California Wine For Dummies

Discover the nuances of California wines and increase your drinking pleasure
Want to be a California wine connoisseur? This friendly guide gives you the knowledge you need to appreciate these fine wines, showing you how to taste them, select a good bottle, pair wine with food, and much more. You'll see why certain wine regions are renowned and how to further enrich your wine-drinking experience.
California wine 101 — understand the range of California wines, what makes them unique, and what a varietal wine is
Review the regions — explore the major wine regions of California and what makes each one special, from the soil to the climate
Open the bottle — become fluent in the Big Six: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel
Go beyond the basics — appreciate Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Syrah, sparkling wines, and more
Round out your wine experience — pair and share wines, learn about the proper glassware and serving temperatures, and prepare for a winery visit
Open the book and find:
An overview of California wine today
Wine recommendations for all budgets
Explanations of wine label language
A map of wine regions
Tips for aging and collecting California wines
Winery tasting etiquette
The ins and outs of recent vintages
Top wine country travel destinations

Ed McCarthy, CWE, is a wine columnist for WineReviewOnline.com and for Beverage Media. Mary Ewing-Mulligan, MW, is President of the International Wine Center in New York. Together, they are the authors of many For Dummies wine guides, including the perennial bestseller Wine For Dummies.

Introduction.
Part I: The Big Picture of California Wine.
Chapter 1: Introducing California Wines.
Chapter 2: What’s in the Bottle.
Chapter 3: Decoding the Label.
Chapter 4: California’s Major Wine Regions.
Part II: The Headliners.
Chapter 5: Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Chapter 6: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Their Blends.
Chapter 7: Pinot Noir.
Chapter 8: Zinfandel.
Part III: More Reds, Whites, Pinks, and Bubblies.
Chapter 9: Pinot Grigio, Rhône-Style Whites, and Other California Whites.
Chapter 10: Syrah, Petite Sirah, Other.
Varietal Reds, and Red Blends.
Chapter 11: Bubbly, Rosé, and Dessert Wines.
Part IV: Enjoying California Wines.
Chapter 12: Pairing and Sharing California Wines.
Chapter 13: Making a Winery Pilgrimage.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 14: Answers to Ten Common Questions about California Wine.
Chapter 15: Ten Top Travel Destinations and Attractions.
Index.