The title "Dandelion Wine" refers to a wine that is made with the petals of dandelion and some other ingredients, most preferably citrus fruit. The protagonist's grandfather used to prepare this wine. The wine has been used as a metaphor for packing all of the joys of summer into a single bottle. Douglas Spaulding is the central character and protagonist of the novel. He is a twelve-year-old boy. His character is also said to have been loosely patterned after Ray Bradbury.--Provided by publisher