Sonoma: The Ultimate Winery Guide - Softcover

Cusick, Heidi Haughy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0811807738 ISBN 13: 9780811807739

Publisher: Chronicle Books, 1995

Synopsis

This companion volume to Chronicle Books' popular Napa Valley winery guide captures the history, food, and geography, as well as the world-famous viticulture, of another one of California's premier wine regions. Over 25 in-depth descriptions of wineries throughout Sonoma county and 110 lavish, full-color photographs make this practical and beautiful book a must for wine connoisseurs and travelers alike.

About this title

Review

[Heidi Cusick and Richard Gillette] have recreated the colors and composition of Sonoma, serving up a taste of magical places and providing a guide to help appreciate them. Appellation -- Appellation, January 1996 One good thing about wineries not opening until 10 or 11 A.M. is the chance it gives a photographer to explore and record them, empty and inviting, in all their morning glory. Collaborating with food and wine writer Heidi Cusick, Richard Gillette has captured that ephemeral, pretourist moment in a lovely new guide to Sonoma wineries. The two have recreated the colors and composition of Sonoma, serving up a taste of magical places and providing a guide to help appreciate them. Mendocino-based Cusick writes of Sonoma with the enthusiasm and insight of a native. It's a pleasure to follow her through the pitfalls ("watch out for poison oak") and the pleasantries of Sonoma winery touring ("Italian right down to the door hinges and the frescoes"). Her descriptions are so focused and colorful, the reader will soon begin to trust her opinions and look to her for guidance. There's insider information along with a good mix of tourist trivia. Even the mundane details are conveyed in a fresh and versatile way, such as in the line "access, tastings, picnics and programs, enroute food and farms." Cusick puts her wineries and vintners into a larger, more robust context, which is all of Sonoma County. Gillette's photos share Cusick's balance of detail with dreamscape; each shot carries its own natural order and beauty. Like Cusick, Gillette knows intuitively how to include in his frame just the right proportion of content to white space, cool shadow to bright blossom. Rodney Stong's vital, caring introduction to the book says what needs to be said about Sonoma: "I will travel, but I will never leave. I am here. Join me." Heidi Cusick and Richard Gillette show us how.

About the Author

Heidi Haughy Cusick is author of Sonoma and Soul and Spice, both published by Chronicle Books. She lives in Mendocino. Richard Gillette -- whose previous books include Napa Valley and Sonoma. -- lives in Cloverdale, California.

About this edition

• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0811807738
• ISBN 13: 9780811807739
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 118