I am looking for a nice book on to serve two purposes: A, a nice coffee table book and B, be useful in learning all the ins and outs of wine. I know nothing but want to know it all! From the history to what pairs with what and the do's and don'ts of etiquette! What are your suggestions? I thank you in advance for your responses! :)
2006-12-02 10:48:51 · 6 answers · asked by . 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
My favorite comprehensive wine book that could also serve as a coffee table book is the "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course". It's just been updated in a 2007 edition, too, so your timing is great! The book is written in a question & answer format, but covers everything from the basics to more advanced information and great maps of the winemaking regions.
But I think I actually prefer reading Dorothy Gaiter & John Brecher's wine books, "The Wall Street Journal Guide to Wine: New and Improved: How to Buy, Drink, and Enjoy Wine" and "Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion: Red, White, and Bubbly to Celebrate the Joy of Living." These two authors offer a refreshingly down-to-earth approach to wine, and really drive home the truth that your palate should always be your guide, not a rating on a shelf tag or a review in a magazine. These books don't fit your criteria for comprehensive info or fulfill the need to have great photos for the coffee table, but you might find them very useful as you explore wine.
Enjoy!
2006-12-02 10:56:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil is a great book with which to begin. It presents the information in an easy to understand language. Offers basic tips as how to taste wine, what to look for in terms of a wine's characteristics. She covers the major wine producing regions of the world, with each region given its own chapter. It is the type of book that after reading the intro materials you can flip open to any chapter an read about that regions wines.
Windows on the World Complete Wine Course by Kevin Zraly is supposed to be an excellent book, too. I have not read it, but several wine distributors have recommended it to me as well as the Wine Bible above. I think there is a 2006 or 2007 version of this book.
2006-12-02 19:02:58 · answer #2 · answered by Gin Martini 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Last year for Christmas I bought my husband the Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide. I was able to get a paperback version for pretty cheap...and that sucker is thick! I think it's considered the "wine bible" because of all the info it has. I have the 6th edition by Robert M. Parker, so I'm not sure if there is a newer version out.
Here's a link to Amazon for the one I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Parkers-Wine-Buyers-Guide-Easy/dp/0743229320/sr=1-2/qid=1165104508/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-6663394-1592846?ie=UTF8&s=books
2006-12-02 19:09:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the perfect book for you. It is the Wall Street Journal's guide to wine, how to buy drink and enjoy wine. It has all of the elements that you need for a good wine book, it really starts to teach you how to distinguish between various wines and what to appreciate.
It is also a very pretty book, and it is even fairly cheap. Highly recommended! You can get it here. http://www.amazon.com/Wall-Street-Journal-Guide-Wine/dp/0767908147/sr=1-6/qid=1165409694/ref=sr_1_6/102-2826545-6885762?ie=UTF8&s=booksinsuranceforu-20
2006-12-06 07:58:10 · answer #4 · answered by insureman613 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any large bookstore will have something to help you. If you live in a large city, wine stores frequently have "tastings" of various wines. These events are open to the public. Go to the wine stores in your city and ask if they have wine tastings and can they put you on their mailing list. The tastings are fun and you can meet intersting people.
2006-12-02 18:58:03 · answer #5 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋