Sonoma: The Ultimate Winery Guide [Paperback]

Heidi H. Cusick-Dickerson (Author), Richard Gillette (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1995

This companion volume to Chronicle Books' popular Napa Valley winery guide captures the history, food, and geography, as well as the world-famous viticulture, of another one of California's premier wine regions. Over 25 in-depth descriptions of wineries throughout Sonoma county and 110 lavish, full-color photographs make this practical and beautiful book a must for wine connoisseurs and travelers alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

-- Appellation, January 1996
One good thing about wineries not opening until 10 or 11 A.M. is the chance it gives a photographer to explore and record them, empty and inviting, in all their morning glory.

Collaborating with food and wine writer Heidi Cusick, Richard Gillette has captured that ephemeral, pretourist moment in a lovely new guide to Sonoma wineries. The two have recreated the colors and composition of Sonoma, serving up a taste of magical places and providing a guide to help appreciate them.

Mendocino-based Cusick writes of Sonoma with the enthusiasm and insight of a native. It's a pleasure to follow her through the pitfalls ("watch out for poison oak") and the pleasantries of Sonoma winery touring ("Italian right down to the door hinges and the frescoes"). Her descriptions are so focused and colorful, the reader will soon begin to trust her opinions and look to her for guidance.

There's insider information along with a good mix of tourist trivia. Even the mundane details are conveyed in a fresh and versatile way, such as in the line "access, tastings, picnics and programs, enroute food and farms." Cusick puts her wineries and vintners into a larger, more robust context, which is all of Sonoma County.

Gillette's photos share Cusick's balance of detail with dreamscape; each shot carries its own natural order and beauty. Like Cusick, Gillette knows intuitively how to include in his frame just the right proportion of content to white space, cool shadow to bright blossom.

Rodney Stong's vital, caring introduction to the book says what needs to be said about Sonoma: "I will travel, but I will never leave. I am here. Join me." Heidi Cusick and Richard Gillette show us how.

[Heidi Cusick and Richard Gillette] have recreated the colors and composition of Sonoma, serving up a taste of magical places and providing a guide to help appreciate them. Appellation

About the Author

Heidi Haughy Cusick is author of Sonoma and Soul and Spice, both published by Chronicle Books. She lives in Mendocino.

Richard Gillette -- whose previous books include Napa Valley and Sonoma. -- lives in Cloverdale, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; First edition. edition (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811807738
• ISBN-13: 978-0811807739
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,340,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SONOMA THE ULTIMATE WINERY GUIDE, June 23, 2000

By 

James P. McWalters (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sonoma: The Ultimate Winery Guide (Paperback)

As a winery employee, I would recommend this book to both serious and novice winery visitors. This book is loaded with beautiful glossy photographs and detailed information on each winery, organized by region. It focuses on wineries only, with brief referals to nearby food and farms of interest. Each winery has it's own page, with a helpful quick reference in the left margin of the necessary details on hours, fees, directions, wines etc. This is a plus when you have limited time, and don't want to spend half your day searching through a guidebook. There is also a section that classifies the wineries by specific features that may help narrow down your selection when touring. The winemaking calendar and grape glossary would be especially useful to first timers. The size makes it slightly awkward to carry around, but the photos will make a wonderful momento when you return home!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SONOMA THE ULTIMATE WINERY GUIDE, June 23, 2000

By 

James P. McWalters (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sonoma: The Ultimate Winery Guide (Paperback)

As a winery employee, I would recommend this book to both serious and novice winery visitors. This book is loaded with beautiful glossy photographs and detailed information on each winery, organized by region. It focuses on wineries only, with brief referals to nearby food and farms of interest. Each winery has it's own page, with a helpful quick reference in the left margin of the necessary details on hours, fees, directions, wines etc. This is a plus when you have limited time, and don't want to spend half your day searching through a guidebook. There is also a section that classifies the wineries by specific features that may help narrow down your selection when touring. The winemaking calendar and grape glossary would be especially useful to first timers. The size makes it slightly awkward to carry around, but the photos will make a wonderful momento when you return home!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Representation of Sonoma County, July 17, 2006

By 

Experience Wine "Mark Hejtmanek" (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sonoma: The Ultimate Winery Guide Second Edition (Paperback)

I used this book for a wine class I conducted focusing on exclusively Sonoma County wines. The book contains some very good general information about Sonoma County as well as information about a number of wineries. Gorgeous photos really capture the feeling of the County. As a former resident of Sonoma County, it made me homesick!