Back Lane Wineries of Napa is a guide to wineries where you can find excellent handcrafted wines made by on-site proprietors, often with only local distribution and limited production, places where wine tasting gets down-to-earth--no one needs to show off how developed his or her palate is. These are often also where sustainable and organic viticulture is being pioneered. Above all, these are wines that are likely to be a new experience, and among the back-lane wineries of Napa, there are still discoveries to be made.

Tilar J. Mazzeo reveals a different side of the valley--a place that’s vibrant, young, and far more accessible and friendly than you might assume. In addition to the profiles of more than seventy wineries, there are Wine Tasting Essentials, Wine Shipping Services, an overview of the area, ideas about how to plan an itinerary, the etiquette of tasting, general prices, and much more practical information. There are also restaurant suggestions and local attractions that can be worked into an itinerary spontaneously.