Cabernet Sauvignon, the Love Affair That Built the Napa Valley

Author Richard Mendelson has brought us a jewel: the story of how one prized grape variety, Cabernet Sauvignon, transformed a sleepy California farm community into a world-renowned wine-growing region and a showcase for the very best in American wine, culture, cuisine and luxury travel. 

From the first plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon in the 19th Century to the surprise triumph of Napa Valley wines at the fabled Judgment of Paris, Mendelson brings us intimate portraits of the pioneers, growers, artists, and craftsmen who turned the Napa Valley into a shining symbol of American talent, ingenuity and business savvy. Those featured include winemakers Robert Mondavi, Warren Winiarski, Bill Harlan, and many more, plus their storied mentors, Charles Krug, André Tchelistcheff and Maynard Amerine. 

And Mendelson is no outsider looking in. For the past three decades, he has lived this story from a unique perspective: as a Napa Valley winemaker, award-winning author, and as a leading attorney and advocate who has helped shape and protect the valley's vineyards and its future. Richard's book is already being hailed as one of the finest books ever written about American wine and the pioneering role of the Napa Valley. 

To showcase the beauty and importance of the story, Cabernet Sauvignon features exquisite design and photography, plus a wealth of historical portraits, maps, and lithographs, making the book a treasured keepsake for wine lovers and for anyone interested in one of the most compelling chapters in modern American history.