The Wines of California

Biographical Note:
Elaine Chukan Brown is a writer, speaker, and global wine educator. Brown is the Napa Valley specialist for Wine Enthusiast and previously served as the Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com, a columnist for Decanter magazine, and a contributing writer to Wine & Spirits magazine. They contributed to both the 4th and 5th editions of Oxford Companion to Wine, the 8th edition 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 has dedicated their career to the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and reducing gatekeeping in the wine industry. They co-founded the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum and have advised diversity initiatives in multiple countries. Brown serves as a judge for the Texsom Awards, head judge for the 67 Pall Mall Communicator Awards, and is a board member of the Wine Writer Symposium.

Review Quotes:
"This is as thoughtful, erudite, and well-considered a tome on Califrornia wine as you'd expect from someone like Elaine, and much care has been taken to represent the newer guard of California winemaking, its major players, and how the area collectively got to this point in its winegrowing evolution. Personally, I especially enjoyed how Elaine explores the history of the region and how she represents its importance. This is a fine addition to the Classic Wine Library's classy lineup of overview books."--Joe Roberts " 1 Wine Dude"

Review Quotes:
"Elaine Chukan Brown's new book, The Wines of California, examines this shifting reality with a clear-eyed approach. More than a history of vineyards and vintages, the book connects the industry's past to the forces shaping it today. Brown traces how California's wine culture was shaped by colonization, economic booms and political upheaval, while also looking at the pressures driving change now. Labor rights, sustainability and the growing push for inclusion all play a role in defining what comes next."--Rachel King " Forbes"

Review Quotes:
"Many books about California wine have been written, but few histories have sought to be as comprehensive....[The author] has an encyclopedic knowledge of the California wine business as well as the ability to grasp the nuances of complicated issues....She excels in placing wine within the social and political contexts of the historical moment, and her assessment of current challenges is provocative....anybody interested in how California wine became a world force ought to read this book."--Eric Asimov " New York Times, The Most Interesting Wine Books of 2025

Review Quotes:
"...delivers a reference that finally matches the complexity of America's flagship wine state...offers a deeper, multi-perspective look at history (from all sides), as well as the economics, labor, and cultures that have made California wine possible. It's as interested in power structures as in Parker points, and that's what makes it essential."

• Explains all the state's AVAs, examining the development, growing conditions and varietal trends for each.
• Profiles the main producers and individuals shaping the wine industry today.
• A useful reference on California that also provides alternative insights and insider knowledge.
• Author Elaine Chukan Brown is a prolific commentator on the wines of California and a speaker at events around the globe.
• Supported by color maps and photos.

Contributor Bio:Chukan Brown, Elaine
Elaine Chukan Brown is a writer, speaker, and illustrator. She is the American wine specialist at jancisrobinson.com and a contributing writer with Wine & Spirits Magazine. She runs Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews, which has been rated among the world's leading wine blogs, and has led seminars in China, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, and throughout the United States. She speaks at leading wine events, including the Women in Wine Leadership Symposium, Pinot Noir NZ, Texsom, and ProWein.