American Wine Guide: 2008

“Americans are drinking more wine now than they ever have before,” noted Kevin Zraly, and that burgeoning interest led him to create the first edition of this sparkling guide, devoted solely to American wines. The only book to cover vineyards from all 50 states (yes, including Alaska!), it quenched our need for advice on this booming, underserved subject. Now it’s revised, and this new “vintage” is better than ever, with even more information for wine lovers to savor. Everything previously included is still intact—the fascinating history and background details, the magnificent spreads with maps of the wine-growing areas, the handsome labels, the fact boxes on each state, the great wine selections from Kevin (many at under ＄15). But now each state-by-state entry will include enhanced coverage of vineyard tours, existing wine trails, and how to purchase wine, as well as Kevin’s always-entertaining and informative personal anecdotes. There’s also greatly expanded information on six of the top ten wine producing states: Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, North Carolina, Texas, and Michigan. And the volume looks fantastic too, with an improved trim size and paper that makes it easier to use. Of course, all the wine lists and recommendations are completely up-to-date.