It Takes A Team…
This book is the culmination of numerous people’s efforts. Each and every contribution has a meaningful mark on the quality of our books. As Publisher, I am greatly appreciative and I thank you all.
Michael C. Higgins, PhD
Author, Photojournalist & Publisher
Li Wu, CPA
Research Chief & Travel Director
Danielle Ballantyne
Copy Editor
John Irvin
Proofreader
Gregory Franco
Map Design & Production
Arlind Rexhmataj
Web Development & Administration
Lakeside Book Company
(Formerly Baker & Taylor Publisher Services)
Worldwide Book Distribution
Marlow Bruce
Public Relations
Michael C. Higgins, PhD
Author, Photojournalist & Publisher
For more than 20 years, author, photographer and wine expert, Michael C. Higgins has been publishing books and magazines which focus on travel, lifestyle, food and wine. Higgins has participated in some of the most extraordinary experiences: from pruning vines, picking grapes, working alongside winemakers, to participating in blind tastings, food and wine pairings, judging Cru Bourgeois wines, and sharing many meals with world renowned winemakers, over countless hours, discussing everything wine. Michael’s goal is to inspire his readers to join him in exploring the wine regions of the world and experiencing the unimaginable.
Greece
My appreciation and gratitude go out to many people who made this book a reality. I thank you all very much!
- Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, PhD – Winemaker/Owner Gaia Wines, Professor of Oenology University of West Attica (Athens Greece)
- Georgios Mastrakoulis – Marketing, Wines of Crete • Dr. Elli Gkika – Operations Manager, Wines of Crete • Iro Stavrakaki – Public Relations, Wines of Crete
- Marianna Makrigianni – Director, Wine Producers’ Association of the Peloponnese Vineyard (ENOAP) and the Peloponnese Wine Roads
- Juliana Colangelo – Vice President & Junior Partner, Colangelo & Partners, Public Relations, Representing Wines of Greece
Meet George Athanas who represents Wines of Greece. George has been my confidant from the very beginning. I was introduced to him by Colangelo & Partners, public relations firm for Wines of Greece. George has been with me as the most knowledgeable resource for these four years exploring the Greek wine regions. George has created all of my itineraries, except when he engaged a local expert like Alexandra Anthidou in Macedonia (below) to create the itinerary. This was also true in the Peloponnese and Crete. Yet George never left me alone even though someone else did the itinerary. George was always active and caring about the very best experiences happening for me in Greece. Every itinerary has been exceptionally great! With George, it was way more than just itineraries though. Understanding Greece, its history and wines can get complicated. Very complicated at times. Over these four years, George has been an invaluable resource. For example, understanding PDOs and PGIs can get complicated (and this is extremely important in identifying the highest quality of wines here), and so I had many questions to help make this understandable and simple in the book for you. I could go on and on with my numerous questions. I am not just appreciative of George’s knowledge, also his patience with my endless questions for four years. George was always available and helped me with what I needed to know.
Alexandra Anthidou
Meet Alexandra Anthidou Director, Winemakers of North Greece and Wine Roads of North Greece. Alexandra is loved by the entire wine industry in Northern Greece. Everywhere I went, I realized how special she is to everyone supporting the wine industry in Macedonia and Northern Greece. She has become an excellent friend. I am fortunate to have been able to spend a lot of time with her while in Greece, yet not enough, as every time we were together, it was always a great time. Alexandra is responsible for the excellent itineraries that have made it possible for me to show you so many excellent wine regions in Northern Greece. I cannot begin to tell you how helpful she has been. She made everything easy and extraordinary, and I am appreciative in every respect. Alexandra knows everybody here. And with that came the best of the best introductions to really discover and explore northern Greece and bring to you the very best of what is here. I hope you explore Northern Greece as this was one of the best collaborations between Alexandra and myself.
México
My appreciation and gratitude go out to many people who made this book a reality. I thank you all very much!
- Martía Isabel Ramos, PhD – Professor, Universidad Anáhuac México and Le Cordon Bleu México City • Ricardo Vega Cámara – Founder/General Director, Cuna de Tierra winery
- Camillo Magoni – Founder/Winemaker, Bodegas Magoni • Agustin Perzabal – Perzabal Vineyard & Winery Tours • Fernando Perez – Owner, Finca la Carrodilla, Restaurante Lunario
- Lizy Bordin – Oenologist, Guanajuato & Argentina • Javier Valverde – Director, Guanajuato Tourism Development • Luis Martinez – VCR México • Tru Miller – Owner, Adobe de Guadalupe
- Trini Jiménez – Consulting Oenologist, Hacienda San Jose Lavista and Puertas De La Peña • Germán Calvo – Winemaker, Viñedos San Lucas, La Santisima Trinidad
Agustin Perzabal
Agustin Perzabal was an amazing surprise in Valle de Guadalupe. My first itinerary was created by Luis Martinez, of whom I am very appreciative for his insights and direction in helping me explore this valley. When Luis was no longer able to participate and not able to be in Valle de Guadalupe on my initial visit, I was introduced to Agustin. Agustin has been my personal driver on every move here. He knows this valley well. He is bilingual (I sure needed that). More so, Agustin was endlessly helpful on all my subsequent visits. He knew wineries and restaurants that should be reviewed in the book. And he was right on with everything. When I could not reach people, he would call locally for me. Or even better, he would just show up at a winery and make things happen. When I did not know the owner of a winery or restaurant, Agustin knew them. These introductions were invaluable to creating the Valle de Guadalupe section of the book. Agustin has become a good friend as we have shared many personal and family sides during all these journeys.
Lizy Bordin
I met Lizy Bordin in Mendoza, Argentina. She was the winemaker at a very important winery that I included in my Argentina book. She made excellent wines there. We became friends. Lizy is the person who introduced me to Guanajuato. It was a funny intro. I was in Valle de Guadalupe when I received a message from Lizy that she was in México making wine. I thought perfect, and I responded, “Where are you, Lizy? I am also in Valle de Guadalupe right now and I will come see you.” She said she was not in Valle de Guadalupe, she was in Guanajuato. My odd reply was, what is a Guanajuato? Long story short, my decision to go to explore the Guanajuato Wine Regions was based on knowing Lizy is an excellent winemaker from a great winery in Mendoza. She would never leave that if Guanajuato wasn’t an excellent place to make quality wines. So I went, and Lizy introduced me to many of the vintners and winemakers in this book. She knows quality and she knew where I needed to be. Thank you, Lizy.
Trini Jiménez
Another important thank you is to Trini Jiménez. I met Trini at one of the Guanajuato wineries where he is the winemaker. Trini is a consulting winemaker to several wineries in México. Trini is the person who insisted I explore Querétaro and he offered to arrange my itinerary. And what a great itinerary he created! This made a huge difference because now we have an excellent choice of the best wineries here. Plus, Trini knew all the winemakers in Querétaro. This was significant. Thank you, Trini.
California Central Coast
Appreciation and gratitude go out to many people who made the California Central Coast book a reality. Thank you very much!
- David Glancy – Master Sommelier, Certified Wine Educator, Founder of San Francisco Wine School • Ian Brand – Winemaker & Proprietor, I. Brand Winery
- Chris Taranto – Communications Director, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance • Steve Peck – Vice President of Winemaking, J. Lohr Vineyards • Mike Dawson – Travel Paso Robles
- Dan Fredman – Sommelier, Wine Consultant and Public Relations Professional, SLO Coast Wine Collective • Richard Sanford – Vintner, Pioneer of the Sta. Rita Hills Appellation
- Anna Ferguson-Sparks – Stiletto Marketing • Barry Prescott – General Manager, The Landsby • Phil Carpenter – Director of Operations, Santa Barbara Vintners
- Kim Stemler – Executive Director, Monterey County Vintner & Growers Association • Emerson Brown – Monterey Bay Aquarium • Garrett Bowlus – Winemaker, Albatross Ridge
I have known Chris Taranto for at least fifteen years. We worked together on editorials for my Flying Adventures magazine. Chris is the communication director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Creating this book made it exciting to be able to work with Chris again. Chris is a true professional and in love with Paso Robles. While I know Paso Robles very well through the years of visiting and writing stories, Chris always knows it better. He continues to introduce me to everything new and exciting going on in Paso Robles. It is because of the thoughtful and thorough itineraries that he created for my visits that Paso Robles takes on the most robust part of the book. I always love sharing wine with Chris, appreciate our friendship and have so much gratitude for what he has done to help make this book excellent. Thank you, Chris.
Dan Fredman is a very special person. It is a true pleasure to know him. It’s not just that he extensively knows the wineries in San Luis Obispo County, it is his availability and great attitude about making things happen that was infinitely valuable to me. Dan would never stop thinking about how he could contribute to the book, as I would get phone calls of great ideas on a regular basis from him. Dan even helped me with wineries and restaurants to visit in a different county where he knew I was not getting much help from their association. Dan, I am forever grateful for your love of our publication and your endless contributions to making it great. Dan is a sommelier, wine consultant and public relations professional. He represents the SLO Coast Wine Collective (the wineries in the San Luis Obispo County).
Another important thank you is to Kim Stemler. Kim is the executive director of the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association. I really needed an education on the Monterey wine regions as it is set up completely different from other wine regions in terms of visiting the wineries and tasting rooms. Kim was instrumental in helping me set up the best way to present the wineries, giving us the greatest opportunities in visiting Monterey. Further, Kim knows everyone there, giving me the ability to visit the right wineries. She would make a simple phone call when needed and make things happen, even at the last minute.
Bordeaux France
Appreciation and gratitude go out to many people who made the Bordeaux France book a reality.
- Brinda Bourhis – President, Winevox • Laurent Moujon – Publisher, Bordeaux Tourisme Editions • Dany Rolland – Rolland wineries & estates and Rolland Laboratories
- Catherine Leparmentier Dayot – Managing Director, Great Wine Capitals and Best Of Wine Tourism • Jean-Marc Quarin – Bordeaux Wine Critic
- Sylvain Boivert – Directeur, Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855 • Philippe Castéja – President, Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855
- Jennifer Mathieu – Director, Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc • Jérémy Broutin – Communications Manager, Alliance des Cru Bourgeois du Médoc
- Stephan Delaux – Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux and President of the Bordeaux Tourism Office • Lloyd Lippons – Gérant, Château La Haye
- Virginie Ramond – Press Relations, Conseil des Vins de Saint-Emilion • Jean-François Galhaud – President, Conseil des Vins de Saint-Emilion and Owner, Maison Galhaud
- Emilie Renard, Communication Manager, Conseil des Vins de Saint-Emilion • Laure de Lambert Compeyrot – Owner, Château Sigalas Rabaud
- Nicolas Jabaudon – Directeur Général, Médoc Atlantique • Sophie Dabudyk – Manager, Conseil des Vins de Fronsac
- Guy-Petrus Lignac – President, Saint-Émilion Tourism and Owner, Château Gaudet • Bruno de Lambert – Past-President, Conseil des Vins de Pomerol and Château de Sales
A very important thank you is to Brinda Bourhis. Brinda has been with me on this project from before it even began. She has been instrumental in guiding me from the very start when I was not sure where to venture. Brinda introduced me to many key people that you find in my acknowledgements below. Many of the châteaux you read about in this book stem from Brinda and her personal introductions or through her contacts. Whenever I needed anything, Brinda was always there, and always came through. I appreciate you very much, Brinda.
Another important thank you is to Laurent Moujon. I met Laurent on my first day in Bordeaux. He is a very successful publisher of French publications, so we connected on many levels. Laurent has been the perfect sounding board with great feedback and ideas. He took me to see many of his wine industry friends throughout Bordeaux. I am convinced Laurent knows everyone. And this has made a huge difference to the development of this book and its content. Besides, driving through the wine regions with Laurent and hanging out with his friends was a real treat. Laurent, your friendship is forever treasured.
Argentina South America
Appreciation and gratitude go out to many people who made the Argentina book a reality.
- Lic. Maria Gabriela Escobar – INPROTUR Argentina Ministry of Tourism and Raquel Correa – Wines of Argentina.
- Deborah Deandrea – Valle de Uco Association of Tourism & Wineries and Marcelo Flores – Tunuyán Tourism.
- Alejandra Cardona – ProSalta Foundation and Lic. Luciana Zambón – Salta Ministry of Tourism.
- Miriam Capasso – Tourism Patagonia, Lic. Verónica Linares – Tourism Patagonia Press Office, and Marcelo Miras – Oenologist.
- Debora Calore – Neuquén Tourism, María José Huc – x4Rumbos, and Federico Boxaca – Familia Schroeder.
- Lic. Carolina Ciliberto – Río Negro Ministry of Tourism, Matías Piermarini – Río Negro Wine Tourism, Sofia Figueroa – Río Negro Tourism, and Ing. Arg. Carlos Urbano Rota – Río Negro Ministry of Agriculture.
- Lauren Beebe – Algodon Group, Roberto Boriero – La Cima Tourism, Lucas Paracha – Arakur Ushuaia, Leonard Gelfand – Gelfand Vineyards, Karen MacNeil – The Wine Bible, Shelbi Herring – Copa Fina Wine Imports, Betty Reinke – Main Street Books, Aimee Higgins – Advisor, Santiago Achaval – Achaval-Ferrer Winery, and Roberto Romano – Sommelier.