Moon Handbooks Northern California Wine Country

Philip Goldsmith's Northern California Wine Country blends the author's firsthand experiences with the region with plenty of practical travel trips for getting the most from the wineries and vineyards of California. Maps and small black and white photos accompany specific details on each winery's special offerings, from Napa and Sonoma counties down to Santa Clara. Discussions include nearby accommodations, divided by price range for quick and easy planning.

As someone who is in the wine industry, I've never had a more borrowed book than this one. It is a great resource and I refer to it frequently for dining and activity options. Oh yeah and wineries of course. I especially enjoy the way it's written. It's very entertaining yet informative. For those of you with a no-nonsense way of life, this is the book for you.

I'm fairly new to the Bay area and hadn't had a chance to check out any wineries, mostly because I didn't know where to go. My husband and I just got back from a long weekend in Napa Valley. We spent a day biking around the Rutherford area wineries (which got interesting in the afternoon!), and another day sleeping in late and spending the rest of our time in St. Helena (so charming). We had a great time, and I wouldn't have known about half the things we did if I hadn't picked up this book first. It's really quite knowledgable, with local information, great hotel and restaurant recommendations, and a little something for wine beginners and experts (I'm the first type, I'll admit, but I had a great time). Anyway, great book!