Sullivan, a teacher of California history and well-regarded author on wine and viticulture history, provides a detailed regional history of the rise of the Napa Valley from its earliest years dominated by wheat fields to its later dominance in the wine industry. This updated and revised edition examines the Great Wine Boom of the late 19th century, continues through the trying times of Prohibition and on to the region's ranking as possible the greatest wine growing region in the Western Hemisphere, and covers important changes since the first edition was published in 1992, including the rise of cabernet, the sale of Robert Mondavi Corporation, and environmental issues. Amply augmented with photographs and illustrations, the book will interest not only wine enthusiasts but also those interested in the history of the valley's transformation. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)