated by anyone who has ever even looked at a bottle of wine or planted a seed in the ground. Paula Moulton has written a tale that is to be savored. COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Enjoyable View of a Woman's Life in Wine Country,
By Mark Vincent (Framingham, MA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Seasons Among the Vines: Life Lessons from the California Wine Country (Paperback)
Having embarked on a program to learn as much about the world of wine as I can, I was excited about the opportunity to read a book by a woman who pursued her dreams,left the city, and became a grape grower in California wine country.For anyone seeking a reasonably amusing tale of family life by a woman who, largely unprepared for what she was about to take on at the outset, made a major change in her life and successfully met life's challenges as a grape grower, you'll find this book enjoyable. Paula's account is clearly more about motherhood, family, friendship, and lifestyle than it is about being in the wine business. The insights offered are about learning the commonsense things to making a life in wine country. To her credit, she learned what she needed to know and became a successful grower, no small accomplishment. If on the other hand, you are seeking great insights and a wealth of information about the world of wine, this book offers some of that, but not as much as I hoped for. Although for the home grower, there are what I would call highly useful "Guide to Growing Grapes and Making Wine" sections in each chapter. Paula covers topics, such as planting grapevines, dealing with insects and diseases, and making wine. I think anyone embarking on the goal of making their own wine at home would find this highly useful. You can't help but admire Paula's spunk and attitude towards life. You come to know her and pretty well get a good sense of her in this book. You can't help but finish it without feeling there is so much more she could have told you. It would have been great if the book was another 200 pages...but maybe that just means she should write another book someday. I was saddened to learn from another reviewer that her husband Chuck was killed on his commute shortly after this book was published. I have no doubt his spirit fills her vineyard. Mark Vincent
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