Access California Wine Country 6e

Rating:
Summary: I like Wine!
Review: Great reference book. We took it everywhere when we visited. We used it throughout Sonoma mostly, but Napa as well. Highly recommended. Also check out "The Best of the Wine Country" by Don and Betty Martin. ISBN: 0942053176. We found this book a good compliment to Access California Wine Country

Rating:
Summary: Inaccurate and outdated
Review: I got this guide after skimming it pretty extensively at a bookstore. I was impressed by the content, the nice user friendly format, and the graphics quality.

When I actually tried to use the information in the guide, however, I was deeply disappointed and angered, because (1) much of the information is hugely outdated even though the guide claims to be updated - for example, a restaurant that has been closed since 2001 is still highlighted in the guide in several places - tells you how dated the "best of" opinions written by local Napa luminaries are... and (2) the author and publisher didn't bother to verify that phone numbers were accurate, so I wound up calling wrong numbers, dead numbers, numbers for business offices of wineries only to find that I should have called the tasting room number, which these guys didn't bother to include...

in short, don't buy this book! judge this book by its "cover" and you will be fooled and disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Inaccurate and outdated
Review: I got this guide after skimming it pretty extensively at a bookstore. I was impressed by the content, the nice user friendly format, and the graphics quality.

When I actually tried to use the information in the guide, however, I was deeply disappointed and angered, because (1) much of the information is hugely outdated even though the guide claims to be updated - for example, a restaurant that has been closed since 2001 is still highlighted in the guide in several places - tells you how dated the "best of" opinions written by local Napa luminaries are... and (2) the author and publisher didn't bother to verify that phone numbers were accurate, so I wound up calling wrong numbers, dead numbers, numbers for business offices of wineries only to find that I should have called the tasting room number, which these guys didn't bother to include...

in short, don't buy this book! judge this book by its "cover" and you will be fooled and disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Good guide.
Review: Just returned from a trip to Sonoma and Mendocino counties. This book was an excellent guide and I really liked the maps detailing where everything was. Of course things change and places close or move - we only had one "surprise," when we went to Hidden Cellars and learned they'd been bought by Parducci and were now in that tasting room instead.

Otherwise, this book is terrific to have along. I recommend looking at websites on the internet before your trip - just type "Suffolk County wineries" (or whatever) in a search, and start studying! If a winery you want to visit is in the book, definitely read what they have to say. Just be aware that other wineries that are good (Gary Farrell) or great (the tiny but superb Nalle Winery) are not included in the book, and are really worth seeing. Use the guide to augment your research, but don't rely solely on this - or any other one - guide to give you complete info on a trip to the wine country.

Rating:
Summary: 2002 and so out of date!
Review: Richard needs to get back in the Wine Country and find out what is going on out here. I live in the Napa Valley, and he is reviewing restaurants, hotels, store etc...that are long gone.
Nothing worse at showing up at Livefire or The Diner and no one is home. Furthermore all the missed opportunities to sample hotels such as Milliken Creek Inn in Napa or Zuzu, Julias Kitchen, the Martini House, Roux... the list is endless. Life is moving fast and relying on your 1998 visit isn't cutting it.

Rating:
Summary: 2002 and so out of date!
Review: The descriptions of the vineyards, the unique cafes, and cozy bed & breakfasts made our trip to the Wine Country easy to plan. We had the hours of tasting rooms and a review of every restaurant in every village to guide us. With a wealth of things to do in California's wine country, this trustworthy guide helps to make the most of every minute of your vacation. The maps are detailed and easy to use. The "bests" lists by locals are intriguing and help you find insider favorites. Don't go to the wine country without it!

Rating:
Summary: Don't go there without THIS!
Review: The descriptions of the vineyards, the unique cafes, and cozy bed & breakfasts made our trip to the Wine Country easy to plan. We had the hours of tasting rooms and a review of every restaurant in every village to guide us. With a wealth of things to do in California's wine country, this trustworthy guide helps to make the most of every minute of your vacation. The maps are detailed and easy to use. The "bests" lists by locals are intriguing and help you find insider favorites. Don't go to the wine country without it!

Rating:
Summary: Helpful for planning but a little outdated!
Review: This guide is very comprehensive-- great to help plan a trip to Wine Country. It gave us the scoop on activities, wineries, hotels, restaurants, etc. The maps are also good. The disappointment came when we tried to find dinner our first night in wine country. We literally went to 3 restaurants in a row that were recommended by the guide but were no longer in business. We wasted a lot of time driving around to find these places. In the end, we did find our 4th choice restaurant in town, and it was an excellent dinner. Moral of the story-- great guide, but can't hurt to call ahead!

Rating:
Summary: Good, but already dated
Review: Used this on our honeymoon in 2001. It was a great resource, but we found that some of the restaurants listed are already out of business! :-(