Chalone: A Journey on the Wine Frontier

Rating:
Summary: A sip of California history
Review: Among all the wine regions of California, Chalone and the Pinnacles are unique, not only in soil composition but also in atmosphere and cultural history. This engaging book shows how Chalone wines, some of the best in the world, came to be. It is essentially a history of the company and of the people who made it happen. What emerges from this fast-moving tale is the constant determination and vision required for any successful enterprise. I do wish the authors had spent a little more time discussing the wines themselves; we are told that a given year is "good" or "bad" without any sense of what that might mean in the glass. But this is a small quibble. All those interested in wine, California history, or the inner workings of a growing company (the discussions of which are unusually frank) should read this book, which was written to support Chalone's very worthwhile foundation.

Rating:
Summary: A sip of California history
Review: Among all the wine regions of California, Chalone and the Pinnacles are unique, not only in soil composition but also in atmosphere and cultural history. This engaging book shows how Chalone wines, some of the best in the world, came to be. It is essentially a history of the company and of the people who made it happen. What emerges from this fast-moving tale is the constant determination and vision required for any successful enterprise. I do wish the authors had spent a little more time discussing the wines themselves; we are told that a given year is "good" or "bad" without any sense of what that might mean in the glass. But this is a small quibble. All those interested in wine, California history, or the inner workings of a growing company (the discussions of which are unusually frank) should read this book, which was written to support Chalone's very worthwhile foundation.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent overview of building a wine business
Review: An excellent overview of how a wine business is built. This book traces the history of the land as well as the wine business. As it is with most land, Chalone Vineyard has had a colorful and checkered history eventually emerging as a premier producer of Burgundian style wines. But the book also shows that business is built on the personalities of strong leaders--successful businesses do not just "happen". This book is an easy and fun read that adds even more personality to one of America's greatest wine labels.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent overview of building a wine business
Review: An excellent overview of how a wine business is built. This book traces the history of the land as well as the wine business. As it is with most land, Chalone Vineyard has had a colorful and checkered history eventually emerging as a premier producer of Burgundian style wines. But the book also shows that business is built on the personalities of strong leaders--successful businesses do not just "happen". This book is an easy and fun read that adds even more personality to one of America's greatest wine labels.

Rating:
Summary: A wine journey by Greg Walter can only be the best
Review: As a friend of Greg's during his days at SmartWine.com I freely admit my bias. However during those formative days of my wine education I was fortunate enough to engage in wine chats on the 'net when such ideas were still in their infancy.

Greg has the unique gift of being able to talk about a subject such as wine with the knowledge of a master without seeming arrogant or snobbish in the least.

Most people that want to learn about wine are intimidated by the 'snobbery' people associate with it. Greg makes no pretense about his not being a snob. He is engaging, and his 'chatting' and writing styles are absolutely what the burgeoning wine industry needs more of.

Jancis Robinson did more than anyone to make a knowledge of good wine accessible to the British public. Greg Walter's first book will be a keeper as I'm sure someday he will be thought of in the same breath as someone like Jancis.

If you want to learn about a wine company's development from step one, this is absolutely your book. And even if you're not 'into' wine, it's still a great buy if you like an engaging story.

The French never call themselves 'connoiseurs' of wine as the word means they 'know' wine. They call themselves 'amateurs' (lovers / friends) of wine.

Tonight I'll raise a glass to one of the United States' most engaging 'amateurs' in the French sense.

Rating:
Summary: A wine journey by Greg Walter can only be the best
Review: As a friend of Greg's during his days at SmartWine.com I freely admit my bias. However during those formative days of my wine education I was fortunate enough to engage in wine chats on the 'net when such ideas were still in their infancy.

Greg has the unique gift of being able to talk about a subject such as wine with the knowledge of a master without seeming arrogant or snobbish in the least.

Most people that want to learn about wine are intimidated by the 'snobbery' people associate with it. Greg makes no pretense about his not being a snob. He is engaging, and his 'chatting' and writing styles are absolutely what the burgeoning wine industry needs more of.

Jancis Robinson did more than anyone to make a knowledge of good wine accessible to the British public. Greg Walter's first book will be a keeper as I'm sure someday he will be thought of in the same breath as someone like Jancis.

If you want to learn about a wine company's development from step one, this is absolutely your book. And even if you're not 'into' wine, it's still a great buy if you like an engaging story.

The French never call themselves 'connoiseurs' of wine as the word means they 'know' wine. They call themselves 'amateurs' (lovers / friends) of wine.

Tonight I'll raise a glass to one of the United States' most engaging 'amateurs' in the French sense.