Italian Wine For Dummies explores all the major wine regions of Italy from Piedmont in the north to the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, explaining the major grapes and the best producers. Explains how Italy names its wines (such as Chianti and Pinot Grigio) and how the grapes, both native and imported," affect modern Italian wine production. This friendly guide describes "the best food wines in the universe," and how to pair Italian wine with food in classic and creative combinations. It details how to buy, drink, and store Italian wines. Plus, it includes a pronunciation guide, a glossary of terms, a vintage chart, and grapes-wine classification wine chart. Also look for helpful regional map illustrations."

Discover the nuances of California wines and increase your drinking pleasure

Want to be a California wine connoisseur? This friendly guide gives you the knowledge you need to appreciate these fine wines, showing you how to taste them, select a good bottle, pair wine with food, and much more. You'll see why certain wine regions are renowned and how to further enrich your wine-drinking experience.

California wine 101 -- understand the range of California wines, what makes them unique, and what a varietal wine is

Review the regions -- explore the major wine regions of California and what makes each one special, from the soil to the climate

Open the bottle -- become fluent in the Big Six: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel

Go beyond the basics -- appreciate Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Syrah, sparkling wines, and more

Round out your wine experience -- pair and share wines, learn about the proper glassware and serving temperatures, and prepare for a winery visit

Open the book and find:

An overview of California wine today

Wine recommendations for all budgets

Explanations of wine label language

A map of wine regions

Tips for aging and collecting California wines

Winery tasting etiquette

The ins and outs of recent vintages

Top wine country travel destinations