Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide [Hardcover]

Paul Gregutt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 19, 2007

During the thirty-five years wine critic and writer Paul Gregutt has lived in the state of Washington, its wine industry has ballooned from a mere half dozen wineries to nearly five hundred. Washington Wines and Wineries offers a comprehensive, critical, and accessible account of the nation's second largest wine-producing region. Gregutt, who has covered Washington wine in books, newspapers, and magazines since the mid-1980s, enthusiastically dispenses information along with his editorial opinion, displaying the depth of his knowledge of the area, the players, the regions, and the wines. He points out the best vineyards, the most accomplished winemakers, the must-have wines, and the newcomers to watch. He rates wineries--not wines--with a unique and detailed 100-point scale, providing an insider's view of the best that Washington state has to offer. As the global wine industry reinvents itself for twenty-first-century palates, Washington is poised to become as important and influential as California on the world stage. Washington Wines and Wineries is the definitive reference book on the subject.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A superb book. . . . For those wishing to explore Washington wines in greater depth."--The Wine Advocate

From the Inside Flap

"Unquestionably the most comprehensive book on the topic, Washington Wines and Wineries is a new benchmark in learning about this exciting wine region."--Evan Goldstein, author of Perfect Pairings

"I never miss a chance for lunch or a tasting with Paul Gregutt. He is an eclectic student of wine and an astute taster who never takes himself too seriously. But his Washington Wines & Wineries is a serious publication. The number of Washington wineries has exploded since the turn of the millennium. There are several important new AVAs. Many wonderful wines are being made. So there was an urgent need for this splendid new guide, written with passion and authority. No one who loves Washington wines--in fact, no one serious about wine--should fail to get a copy."--Oz Clarke

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (October 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520248694
• ISBN-13: 978-0520248694
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #951,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Wine > Collecting

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars avid wine enthusiast's review, November 9, 2007

By 

Thomas R. Koenig (Blaine,Wa.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide (Hardcover)

Paul Gregutt does an exceptional job of exploring Washington wine history and all that it entails. It not only validates many things that I knew from my own observations, it is also very educational. I learned much from his book and I will refer to it frequently in the future. I especially liked the rating process Paul developed for the wineries explored in the book. It made sense to me once I got past the idea that being below 90 on a 1 to 100 point scale can still be exceptional. This is a must read for anyone interested in Washington wines.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Authority on Washington Wine, November 29, 2007

By 

Photocelt (Bainbridge Island, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide (Hardcover)

I thought I knew a lot about Washington wine before I read Paul Gregutt's book. No, HE knows a lot about Washington wine and I have just been schooled. I picked the book up at OS winery in the SSAW district in Seattle and could not put it down until I finished it. The book is divided into three sections: The history of Washington wine including both wine makers, wineries, and the best vineyards; a thorough review of the top 25% of the state's 500+ wineries, subdivided into three sections based on the length of time the wineries have been contributing consistently to the Washington wine industry; and a section on "foreign" imported winemakers who have been wise enough to relocate to Washington as well as what the most influential players in the Washington wine scene see for the future of the state. Gregutt uses his own rating system of 100 points that is completely different from the standards of RP, WA or WS, and I feel more accurate. He mentions literally dozens of bottles to seek out, which I have (at least a few) in the short time since reading the last page; I am not disappointed. This leads me to the conclusion that this book will serve as my guide for wine purchases going forward. Washington wine, although relatively young as an industry, consistently engages my palette with intriguing flavors that tread the line between California fruit forward and French earthy wines, thus creating its own world-class style. Gregutt explains why this is and gives a solid foundation for understanding terroir and the various AVAs in Washington State. Washington wine rightly deserves the accolades it gets, but also confounds as to why it is not more famous globally. Gregutt addresses this conundrum. Lastly, Gregutt's writing style is lively and entertaining and his abilities as the state's premier wine writer are fully on display when he gives notes on all of the state's great wines. My prediction is that time will prove this book to be the most important ever written on Washington wine.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winemaker's review of Wa. Wines and Wineries, October 28, 2007

By 

C. David Larsen (Seattle, Wa. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide (Hardcover)

No wine writer knows more about Washington wines than Paul Gregutt.
This book is very thorough in its discussion of the history, appellations, grape varieties, top vineyards and top wineries of Washington State. He makes a persuasive case for why Washington wines are world-class.