Superbly balanced pinot noirs; crisp rieslings; rich, heady syrahs: these are only a fraction of the expertly crafted wines being produced in the Pacific Northwest's diverse and distinctive wine countries. Second only to California in production, the Pacific Northwest is the largest wine region in North America, home to more than 1,000 wineries. What was once a young wine-growing area with a reputation for eccentricity is today recognized as a dynamic region producing world-class wines, with a focus on ecologically sound practices. This definitive volume profiles the wines, the people who make them, and the wine countries of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Idaho. The journey begins with the region's climates and geology, which create a fascinating tapestry of wine-growing areas. Next, the book focuses on the unique qualities of each wine region, with profiles of more than 160 representative wineries to visit. Included are legacy wineries that helped to build the region’s reputation, prestige wineries with a national presence, under-the-radar artisan wineries that embody the pioneering spirit of the Northwest, and promising new wineries. Each profile lists the winery's signature, premium, value, and estate wines. Beautifully illustrated with photographs and helpful maps, this in-depth guide is a milestone in the North American literature on wine. It will enable wine lovers everywhere to plan their touring, select their wines, and explore and discover the riches of the Northwest's wine country.

​​Winner of a Gourmand World Cookbook Award for best New World Wine book in English Canada An icon wine is the very best wine that a producer can make. It truly is the rising tide that lifts all boats, in the sense that the prestige of an icon wine cascades across a winery's entire portfolio. Icon wines are made with a winery's best grapes, and are aged in the winery's finest and most expensive barrels. They are aged another several years in bottle before release, and production volumes are often limited. British Columbia has a thriving and exciting wine industry that attracts winemakers from across the globe, and has brought global acclaim to local vintners. It now has a such an array of high-calibre winemakers that John Schreiner has compiled a book showcasing the icon wines from BC's best wineries--and the region itself. For each wine profiled, readers will learn the behind-the-scenes story of the winery and winemaker, as well as the history, provenance, and inspiration behind each wine. The available vintage is listed along with detailed tasting notes, information on number of cases produced, percentages of varietals in the case of blends, and even clone number of particular varietals. Schreiner emphasizes that there is no better way to understand a wine than to assemble vertical tastings, or five or more vintages of the same wine. Vertical wine tasting allows one to drill down to a wine's essentials, and demonstrates how a wine can vary from year to year due to weather, variation in style of winemaking, and other factors. Not only is this book the essential guide for any collector of BC wine, but it is also a culmination of research that illuminates John Schreiner's passion and unique contribution to BC's wine region.