California Wine Winners 2005: The Best of the 2004 Judgings (Paperback)

~ J. T. Devine (Editor) "This is a report of all the medals awarded to California wines in the 2004 round of the major wine judgings..." (more)
Key Phrases: old vine, total points, Napa Vly, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This portable but thorough guide to California wine is based on the verdicts of professional judges in the state's nine largest and most respected independent wine competitions. The first half of the book highlights the most-awarded wines in all Varietal categories and includes their retail prices; the second features alphabetical lists by winery including each producer's medal winners as well as their addresses and website information. Dozens of helpful photos, charts, and tables are included, and an innovative cross-reference system makes this book a highly useful shopping or wine touring guide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 285 pages
• Publisher: Varietal Fair (November 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881796116
• ISBN-13: 978-1881796114
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,027,869 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Let Me Down, August 14, 2005

By	Eric (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This is the 11th edition of this book that I've bought and I find it an indispensable tool. As an amateur wine-o-phile I take exeception to the widespread belief that I need to be marketed to by glossy spread magazines whose genuine interest lies more in pleasing their advertisers (Wine Connosieur, etc.). This pocket-sized guide is to wine as the original Field Guide to Birds of North America is to birding: all business, no ads, and without substitute.
Try this: buy the guide, determine the highest price you'll pay for a particular varietal, find the ones in each category that have a significant # of awards, then carry the book with you the next time you're in your favorite wine store. In 12 years I have NEVER been let down by my choices- the prices listed as a reference are often higher than what you'll find at your store, at least at the beginning of the season. Prosit!

4.0 out of 5 stars California Wine 2005 Winners - Excellent book for collector, April 3, 2009

By	A. Krug (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great book to research California wines at home or at a restaurant that serves mostly California wines. It divides the wines into types like Chardonnay. A great feature is you can look up a winery or producer and learn which of its wines have won prizes, how many, and its best wine(s). It also rates wines by total points since not all prizes are of equal merit, for example, gold beats silver. The local is also important - a prize Merlot from Napa might taste better than a prize Merlot grown in the Sierra Foothills. Unfortunately, the book covers only California wines. If you wanted to bring one with you when dining out or purchasing wine in, say, Boston, I would bring Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book 2009.