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