There's many things to like about this book, even if you aren't a wine snob. (I'm far from knowledgeable -- I simply like German wine, so I want a guide that'll tell me how to use my time and taste buds wisely.)
The book is organized into geographies, such as "Kaiserstuhl and Tuniberg" or "Ortenau." Each section describes the overall characteristics of the area. ("Whichever the soil type, the Pinot family of grapes accounts for a good two thirds of all plantings.") It also provides a list of recommended producers, hotels and restaurants, and places of interest. These descriptions are very short, usually a single paragraph, so don't assume you can get away without a regular guide book as well. The pictures are lovely, too, assuming that you're the kind of person who likes to look at photos of vineyards.
The reviews don't pull their punches, and they give a sense of each place's value ("Excellent meat dishes and good ocean fish... fairly expensive food; moderately priced rooms") so you know what you're getting into. I don't think I happened to visit any of the recommended hotels or restaurants, so I can't tell you how accurate they are.
However, the irksome part of the book is its brevity when the details matter. Perhaps I'm used to having my hand held more than they think I need. When we wanted to find a winery that was listed, we had no idea where to look on the regional map. (Germany has a lot of *tiny* towns.) Nor did I have any idea what to expect in regard to wine tasting customs. Accustomed to the well-marked signs in northern California, I was surprised by how much I had to search for the wine tasting room for the recommended co-op I'd chosen. (It was definitely worth the quest, however.)
I like this book quite a bit, though I think it's a good title to read before you go rather than to take along.
