Local releases new edition of winemaking memoir
Author Sean Weir.
New edition features 30 additional pages of storytelling, afterword by author Sean Weir
– “The Mad Crush,” a memoir about winemaking, returns on Oct. 29 with a new expanded second edition. Originally published in 2015, the book tells the true story of a century-old vineyard in San Luis Obispo County’s Arroyo Grande Valley. The new edition features 30 additional pages of storytelling and an afterword by author Sean Weir.
Hailed as “the best wine book you’ve never read,” the book’s second edition also includes a new cover and subtitle: “The Mad Crush: An Obscure California Vineyard and the Quest to Make One Great Wine.”
“The Mad Crush is more than a book about winemaking,” Weir said. “It’s an indomitable tale of mentorship, natural history and the countercultural heritage of California. This new edition weaves in additional details, remembrances, and anecdotes that make for an even richer reading experience.”
The book follows Bill Greenough, who in 1974 discovered an abandoned Zinfandel vineyard in a remote California canyon. Greenough spent the next 20 years restoring the vineyard and starting his own winery. In 1995, the vineyard produced a notable harvest, marking a key moment in Greenough’s quest to make a great wine.
Weir, who worked the 1995 harvest at Saucelito Canyon Vineyard, tells the story of that season and reflects on how the experience shaped his own life. Greenough, who mentored Weir, shared stories of the vineyard’s history and his experiences growing up in Montecito.
“This fall marks the 50th anniversary year since Bill restored the abandoned vineyard, making this the perfect moment to breathe new life into the story,” Weir said. “It speaks to a time in California when winemaking was more tactile and analog, which is something people increasingly seem to appreciate.”
“The Mad Crush: An Obscure California Vineyard and the Quest to Make One Great Wine,” will be available on Amazon in print and Kindle formats later this month. For more information, visit TheMadCrush.com.
