Customer Reviews

The Wine Lover's Guide to the Wine Country: The Best of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino

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In this book Lori Lyn Narlock presents a selection of central California wineries and establishments that would make a great destination for a day/weekend trip.

Although wine is certainly the central theme of the book, other aspects such as winery owners, picnic accomodations, historical factors, vegetable gardens, tours, etc are criterias considered for recommendation.

The book describes several apellations in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino. Wine is certainly a subjective matter but the author tried to divide them into favorites and "best of the rest" and I think she manages to pull it off. How fine is the line? You'll have to follow the the book through the vinyards and decide for yourself.

What I liked about the book is that it contains website listings, phone numbers, intersting photos along with notable facts and trivia about the wineries, their people and the place.

Overall this is an informative and interesting book. It breaks the wine country of CA down by region and appellation. I can appreciate that because it helps you determine which wineries to visit, why you might prefer the flavor of certain wines over others, etc. But why on earth are there no maps???? The entire design of the book BEGS for MAPS! The entire book is black and white and there are several b&w photos...not too effective, grainy b&w photos never are. But some nicely rendered maps of the regions and appellations as you go through the book would have been enormously helpful.

Actually if I could change my rating I would give it three stars. As I read through this book every couple pages I start flipping through looking for a map, and yet, still no maps. How irritating! If you like Fodors and Frommers guides (you know, that have itineraries, maps, what to do, etc) then this book will be of no use. It gives weekend itineraries, having you drive to wineries, towns for lunch, a different town for dinner, etc. You have to have a Fodors Northern CA so you can plot your course (on a map!) anyway so why bother with this book? I won't be bringing it to Napa on my upcoming trip.