The concept of terroir is the primary theme of the guide: “The more precise and specific we can be about terroir, and the grapes that are growing in that terroir, the better chance we are going to be drinking more exceptional wines.” Higgins begins each section with a general overview of the county, cataloging its largest cities, notable attractions, and transportation options before narrowing the focus to specific AVAs. Rather than choosing wines based on the type of grapes used, Higgins advocates for the consideration of terroir-the environmental and human factors that shape a particular wine’s flavor. Higgins organizes his exploration of each county by AVA, identifying which grapes flourish in each area. The region, which boasts over 600 wineries, is divided into American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), grape-growing territories with common environmental characteristics. The author, a photojournalist, wine connoisseur, and writer ( Exploring Wine Regions - Bordeaux France: Discover Wine, Food, Castles, and the French Way of Life, 2020), guides readers through the vineyards of the Central Coast region of California, focusing on the counties of Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. Higgins takes readers on a tour through the winemaking culture of central California.
