Wine & Winemaking Books - Page 4

The Home Winemaker's Companion: Secrets, Recipes, and Know-How for Making 115 Great-Tasting Wines

Gene Spaziani, Ed Halloran

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A valuable adjunct to any winemaker's library 5 out of 5 stars.
27 of 28 people found this review helpful.

Gene Spaziani and Ed Halloran have written a book that needed to be written. The first three chapters are the obligatory "how to make wine" chapters ("Getting Started," "Essential How-Tos" and "Wine from Kits"). These have been done better by others, but the book would be incomplete without them.

The meat of this book begins with chapter 4, "Wine from Concentrates." And what a chapter it is, covering 13 specific white wine concentrates (Chenin Blanc to Vino Blanc) and 13 specific red wine concentrates (Barbera to Zinfandel), with recipes and step-by-step instructions for each (all suspiciously similar, but if the shoe fits....).

Chapter 5 is "Wine from Juices," and it does a superb job with 15 white grape juices (Chardonnay to Vidal Blanc), 15 red grape juices (Barbera to Zinfandel again, but many in between are different) and one blush.

Chapter 6, "White Wine from Grapes," covers 20 great grapes, from Aurora French-American Hybrid to Vidal Blanc French-American Hybrid, with some real classics in between. Chapter 7 is predictably "Red Wine from Grapes," covering another 20 grapes from Alicante-Bouschet to--again--Zinfandel, but the in-betweens are both classic and unusual.

Chapter 8, "Wine from Fruit," offers up 14 classic non-grape wines--from Apple to Strawberry. I found some of the ingredients thought-provoking(Epsom salts, for example, in fresh-crushed apple juice), but I found their choices of yeast less than inspiring (their heavy reliance on sweet mead yeast was a bit unimaginative, in my opinion).

Chapter 9, "Sparkling and Fortified Wines," offers a very good primer on these subjects, with more emphasis on the latter than the former. Chapter 10 is "Trouble-Shooting," but this, like the first three chapters, has been done better by others.

Criticisms aside, this book is a valuable adjunct to any winemaker's library. Where else can you find recipes for Cayuga French-American Hybrid, Lemberger red or Morio Muskat, all in the same volume? You can bet my copy is already well-thumbed....

Editorial Review:

A complete reference for the home winemaker. From getting started with the very first batch to advanced techniques for making wines from grapes, this book covers it all. Includes detailed instructions and helpful hints for using concentrates, kits, juices, fruits, and herbs to create a wide variety of homemade wines.

Great Wine Made Simple: Straight Talk from a Master Sommelier

Andrea Robinson

Amazon Price: $18.45 List Price: $27.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Broadway Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $12.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 53 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

About one-third of the way through Andrea Immer's Great Wine Made Simple, the author recounts an anecdote that could serve as the book's theme--alligator, rabbit, and squab were all introduced to her the same way: "Tastes like chicken." And as demonstrated by Immer, who went from debentures to de Rothschild when she quit Morgan Stanley to eventually oversee the 50,000-bottle cellar at Manhattan's famed Windows on the World, the leap from pigeon to Pichon-Lalande is analogous: teaching novice wine drinkers what to expect is what her book, aptly subtitled "Straight Talk from a Master Sommelier", is all about.

With emphasis on her "Big Six" varietals--Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon--this "Immer-sion" class of tastings lets amateur sippers differentiate the typical qualities of each, while illustrating wine terms such as dry, crisp, oaky, and tannic. Practical advice abounds; one chapter devotes itself to finding useful info on a wine label while avoiding "Stupid Label Tricks," those bits of puffery or unfamiliar flavors (how many have actually tasted lychee or red currant?) that can be confusing the average buyer. And her "Flavor Map" concept--dividing the wine world into three climate zones--eschews memorization in favor of some rudimentary geography.

Throughout, her pronunciation guides are accurate and personable ("If you're pronouncing 'Riesling' right you have to smile."); and she provides a great postgraduate curriculum of buying strategies, including the pros and cons of wine shops versus your nearest Costco; and a consumer advisory about restaurant's "award-winning wine lists." --Tony Mason

The Science of Wine: From Vine to Glass

Jamie Goode

Amazon Price: $23.73 List Price: $35.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: University of California Press Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $21.49

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This essential and groundbreaking reference gives a comprehensive overview of one of the most fascinating, important, and controversial trends in the world of wine: the scientific and technological innovations that are now influencing how grapes are grown and how wine is made. Jamie Goode, a widely respected authority on wine science, details the key scientific developments relating to viticulture and enology, explains the practical application of science to techniques that are used around the world, and explores how these issues are affecting the quality, flavor, and perception of wine. The only complete resource available on the subject, The Science of Wine: From Vine to Glass engagingly discusses a wide range of topics including terroir, biodynamics, the production of "natural" or manipulation-free wines, the potential effect of climate change on grape growing, the health benefits of wine, and much more.

* Covers some of the most hotly debated issues including genetically modified grape vines, sulphur dioxide, the future of cork, and wine flavor chemistry
* More than 100 illustrations and photographs make even the most complex topics clear, straightforward, and easy to understand
* Engagingly written for a wide audience of students, winemakers, wine professionals, and general readers interested in the science of wine

Sales and Service for the Wine Professional

Brian K. Julyan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

enthusiast's dream 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I was first introduced to Mr. Julyan's exciting syllabus through the Court of Master Sommelier's examination process. As both a student of wine and an educator in the hospitality sect, I have found his brief yet thorough writing to be an indispensable reference guide when educating my colleagues at both of my establishments.

For the home enthusiast or even someone just curious about broadening their horizons into a larger world of viticulture and enology, Mr. Julyan's writing broaches the sometimes forboding subject of the old world in an extremely approachable manner, the new world with a sense of excitement and the realms of bartending with both sensetivity toward tradition and the modern mixologist.

For the wine-savvy diner, this book provides valuable insight into the realm of "what should be going on" in the parts of the restaurant world you don't get to see. As a 20 year restaurant veteran, I also greatly appreciated Mr. Julyan's explainations of the difference between the should be's of service versus the nescessary practicality of providing service within the specific constraints of each establishment's environment and ability.

Both an exceptional value and a more approachable read than the sometimes overtly technical wine tomes available, I strongly recommend this to anyone looking to increase the caliber of thier sales and service training in their hospitality career or to soak in a little more than just grape-juice!

Editorial Review:

Providing in-depth coverage of the wine industry and comprehensive self-assessment material, Sales and Service for the Wine Professional is an indispensable one-stop resource for sommeliers, hospitality managers, food and beverage managers, trainers and students. With detailed treatment of recently emerged regions and a continued emphasis on the importance of service, this new, fully international edition offers ideal support for students and trainees on higher educational, vocational and professional courses.

Food & Wine Annual Cookbook 2008: An Entire Year of Recipes (Food & Wine Annual Cookbook)

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Editorial Review:

Almost one million subscribers heartily agree: there’s always something delicious going on in Food & Wine. And it’s all here in the annual cookbook, which includes every recipe published in the magazine during 2007 more than 600 of them accompanied by scrumptious-looking photographs. The contributors remain absolutely stellar, cuisine’s finest, including such cookbook authors, chefs, and food luminaries as Jacques Pepin, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Paula Wolfert, and Al Roker. Plus, this year’s volume is organized seasonally, so it’s even easier to find the right recipe for the right occasion. Mouthwatering dishes like Emeril Lagasse’s Shrimp-and-Corn Bisque, Mario Batali’s T-Bone Fiorentina with Sautéed Spinach, and Thomas Keller’s Over-the-Top Mushroom Quiche were tested on home appliances, making them easy to re-create and delicious to eat. In addition, the volume includes 50 brand-new test-kitchen tips, as well as an extensive glossary of accessible wines. Here’s real food that real people who want to eat well can actually prepare; recipes that reflect the many ways we cook today.

The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It

Tilar Mazzeo

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Editorial Review:

Amazon Best of the Month, October 2008: With its trademark fizz and sparkling taste, champagne has long been the beverage of choice for those in a celebratory mood. From the artillery of popping corks on New Year's Eve to the clinking of newlywed glasses, a bit of the bubbly has locked arms with good cheer for centuries. Yet had it not been for the pioneering Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, the libation deemed "the wine of civilization" by Winston Churchill might today be available only to the excessively wealthy or extremely lucky. Author Tilar J. Mazzeo toasts the élan of Champagne's Grand Dame with The Widow Clicquot, a fascinating story of the cunning bravery and good fortune that helped build the Veuve Clicquot brand. Widowed at age twenty-seven by the death of her husband François Clicquot, Barbe-Nicole assumed control of her family’s wine business amid the chaos of The Napoleonic Wars. That she became a prominent female leader in a male-dominated industry was one thing; building an empire amid savage political unrest was quite another. With passionate research and true admiration for her subject, Mazzeo pays homage to the beloved Widow from Reims and the remarkable weight her name still carries today. -Dave Callanan

Home Winemaking Step-by-Step

Jon Iverson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Resource Addition 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I added this book to my growing wine making reference collection. As an amateur, I am busy gathering additional knowledge as I hone my winemaking skills. I used the "Raspberry Liquor" recipe to spruce up a batch of very dry and unsweetened Raspberry wine for my annual holiday wine creation. Good dry semi-sweet result.

Excellent condition and fast delivery! Good seller. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent condition and fast delivery! Good seller. Helpful book and very easy to read.

Editorial Review:

Written expressly for beginning and advanced amateurs, this guide explores home winemaking in practical terms, focusing on the latest fermentation techniques of both red and white wine grapes. Detailed information on equipment, supplies, and mistakes to avoid will make getting started easy. Advanced winemakers will appreciate full explanations of sophisticated topics such as malolactic fermentation, extended maceration sparkling wines, and chemical testing. Also included in the new edition is information on the use of oak barrels. Unlike other winemaking manuals, this is devoted entirely to wine made with grapes instead of fruit wines.

The Battle for Wine and Love: or How I Saved the World from Parkerization

Alice Feiring

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

"I want my wines to tell a good story. I want them natural and most of all, like my dear friends, I want them to speak the truth even if we argue,” says Alice Feiring. Join her as she sets off on her one-woman crusade against the tyranny of homogenization, wine consultants, and, of course, the 100-point scoring system of a certain all-powerful wine writer. Traveling through the ancient vineyards of the Loire and Champagne, to Piedmont and Spain, she goes in search of authentic barolo, the last old-style rioja, and the tastiest new terroir-driven champagnes. She reveals just what goes into the average bottle—the reverse osmosis, the yeasts and enzymes, the sawdust and oak chips—and why she doesn’t find much to drink in California. And she introduces rebel winemakers who are embracing old-fashioned techniques and making wines with individuality and soul.

No matter what your palate, travel the wine world with Feiring and you’ll have to ask yourself: What do i really want in my glass?

Exploring Wine: The Culinary Institute of America's Guide toWines of the World, 2nd Edition

Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith, Michael A. Weiss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Toss-Up 4 out of 5 stars.
10 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Althought this is a good book, I would not recommend it as a primary purchase (try "Wine for Dummies" or "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course") nor as a secondary purchase (try "Wine Bible" or "Oxford Companion to Wine"), but I would recommend it as a tertiary purchase. There is a decent amount of material presented in a professional and eye-pleasing manner. Be forewarned that the book is large (9"x11") and heavy -- probably not something you would read in bed. The coverage of the different areas is pretty good, but not exceptional, hence my four-star rating.

Editorial Review:

Written by the experts who train today's leading chefs and sommeliers, this invaluable guide thoroughly demystifies wine, from the basics of wine production to the nuances of wine lists, wine marketing, and wine service. Revised to reflect the many recent changes in the worldwide wine industry, the Second Edition of this critically acclaimed guide features an expanded American wines section, coverage of the latest developments in Italian wine and the new face of German and South American wine trades, and more.

The Backyard Vintner: An Enthusiast's Guide to Growing Grapes and Making Wine at Home (Backyard)

Jim Law

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

great book 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 12 people found this review helpful.

Very comprehensive and thorough. Good reading and runs one through the basics and beyond. All good.

For general information only. 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 7 people found this review helpful.

The Backyard Vinter presented only general information about wine making, not specific enought for an individual wanting to learn how to make wine.

Editorial Review:

Anyone who ever wanted to have homemade wine and never thought they had the space or ability to make it will love this book. The Backyard Vintner is a handy guide to at-home wine making that teaches readers the tips and tricks of the trade. It is perfect for those who want to bring the feeling of wine country right into their own backyard.

The Backyard Vintner teaches readers how to start and maintain a vineyard, providing vital information on topics such as planting, trellising, and proper pruning techniques for grapes; which grape varieties will grow best in every climate or region; and the wines that can be made from each variety. Basic recipes for wines, and advice on topics such as bottling, storing, and serving wines, are also provided.