Author Event: The Wines of California by Elaine Chukan Brown

Join us for a special event with Elaine Chukan Brown, author of The Wines of California. This event is free, but we appreciate your RSVP below so we can plan for your attendance.

California has always been a land of opportunity and innovation, with names and fortunes made, from the gold rush to Silicon Valley. It also changed the face of wine, introducing old varieties to new locations and winemaking methods. It is thanks to California that even casual wine drinkers are familiar with grapes such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, previously obscured behind the names of Old World appellations: California helped democratize wine. At the same time, thanks to Robert Parker’s championing of the region’s wines, it also became home to cult labels such as Harlan Estate and Screaming Eagle, with exclusive mailing lists and prices to match.

In The Wines of California, Elaine Chukan Brown takes an in-depth look at the forces that made, moved and continue to shape California wine. Part 1 looks at the history, beginning by explaining the instrumental part played by Indigenous Peoples in the early days of wine in the state. The influence of national and global forces, such as Prohibition, World War II and the 1980s health and fitness boom is explored and we see how immigrant farmworkers and environmental protest both changed how wine is grown today. In Part 2 Brown guides readers through the regions, introducing wine producers throughout California’s 154 viticultural areas (AVAs) and showing that there are exciting wines being grown beyond the familiar destinations of Napa and Sonoma. In Part 3 Brown focuses their attention on the future, looking at the combined issues of evolving markets and climate change and assessing how California might innovate its way through the challenges posed. The three parts form a cohesive whole, offering a wine book with a difference, that considers wine through the lens of social history.

Supported by colour maps and photographs, it is an indispensable resource for all those seeking a complete picture of California wine.

"The Wines of California is an instant classic, moving beyond the standard recounting of grape varietals and winemaking trends. Elaine’s book speaks in depth to California history, telling a complete (and often unknown) story of the state of California wine." - Margot Mazur, The Fizz

"Elaine delivers a powerful, deeply researched take on the history of California wine—connecting the evolution of wine in the Golden State to larger patterns in American history, global politics, and cultural change. With her trademark no-nonsense honesty, Elaine has written what might be called a tough-love letter to California wine—celebrating its innovation, leadership, and resilience while challenging the industry to reckon with its past and navigate the future." - The Winemakers Podcast

Elaine Chukan Brown is an award-winning writer, speaker, and global wine educator, as well as a consultant on mentorship and diversity programs worldwide. Brown reviews Napa Valley wine and wines of northeastern Spain for Wine Enthusiast. Previously, they served as the Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com, a columnist for Decanter, and a contributing writer to Wine & Spirits. They contributed to both the fourth and fifth editions of The Oxford Companion to Wine, the eighth and upcoming ninth editions of the World Atlas of Wine, and the compilations On Burgundy and On California from Académie du Vin Library. Indigenous (Inupiaq and Unangan-Sugpiaq) from what is now Alaska, Brown specializes in American wine and has dedicated their career to the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and reducing gatekeeping in the wine industry. Brown has served as a cultural advisor and diversity consultant for book projects, university courses, organizations, events, and television shows. They co-founded the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum, serve as chair of judges for the 67 Pall Mall Global Wine Communicator Awards, and as a board member of the Wine Writer Symposium. Brown lives in Sonoma, California with their pet guinea pigs, rabbit, and Rosie bird.

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