American Winescapes: The Cultural Landscapes Of America's Wine Country / Edition 1

by Gary L Peters

Overview

Winescapes are unique agricultural landscapes that are shaped by the presence of vineyards, winemaking activities, and the wineries where wines are produced and stored. Where viticulture is successful it transforms the local landscape into a combination of agriculture, industry, and tourism. This book demystifies viticulture in a way that helps the reader understand the environmental and economic conditions necessary in the art and practice of wine making. Distinctive characteristics of the book include a detailed discussion of more than thirty grape cultivars, an overview of wine regions around the country, and a survey of wine publications and festivals. Peters discusses the major environmental conditions affecting viticulture, especially weather and climate, and outlines the special problems the industry faces from lack of capital, competition, and changing public tastes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813328560
Publisher:	Westview Press
Publication date:	04/11/1997
Series:	Geographies of Imagination Series
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Gary L Peters

Table of Contents

A Geographer's Appreciation of America's Wine Country — Grapevines — Major Cultivars in American Vineyards Today — American Environments for Wine Grapes — American Wine Making Comes of Age — Wien Regions and Wine Labels — American Viticultural Landscapes — Seasons, Ceremonies, and Wine-Judging Events — The Viticultural Area as a Working Landscape — Communicating About Grapes and Wines — America's Viticultural Future

Editorial Reviews

Peters (geography, California State Univ., Long Beach) presents the usual information about varieties of grapes and grapevines and the ideal climate for growing grapes, but he does so in a most interesting and understandable fashion. His emphasis is on the wine regions of America and how vineyards affect the urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. We learn about wine laws in America and about the social and economic problems facing vintners in America today. We also learn how the American wine scene has changed over the years, from the 19th century to Prohibition to its coming of age in post-Prohibition times. This is not a comprehensive view of all the wineries of America but a lucid, intelligent approach to the subject of wines, winemaking, and wineries presented in an attractive format. Highly recommended.George M. Jenks, Bucknell Univ., Lewisburg, Pa.

Library Journal