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