Napa Valley Wine History 101: From Wilderness to Wine Country

A concise history of wine in the Napa Valley that helps visitors to the valley to enjoy their wine country experience even more, and Napa Valley wine drinkers to appreciate how the beautiful valley wines came to be. This book traces the evolution of the Napa Valley "wine culture" whose five core attributes--wine excellence, varietal diversity, innovation, ambience, and hospitality-make the Napa Valley the unique, world-class wine region that it is today. Beginning in the age of Fernando Cortez when Spain laid claim to California and the territory that would become known as the Napa Valley and continuing through to the New World wine revolution in the age of Robert Mondavi, this book reveals the major historical influences on the evolution of the five attributes of the Napa Valley wine culture. And, it teaches you how use your knowledge of those attributes to enjoy the Napa Valley and its wines to the fullest.