True crime stories from Mendocino County about murder, corruption, arson, and other crimes.

A comprehensive reference guide to Pinot Noir wine in North America, including historical and viticultural background and profiles of six dozen prominent pinot producers in California, Oregon, British Columbia, New York, and elsewhere.

"Wine is made in the vineyard" is the mantra of many a winemaker. But what does it mean, really? Esteemed winemaker and biodynamic pioneer Nicholas Joly believes a wine that is well-made in the vineyard must express its unique terroir—the character imbued by a vine's particular plot of well-tended earth. In Biodynamic Wine, Demystified, Joly shares the core philosophy behind biodynamic viticulture and why such practices result in wines of regional distinction. This process treats the vineyard as a self-perpetuating ecological whole influenced not only by terrestrial forces but those of the sun, moon and cosmos. He explains why the use of foreign substances such as pesticides and fertilizers in the vineyard, and aromatic yeasts and enzymes in the cellar, as well as mechanisms such as electric motors and pumps, disrupt this synergy and are ultimately counterproductive to a wine's best, consistent expression.

"I have depended on Charles Olken's Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine for more than 35 years. This new Guidebook is a perfect complement. No other book comes close to its thoroughness, accuracy, and usefulness. It is a must for travelers in California's wine country."—Charles L. Sullivan, author of Zinfandel "Olken's perspective on California wines is unmatched: he spans the landscape from the postwar pioneers to the newest garagistes, and wine criticism from before Parker to the age of blogs. This new guidebook is informed by his 35 years of careful, candid, and comprehensive attention to California wine."—John Winthrop Haeger, author of Pacific Pinot Noir

International wine experts bring the wine cellar of the world to your home Follow the story of wine, from ancient to modern times and learn the process of making it today. You'll explore the flavours and characteristics of grape varieties and styles and discover all about wine making. From Alsace and Western Australia to the Valle d'Aosta and Stellenbosch, hop on a round-the-world tour of major wine-growing regions and explore the top thirty-five.You'll visit famous vineyards and wine producers, learn about the great wines of each region and take six tours from Burgundy to the Napa Valley. Packed with information on local foods, festivals and interesting places to visit as well as practical tips on buying, storing and serving wine, reading labels and making sense of jargon.

Unconstrained by tradition or viticultural regulation, California winemakers enjoy a freedom that has resulted in a remarkable range of world-class wines. Beautifully illustrated with original photographs and detailed color maps, this guide introduces California wine by exploring the best that the state has to offer —from lush Sonoma Chardonnay to spicy Santa Barbara Syrah to heady Amador Zinfandel. At the heart of the book, award-winning wine writer Stephen Brook offers 90 intimate profiles of top producers—from Napa and Sonoma to the North and Central coasts, the Sierra foothills, and beyond. Brook also includes general information on California wine history, wine culture, grape varieties, and more. Throughout, he searches for the characteristics that make California wine distinctive despite its tremendous diversity—and finds the answer in the state’s unusual climate, especially the shifting interplay between fog and sun, as well as a lively and constant questioning of received ideas about viticulture, vine age, terroir, and winemaking techniques, all of which have helped winemakers to create complexity,individuality, and nuance in their wines.

A tasteful guide for California wine novices and connoisseurs alike California accounts for a large percentage of the total U.S. wine production — about two of every three bottles sold. This handy guide presents the latest information on California wines and the regions where they are produced, including Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Santa Barbara, and Monterey. Open the book and find: The areas where wine is produced in California Recommened wineries in Napa and Sonoma valleys An introduction to the wines south of San Francisco, including Monterey A glimpse into the wines of Santa Barbara and the rest of California