Napa Valley

When National Geographic sent Charles O’Rear to photograph a little-known region of Napa Valley for a book about rural America, he was immediately enthralled by the area’s natural beauty and vibrant tradition of winemaking. He soon made the valley his home and in the twenty-three years since, he has watched it grow from an obscure, secluded hollow in the California landscape to an internationally recognized food and wine destination. O’Rear has accumulated thousands of photographs of his idyllic environs, the best of which are brought together in this awe-inspiring volume. Each photo exhibits an artistry and grandeur imbued with the familiarity and immediacy that can only be gleaned by a Napa Valley local. From the people who grow the grapes and create the wines to the variety of winery architecture and unrivaled vistas that distinguish the land, NAPA VALLEY offers a personal and stunning look at the places, people, and events that have shaped this now-famous region. Without a doubt, O’Rear’s collection is the most original and comprehensive treasury ever assembled on Napa Valley.

CHARLES O’REAR photographed for National Geographic for twenty-five years and since 1990 has produced four books on wine. He began photographing winemaking when he moved to Napa Valley in 1978, and today owns the largest collection of wine photography in the United States. He resides in beautiful St. Helena, California. JANICE FUHRMAN writes a column about the culture of wine for the San Francisco Chronicle. She now lives in St. Helena, California, with her husband and two sons.