We live in the Bay Area and have been to Napa Valley many, many times. We, however, learned so much from this book/CD that we did not know from all those trips to wineries. We read the book before and then decided to listen to the CD on a trip to Santa Barbara. Here we were driving AWAY from Napa Valley but loving listening to information about all the places we thought we knew like the back of our hands. Thank you Antonia, for putting it all together for us!!

Although we have been to the wine country many times, nothing has made it as enjoyable or informative as this guide. The CDrom is a very informative and entertaining pre and post source.
It was delightful to have such an experienced tour guide right in our car with us, and the music is so fitting to the magnificent terrain. Look forward to any new releases of Travelbrain! cheryl in los gatos

Napa Valley for the Newcomer

My wife and I had the opportunity to stay in Napa Valley for a week this summer as we passed through California. By even greater fortune we had the chance to use Antonia Allegra's wonderful Expedition Guide to Napa Valley. This CD travel guide can be used in your car stereo and gives you the option of having a Napa Valley expert sitting in your own car.
Antonia Allegra is the expert on the Napa Valley, not only on the wine trails, but also about everything of interest in Napa Valley itself, even its geology. As you drive up the valley Antonia prepares you for what you can expect, visit and do. All the sights, history, and vineyard backgrounds are explained. I consider this concept as one of the best ideas to hit the tourist market for years.
The range of information is presented in a user friendly manner so even an 'old duffer' like myself found it easy to operate, and Antonia's charming voice made it even easier to follow.
I would recommend this Expedition guide to anybody visiting Napa Valley.
Don Budge

Stunning photographs of America's number one wine region. Every page of this masterpiece is a feast for the eyes.

If you have no idea where the Napa Valley is, or that it is an exquisite little Eden, & if you like the wines that come to you from this delightful part of California, then A VIEW FROM ABOVE NAPA VALLEY will be a grand adventure.

Come fly with Charles Feil in his gyroplane, & see the mists over the patchworks of vineyards, the rows of vines as they undulate over rolling hillsides, the startling & poignant blends of water, trees, roads & fields; catch glimpses of the elegant architecture of the wineries, hot airballoons over sunset fogs.

Perhaps the most telling feature, as we glide above this inspiring landscape, is that all the things we human have made are foursquare & angled, whereas all the vines nurtured & groomed, are in flowing patterns following the contours of the earth.

There are so many photos that take my breath away & the fabric of corduroy often came to mind.

A great gift idea!

Not to brag, but I have personally seen California's famed Napa Valley, the foremost wine-growing region in America, from above - courtesy of a half-hour glider tour I took some years ago. Of course the sights I saw from that airborne vantage point have faded from memory, so I was pleased to receive this lovely book that provides much of the same experience to the general reader (without requiring you to strap into a fiberglass flying machine). A number of towns, well-known vineyards, and geographic features such as the Napa hills and Lake Berryessa are all seen here from the expert eagle's-eye view. This book is one in a series from veteran high-flying photographer Charles Feil; through his lens you can also look down on Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Key West. If you want to get the lay of the land before planning a trip to Napa, this volume provides a spectacular overview.

This is a great book. It details the Napa Valley and the families in a great photographic format. I was completely fascinated by the imagery and the passion that they conveyed about wine making. Mr.O'Rear is a skilled photograher teller that weaves a silent story about the lives and art of wine making into one great book.

One of my desires is, after I retire from futures trading, is to own a vineyard. Mr.O'Rear has written a book that has convinced me that is what I should do.

Stunning imagery of the Napa region and the people behind the industry. O'Rear shows the reader the real Napa, and his breathtaking pictures do justice to this terrific region. The centerfold is a four-page foldout of the ornate wooden gates of each winery in the region; both clever and masterful at once. O'Rear shows Napa as only a true insider can. This is the one to buy and will impress anyone who opens it. A must for the true wine lover!

Napa: yep, that's it. The area just breathes the atmosphere of old times as can be found in the south of France.. but now in today's California, just north of San Francisco. And this book captures it all. The only thing *missing* from the book is the actual taste of the wine.

Once you've been there (either by car, or the famous Napa valley wine express) and you have seen and tasted this beautiful area, you will love the book as a souvenir. The quality of the prints is overwhelming - ranging from super-macro closups of cobalt blue grapes till wide, outstretching landscaping views.

And the book puts a face to the labels of your favourite wine. All the labels are listed, together with the matching winery's door, and some of the most famous Napa valley characters. Looking at these beautifully lighted out characteristic faces will give you an impression of the world behind the wine you are drinking.

WARNING: don't read this book if you are out of wine. You'll get too thirsty to resist.

Now let's wait for the video, Chuck! And the poster with the foldable airplane-ready frame.

"The Grapes Grow Sweet" is well-summarized in the other reviews, so I won't go into that. My four-year old and I really enjoyed this book he received as a present. The pictures are copy an Impressionist-era style (nice for adults) but have a lot going on in them, from the bees that constantly hover over the sweet grapes to the grape pickers rushing to fill the gondolas. I love the fact that the author doesn't talk down to her audience, she talks about gondolas instead of "big trucks" and grape cutting knives instead of "cutters." Every character has a different voice, and the aspects of family life, community pride, migrant farming, and the life of a four-year old are all highlighted without the author shoving it in your face.

I highly recommend this book to children 4-8 and their parents.

I bought this book not knowing anything about it for my nephew who lives in a large city so he could have a book about what I do out in the country. I was VERY pleasantly surprised by just how nice a book it is. The story is great and the pictures are wonderful. It now tops my list for baby/childrens presents.

Lynne Tuft is a fabulous artist. I think she should win an Emmy award for the best artwork of the year!!The story hooks you from the start, and she gives you such description that you can practically taste the grapes in your mouth and feel the summer heat and the years that Julian has waited to work in the fields! I would recommend this book to everyone because of the wonderful story as well as the incredible art.

This narrative proves that us kids and our parents are safe around wine despite what others may think! Lynne teaches us about the way it is when the grapes, which are made into wine, jelly, or jam, remember this book and all the hard work, long years, and effort put into it. If you read this book, I can guarantee many readings of pure enjoyment!! Estelle Wagner, Age 10, grade 6

Frankly, this book cost more than I usually pay for a bottle of wine. If this book were a bottle of wine, I would buy a case of it and share it with my very best friends. After savoring this classy book the wine you experience will never be the same.

Even though Steven Rothfeld's photographs of the Napa Valley and Chef Michael Chiarello's gorgeous presentation of some outstanding cuisine are very pleasing to the eye, the most impressive thing about this book is the history of Napa Valley that unfolds between the photographs.

This book is a beautiful seminar on how amazing it is that you can actually buy so many good bottles of wine. Although I have been to Napa Valley on several occasions and have taken more than a few tours through the various wineries, I did not fully appreciate all that is involved in making a good vintage.

The history of this famous valley and the many trials and tribulations of the wine makers along with the fickle role of Nature that goes into that bottle of wine you just uncorked will make that first sip a lot more meaningful.

This book is an absolute delight. The sheer intimacy of the stories make you feel like an insider, and it provides an insight to the pioneering spirit that has created an industry. I was completely (and very pleasantly) unprepared for how much I enjoyed this book. It is truly a treasure.

This book is amazing. The stories told by the families are so rich and real that one truly begins to understand why the Napa Valley is so special. Michael Chiarello really does such a nice job with the families in the style and respect he shows (just as I have seen in his Tra Vigne Cookbook, and his PBS shows - Season by Season, and Michael Chiarello's Napa). The photography really brings one right into parts of the Napa Valley that have only been known previously by the people that live there. The recipes are so special too, as they come from the kitchens of these families and from Chiarello. This is simply the best book ever on this very special and beautiful place...America's Tuscany.

De Man and Coonrad have done it again with this stunning calendar filled with gorgeous aerial shots of the Napa Valley. Whether your Christmas list includes wine lovers or lovers of natural beauty, this is the perfect gift. Majestic shots of historical wineries, lush vineyards and natural landscapes. De Man again includes an introduction full of historical tidbits about this world-famous wine growing region.

Coonrad and DeMan do it again--the 2002 Napa Valley Cuvee calendar is the ideal gift, both for wine lovers and lovers of natural beauty. The aerial shots are breathtaking and inlcude both well-known and lesser known wineries and vineyards, and majestic shots of Napa Valley's natural beauty.

The aerial photography of the Napa Valley is both precisely clear as well as artistically shot. Both the beauty of the valley and a good sense of its agrarian function are captured. We gave this calendar as a gift to relatives when we first moved to the valley, as an inducement to come and visit and it worked. You view parts of the valley that are well known (Mondavi's Opus One) and those not so well-known, which I think is the best part(like Storybook Mountain and Regusci Winery).

My husband likes Coonrad's golf calendar (Fairways to Heaven, which also makes a great gift, again aerial shots of some incredible golfscapes in and outside of the U.S. Check it out too.

Great cookbook for those special occasions where you want to spend the time and resources on making something special. The recipes are a little more time-consuming, the ingredients a little harder to find, but the result is wonderful. Jacques Pepin is simpler (and excellent) and French Laundry Cookbook is even more complicated (but also excellent) - Terra is a great in-between.

I've cooked over 10 of their recipes already and every single one has turned out really well. They're not simple nor for a beginner cook, but if you have a little experience, it'll make for some very memorable dinners.

The desserts are especially great, as are the appetizers.

For those of you fortunate enough to have dined at this world class restaurant, Hiro & Lissa'a book needs no introduction. I was fortunate enough to have found Terra shortly after it opened in 1988 (living in St. Helena at the time) & have been hooked ever since. The BEST dishes of their menus past & present are included in this beautifully illustrated book. Most importantly the instructions are well detailed & the dishes turn out exactly as they do in the restaurant. What more can I say? THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK!!!!!

Much like it's worthy counterpart's book (Tra Vigne), this wonderful piece should not fail to delight and please all those who happen across it.

First, if you are lucky enough to have dined at Terra, you'll already understand the beauty of (and behind) this book. Quite simply, this is a work of art. Why is that the case? Well...

Design--Beautiful graphic design and photographs. The layout is incredible and the photos are enough to make you drool.

Dialogue--Add to that delightful text and dialogue. Much closer to what this book achieves is the word "prose" as opposed to merely "text." The stories and dialogue are true pleasure to read. It makes this much more than simply a "cookbook."

Recipes--The recipes are, much like the food at the restaurant, exquisite. They are just delicious. Their difficulty ranges from relatively easy to moderately difficult. But, they are very easy to follow, making even the harder recipes accessible to the average "joe."

I strongly urge those considering this one to just go ahead and make the purchase. You will not be disappointed. It will be book you will treasure, and will reach for time and again.

Also, look into the Tra Vigne cookbook. It too is on the same level as this piece.

Since this is a Fodor's guide, you get decent coverage of lodging and dining at the end of the book. What makes the book worthwhile, though, is the photographs. They are plentiful and great. Most are current color photos, but some of the vintage black-and-white (some from Ansel Adams) are excellent. Many of the wineries are shown as well as different aspects of the wine-making business. Even street signs and other everyday activities are included, making it a down-to-earth tour guide and photo book. Very appealing to the eye.

This is a great book on the wine country. Full of some of the most informative prose regarding where to go, how to get there and what to expect. Doerper sets out mini "tours" of the area. My wife and I mapped out our trip by the book and had a wonderful time. The book was right on. Highly recommended!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone visiting Napa and/or Sonoma Valleys. We were able to trust the information in this book and it did cover a lot of information, from: restaurants, vineyards, antique shops and farmer's markets (plus much more). To the author John Doerper, thank you for making our holiday very enjoyable by writing candid and factual information for this guide book.

I would recommend this cookbook to those with some experience - this is not a recipe guide, but rather an inspiration source from a chef with well-grounded tastes. The recipes are easy to follow, are not difficult or overly time consuming in preparation, and show culinary flair and wisdom without being trendy for trend's sake. I would describe the dishes as simple food for gourmets. The book's design and photographs are tasteful.
With this praise in mind, I am disappointed in the book's production - unforgivable oversights such as: three prominent photographs throughout the book of what appears to be plates of crispy fried onion rings... but no mention or recipe. Or the recipe for a Salmon Roulade accompanied by eight very clear how-to photos - the photos show skinless salmon, butterflied and pounded, but the recipe calls for fillets with skin on, and no mention of pounding. An edit for future releases would be welcome. My opinion is this would be a logical cookbook for those who appreciate Jaques Pépin's series of books aimed at the aspiring novice, as well as for more experienced cooks who would like some inspiration for higher-end simple food. I'm keeping this one in my library.

When you visit the Napa wine region you must eat at Mustard's Grill. If that is not possible then you should buy Cindy Pawlcyn and Brigid Callinan's cookbook. The recipes for fantastic grilled food, unique side dishes, and incredible desserts found in this book will make you plan your next vacation to northern California. If you like pork you will love her Mongolian pork chops with chinese mustard sauce. Serve it with her mashed potatoes and braised red cabbage for a winning meal reminiscent of the friendly restaurant nestled among Napa's vineyards. Buy this cookbook and you will immediately understand why it won a James Beard award. And I hear that another cookbook is in the works ...

The book is a masterpiece for a handful of reasons. You will see the book as a labor of love ... 100% attention to ingredients, cooking methods, details of all kinds - no matter how small. I love restaurants that are consistent with their menu and dishes even if they stay around for 20 years, like Mustards Grill. I first dined at Mustards 12 years ago and fell in love with their burgers and soul-satisfying soups. That was also the place where I first tried the calamari with its sumblime taste that continues to haunt me to this day. And now 12 years later, I visited the Napa Valley for the first time and decided to try Mustards again. It is still as magnificent as the night I first walked in. Many of my old favorites are still on the menu ... and now with the new cookbook, I'm able to recreate the wonderful signature dishes at home 3,000 miles away from the actual restaurant. Don't be turned off by the long, long, long lists of ingredients ... the book is not meant for everyday cooking ... it's a restaurant cookbook so I'm saving the book for special occasions - whenever I need the cooking inspiration. Again, the book is a masterpiece - the photos are gorgeous, the recipes are irresistible especially the fact that the book includes just about every signature dish that makes Mustards undeniably famous.

Nadia Gordon has written a wonderful first of a series. Working in the wine industry and with the current Sharpshooter threat, I found the tale exciting and convincing. I couldnt put it down ! Highly recommended !

Especially nice if you know the Napa Valley and if you like to speculate on just WHO in real life would make the best verisons of the fictional characters in this easy-to-read, enjoyable book. I even learned how to enjoy that left-over red wine the morning after!

Good read, nice holiday gift along with a bottle of a great Napa Rutherford Cabernet!

I really enjoyed reading this book and I don't normally read fiction. (As my previous reviews indicate.) I had just finished reading a beautiful big coffee table book - "Napa Stories: Profiles, Reflections, and Recipes from the Napa Valley" by Michael Chiarello. I was certainly in the mood.

Author Nadia Gordon did her homework about the Napa Valley. As a biologist I wasn't sure the glassy-winged sharpshooter was an actual insect. Well, it certainly is. She creates a very real "sense of place" about this world famous valley. She weaves in a lot about wine making, believable local politics, society and personal relationships.

I guess I am being a little bit picky, but I wish the book were a little bit longer to flesh out some of the characters more. However, this is the first of a series, so I guess it is a complement that I would like to know the characters better. The only other comment would be one of the main characters is named Rivka. It is a little bit difficult to mentally pronounce.

I must admit it was a great read and I look forward to the rest of the series.