Books
The Winemaker's Dance: Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley, by Jonathan Swinchatt and David Howell, is available from the University of California Press. The book uses the geology of the Napa Valley to provide a physical context for terroir and examine in this context how winegrowers and winemakers relate to this notion through their daily work. The book is based on investigations over many years by the US Geological Survey, and interviews with some 80 winegrowers and winemakers. The Winemaker's Dance is illustrated with 3D maps that provide views of the valley never before seen, created through a cooperative project with the US Geological Survey.
"This beautifully written and illustrated account of Napa's landforms, their history, and their relation to winemaking blends real science with a very special culture."
- Donald Kennedy, Editor-in-Chief, Science
TO PURCHASE:
READ AN EXCERPT:
Chapter 5: Civilizing the Vine
"By the late 1970's, winemakers had largely overcome the problems posed by the absence of experienced mentors by approaching winemaking with courage and audacity--they knew they could produce great wine, and they plunged into the task with little concern for their ignorance or limitations. In doing so, they slowly achieved an understanding of winemaking that allowed them to work with clarity and purpose, avoiding some of the uncertainties that had plagued the early years of the Napa renaissance."
Download a .pdf of the entire Chapter 5 excerpt here.
The Foundations of Wine in the Napa Valley: Geology, Landscape & Climate by Jonathan Swinchatt. A detailed and comprehensive review of the physical character of the Napa Valley AVA. With chapters on:
- Geologic History
- Bedrock and surface geology
- Topography and structure
- Sediments and soils
- Climate
Illustrated with 116 full-page graphics, many based on a 3-D topographic map of the AVA. Illustrations for the report were made possible through a book project undertaken with the cooprtation of the U.S. Geological Survey.
TO PURCHASE, CONTACT:
Jonathan Swinchatt
Earth Vision, Inc.
52 Cook Hills Road
Chesire, CT 06410
203-250-9311
info@earthvisioninc.com
Price: $175 per copy. Two or more (to the same company) $150 each. Shipping and handling $12 (for two copies or fewer).
Please note: shipment within 4 weeks of order. Please include your name, company, address, telephone and email address. We accept check, Visa, and Mastercard.