First published 2009
Sonoma's wine country splits into two worlds. The first consists of major commercial wineries that distribute nationally and welcome visitors to marble terraces overlooking manicured vineyards. The second hides along forgotten roads where family proprietors grow their own grapes and craft small-batch wines. Tilar Mazzeo takes readers into this second world, revealing boutique operations that critics and locals treasure but tourists rarely find. These intimate venues offer handmade wines with limited production and regional distribution only. The proprietors work their own land and often pioneer sustainable farming methods. Mazzeo shows how to locate these hidden gems where wine tasting becomes personal rather than performative. Her guide opens doors to unique varietals and winemaking styles that exist nowhere else. The book promises genuine discoveries for readers willing to venture beyond the well-traveled wine routes.
Genres: travel, agriculture, non-fiction, food-and-drink
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: hidden-gems
Setting: Sonoma
256 pages · Paperback · Little Bookroom