Elaine Chukan Brown is a writer, speaker, and global wine educator. Brown is the Napa Valley specialist for Wine Enthusiast and previously served as the Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com, a columnist for Decanter magazine, and a contributing writer to Wine & Spirits magazine. They contributed to both the fourth and fifth editions of the Oxford Companion to Wine, the eighth edition of the World Atlas of Wine, and the compendiums On Burgundy and On California from Académie du Vin Library. Indigenous (Inupiaq and Unangan-Sugpiaq) from what is now Alaska, Brown has dedicated their career to the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and reducing gatekeeping in the wine industry. They co-founded the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum and have advised diversity initiatives in multiple countries. Brown serves as a judge for the Texsom Awards, head judge for the 67 Pall Mall Communicator Awards, and is a board member of the Wine Writer Symposium.

‘Anybody interested in how California wine became a world force ought to read this book.’
Eric Asimov, The New York Times

'This book reflects California as much as it does its author. It’s brave, beautiful, principled; dense and complex; uncompromising; an act of activism that acknowledges the sunshine of California privilege while wilfully challenging the establishment.'
Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com

‘A reference that finally matches the complexity of America's flagship wine state.’
Jessica Dupuy, Forbes

‘instant classic’
Margot Mazur, The Fizz

‘Brown offers hope for the future, bright glimmers on the pathway from the difficulties of yesterday and today, to a better place in the future wine universe.’
Becky Sue Epstein, Palate Press

‘This book is core, essential’
Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, Grape Collective

‘Brown’s writing is beautiful – concisely prosaic – and their expertise shines through’
Sophie Thorpe, Decanter

‘a sweeping and compelling historical narrative of Californian winemaking that captures the enduring spirit of innovation and resilience within the state’s wine industry’
Martha Cisneros Paja, Wine Divaa

‘a masterful contribution to thenew wine literature’
Mike Veseth, The Wine Economist

‘an in-depth look at the world's fourth largest producer of wine’
Neil Sowerby

‘If anyone has any interest in Californian wine, this is the book to buy’
Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak

‘Brown brings the regions to life’
Christine Austin, Yorkshire Post

‘An ambitious, thought-provoking book, The Wines of California is a new classic for you to read and add to your bookshelf.’
Elin McCoy, The World of Fine Wine