Enchanting watercolors complement a wealth of recipes and homespun wisdom emphasizing the use of fresh foods and and simple preparation to yield taste treats for all seasons

"June is a time when the vineyardist thins and trains shoots, which seem to grow inches a day. During thinning and training one learns intimately about the personality of the grapevine. It is a strange creature, and one can see why in ancient Greece and Rome it represented the cycles of life. The bark on the main trunk tends to be cracked and crumpled, hanging in threads in some places, and reminiscent of a withered old man. It’s not pretty to look at. But the vine comes to life in the smooth brown canes that were young growth the year before, and then in the tender, rubbery green shoots of the current season." In 1998, Gary and Rosemary Barletta purchased seven acres of land on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake. Descending to the west from the state route that runs along on the ridge overlooking the lake, the land was fertile, rich with shalestone and limestone bedrock, and exposed to moderating air currents from the lake. It was the perfect place to establish a vineyard, and the Barlettas immediately began to plant their vines and build the winery about which they had dreamed for years. The Barlettas’ story, as John C. Hartsock tells it, is a window onto the world of contemporary craft winemaking, from the harsh realities of business plans, vineyard pests, and brutal weather to the excitement of producing the first vintage, greeting enthusiastic visitors on a vineyard tour, and winning a gold medal from the American Wine Society for a Cabernet Franc. Above all, Seasons of a Finger Lakes Winery describes the connection forged among the vintner, the vine, and terroir. This ancient bond, when tended across the cycle of seasons, results in excellent wines and the satisfaction, on the part of the winemaker and the wine enthusiast, of tasting a perfect harvest in a single glass. Today, Long Point Winery sits on seventy-two acres (eight of which are under cultivation with vinifera grapes) and produces sixteen varieties of wine, a number of which are estate wines made from grapes grown on their property. With interest in winemaking continuing to grow, the Barlettas’ experience of making award-winning wines offers both practical advice for anyone running (or thinking of running) their own winery, whether in the Finger Lakes or elsewhere, as well as insights into the challenges and joys of pursuing a dream.

Nearly ten years after her husband was killed in a car accident—and three days before the 2003 release of her first edition of this book—Paula Moulton took a risk and enrolled in a ten-month wine management program at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. In this second edition of Seasons Among the Vines, Moulton details the adventures that ensue when she leaves her home in Sonoma to face the unknown in France. In Paris, she has not only the struggles of living in a foreign country to cope with but also the rigors of the French academic system—complete with a one-month stint in Bergerac as a cellar rat and a six-week internship as a sommelier in a prestigious restaurant off Le Champs Elysees. Interspersed throughout her narrative is advice for weekend gardeners and wine-loving suburbanites on how to make wine at home, as well as everything a reader could ever need to know about successful food and wine pairing, how to make intelligent decisions when choosing wine, and how to smell, swirl, and taste wine like a pro. Full of international escapades, unforeseen wine disasters, and new-world twists on old-world secrets, Seasons Among the Vines paints a bona fide picture of what it means to follow a dream even after suffering great loss.

Celebrate the seasons of the vineyard with Robert and Margrit Mondavi. Thousands of visitors from all over the world flock to the Mondavi Winery annually for tours, tastings, concerts, festivals and other special culinary and cultural events. Now the couple invites readers to share the bounties of their table and more than 100 fabulous dishes from the Mondavi Winery Vineyard Room chefs, the family's heirloom, recipes and the famed guest chefs who have cooked at the winery. 100+ color photos. Authors tour.

Vermont is a food lover's paradise. From its verdant and fertile farmland, regional specialties are emerging. We have an abundant selection of locally raised meats, poultry, produce and fruits, as well as world-class artisanal cheeses, award-winning spirits, ciders, beers and, of course, wine. Shelburne Vineyard is recognized as a pioneer in cold-climate winemaking, producing expertly crafted wines from Vermont and regionally grown hybrid grapes. With original mouthwatering recipes crafted especially for this new edition, this book celebrates a generation of outstanding wines and the affinity of food and wine produced from the same northern terroir.

With an emphasis on simple preparation and fresh foods, the author offers seasonal recipes for Forth of July picnics, Valentine's Day treats, and warming winter meals.