The Winemaker's Dance: Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley

by David G. Howell and Jonathan Swinchatt

Book Overview

There is a saying among winemakers that "great wine begins with dirt." Beginning from this intriguing premise, The Winemaker's Dance embarks on an eye-opening exploration of "terroir" in one of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520235134
• ISBN13: 9780520235137
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 229 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

Great Book

Anyone who enjoys wine and/or Napa Valley will enjoy this book. Great pictures, great explanations and great geology. They even let the winemakers pontificate abit. I really enjoyed it.

Good background book

I have a farm near Napa county and was interested in assessing the suitablity of the farm for growing wine grapes. This book has a lot of interesting information in it. It is especially suitable for someone interested in agriculture who will be visiting Napa county - there are probably far more people in that category than there are people interested in growing wine grapes. For my purposes I would have liked to see a summary table or listing of wineries, wine price, type(s) of grapes grown, soil conditions, soil water retention, elevation, slope, sunlight orientation, and perhaps native vegetation on the soil. It was a bit hard to get this information since it was scattered throughout the book and there were usually just a few factors mentionned when specific wineries were discussed.

Geeky but Great

A thorough and valiant attempt at trying to define "terroir" in one of the world's great winegrape growing regions. I liked the book a lot more than I thought I would--it starts with the soils and geologic makeup, goes into climate, viticulture, and then tries to bundle it with how the grape growers and winemakers coax great fruit out of all of it. Fabulous maps and graphics. Worth the price for this alone. Terroir is a very difficult topic to get ones head around and I really appreciate the authors' work. A lot closer than you get from talking to grape growers and wine makers. (I have been an amateur winemaker for over 10 years, so I really appreciated the clarity of their approach.)

The Winemaker's Dance: Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley

yes, this book can not tell you everything about the wine, but at least, this book does provide a basic knowledge of relationship between terroir and the character of wine. If readers who are really interested in wine and terroir, you might buy another book called" Terroir, The Role Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wine." by James E. Wilson.

Winemaker's Wisdon - a fusion of science and intuition

This is a wonderful book for someone interested in an understanding of the complexities and nuances of creating good wine. After reading it I have a deep appreciation for the forces brought together by the winemaker. The Napa Valley and what it produces are certainly uniquely American treasures. The authors begin by explaining the winemaker's dance as "an engagement with land, vine, and human understanding that is fundamental to understanding the relationship of terroir and wine". What follows delves into each aspect of the dance in exquisite and enjoyable detail. Initially I thought I'd be overwhelmed by the scientific details of the geological formation of the Napa Valley, however, the combination of wonderful graphics, diagrams, maps and descriptions resulted in not only an understanding of Napa, but a greater understanding of geology in general. The authors move us through a history of the forces that created the major structures of the valley up to the resultant influences on soil and the particular issues that concern winemakers. Despite being geologists, the authors have a keen respect for the limitations of scientific information and are quick to point out the limitations and resultant assumptions. Understanding more of the geologic history of the Valley allows one to understand the importance of site selection by the grape growers and winemakers. Rock, soil, sun, wind direction and temperature as well as other details of place and earth are critical in deciding what and where to plant. The second half of the book brings into focus the amazingly complex work of growing excellent grapes and then harvesting and handling them to produce excellent wine. For me it suggests that the best winemakers need a fusion of both masculine/feminine, linear/intuitive capacities. One could know everything about the science of winemaking and fail without having a feel for timing, smell and taste. No wonder some of Napa's best winemakers are women. The book contains some tasty bonuses including two tours of the Napa Valley and it's wineries, and quick-read boxes explaining such things as the tannin effect. For readers who love well-produced books, the quality of paper, color and print style make this one a treat to touch and see. The authors' writing style is also quite enjoyable with freguent use of surprising similes and metaphors. Finally, a major benefit to me as a novice wine taster is the message to trust my own taste rather than relying on the "experts". And, to find a good wine store with knowledgeable staff to help you through the process of exploration.