[SLA-SF] Noted Wine History Scholar at Sonoma County Wine Library

[Eris Weaver]

I just got this announcement from my friend at the Wine Library, Bo
Simmons. Those of you who went on the tour last year will remember him.

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Eris Weaver                 
Librarian on the Loose
Phone/fax 707-795-2157
erisw at sonic.net


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Tom Pinney will be at the Sonoma County Wine Library on May 12.

A press release appears below as email text, and as an attached word
document.  An adobe acrobat version of the flyer for the event is
attached as well.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bo Simons (707.433.3772 x5, bo at sonoma.lib.ca.us)


SONOMA COUNTY WINE LIBRARY EVENT FEATURES RENOWNED SCHOLAR

Noted scholar and author Thomas Pinney will discuss the history of wine
in America at the Sonoma County Wine Library (Piper and Center Streets,
Healdsburg) on May 12, 2006 at 7 PM. Pinney, whose work defines American
wine history, will open and lead a discussion on "Pioneers of American
Wine," touching on the themes in his books. A tasting of Sonoma County
wines with hors d'oeuvres will follow the presentation. Copies of his
books will be available for sale and signing.

The event is co-sponsored by the Wine Library Associates of Sonoma
County and the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society. Call
707.431.2898 to buy tickets ($20 or $10 for library and museum members).
Reservations encouraged as the event promises to sell out.

"I'll have the chance to talk about some important characters in recent
American wine history and engage the audience in a discussion about
them,"  said Pinney.

Pinney began his history of wine in America with the much acclaimed 1989
book A History of Wine in America From the Beginnings to Prohibition,
and brought the narrative up to date with the publishing of A History of
Wine in America From Prohibition to the Present in 2005 (both University
of California Press). The first book related the irony of how North
America - the land early Norse explorers called "Vineland"
- would not support European vines, as the numerous failed attempts to
establish a wine industry in colonial America and the early republic
attest. The narrative relates how later wine-production centers in Ohio,
Indiana and Missouri evolved before the California industry stretched
its muscle. The complex events that led to Prohibition close the first
volume.

The second book brings American wine history up to the present. It
starts as Prohibition changes the wine industry, showing how wine-grape
acreage surprisingly increased during Prohibition. The story continues
in part with the numerous setbacks and disappointments of the
unglamorous, dusty and weird years in the wine business following
Repeal. The doldrums of the 1930s, 40s and 50s end as innovators and
traditionalists, amateurs and artisan zealots spark the wine revolution
of the 60s and 70s. The role of the University of California, the
emergence of the Gallo vintner family, the increasing sophistication of
consumers, and the many and varied wine industries outside of California
all figure in Pinney's meticulously researched book.

Reviews of  the Pinney's later book include the following: "Figures and
statistics about all parts of the industry - from growers to winemakers
to middlemen to connoisseurs - expand the focus . his sentences often
sparkle with wry humor" - Publisher's Weekly "Engagingly written,
exhaustively researched, and rich in detail . Pinney's sweeping
narrative comprises a lively cast of characters that includes
politicians, bootleggers, entrepreneurs, growers, scientists and
visionaries." - Booklist. "I am confident the term definitive will apply
to this work for innumerable vintages to come."- Charles L. Sullivan,
author of A Companion to California Wine and Zinfandel

The Wine Library Associates of Sonoma County (www.sonomaodyssey.org) is
a non-profit organization that supports the Sonoma County Wine Library
with fundraising, volunteers and special events.  

The Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society records the history of the
Healdsburg area through the collection and preservation of all
historical materials and fosters the appreciation of local history of
the Healdsburg area through programs and activities.  

The Sonoma County Wine Library (www.sonoma.lib.ca.us/wine.html) is a
special collection and service of the Sonoma County Library that is
located in the Healdsburg Regional Library (139 Piper Street). Funded in
part by the local wine industry, the library provides business,
technical, historical and consumer information on wine. Its collections
comprise more than 5,000 books and subscriptions to some 80 periodicals
as well as maps, photographs, labels, clippings and extensive current
and historic wine information files. Visit www.winefiles.org to access
its one-of-a-kind online database.

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