Wine & Winemaking Books - Page 9

A Hedonist in the Cellar: Adventures in Wine (Vintage)

Jay Mcinerney

Amazon Price: $11.20 List Price: $14.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Vintage Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $5.90

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Cellars
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Wine & Winemaking

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

One for the spit bucket 3 out of 5 stars.
10 of 14 people found this review helpful.

"Sir, a woman preaching is like a dog walking on his hind legs. It is not done well but you are surprised to find it done at all."-Samuel Johnson

I want to get one thing straight before I begin: I wouldn't know Jay McInerny from Hugh McElhenny, so I don't want anyone to think that this review is colored by my previous experience with McInerny as a novelist or anything else. I understand this book is a compilation of short articles he wrote for the magazine House & Garden over a five-year span in the early part of this decade, although there are no dates on individual entries. That's too bad, because in 2007 there's virtually nothing new in the entire book, and if it turned out he wrote them all, let's say, in the period between 2000-2001, at least we'd know he was blazing some new ground at the time and it just took the rest of us a while to catch up. Instead I would describe the net effect as a romp through very well trodden territory with a half-baked, way-too-clever-for-his-own-good guide.

In the introduction, McInerny informs us that he came by his gig at House and Garden by accident, when a friend and editor suggested he combine his growing passion for the grape with his writing. Hence the Johnson quote above- should we be impressed that a novelist knows anything about wine, or perhaps go with the flow and quote Maximus from Gladiator, dripping blood in the center of the arena and shouting, "are you not entertained?"

My standard-bearer in this genre is Gerald Asher, who for 30 years has written brilliantly incisive articles about wine in Gourmet (The Pleasures of Wine). I know Gerald Asher, at least his wine writing, and Jay McInerny, Sir, is no Gerald Asher.

I'm going to begin my serious critique with the most nitpicky of comments. I hate typos and errata in books about wine. Maybe no one can tell when typos occur in a novel. But they are well nigh inexcusable in any work where people are theoretically relying on the author for accuracy and a minimal level of expertise. I refuse to accept the claim that a wine writer of any caliber understands his subject if he can't spell a place name right or spend the time to proofread, even if he once identified a bottle of '82 Haut Brion blind. Here are just two examples (curiously, both blunders I noticed relate to Italy, which, like Rome, seems to be where many unskilled wine gladiators go to die.) (1) Gamberro or Gambero? The famous Italian wine guide Gambero Rosso is spelled both ways within two pages. (2) Somewhere he refers to the town of Spoleto but it's written Spoleta, which is doubly unfortunate because it actually has nothing to do with wine-it's an Umbrian town famous for its annual classical music festival, also mirrored in Charleston, SC. My point is, what else in here is a trap for people who think he's trustworthy? Were these names misspelled in the magazine and someone just hit the copy and paste key? On a related note, why is a chapter entitled "The Maserati of Champagne" not placed in a section of the book called "Bubbles and Spirits?" The whole effort comes across as casual, superficial and sloppy, like maybe he was still drunk while he was writing and never went back for a fact check-hell, it's not a novel, after all.

But the two main reasons I found myself increasingly wincing as he pranced along were more significant. First, I suppose it goes with the territory, but I have to say I found his frequent use of metaphors, especially literary ones, both pretentious and unreliable. There are multiple references to wines as sports cars, including Maserati (see above), Ferrari and Mercedes-never linked to the country of the wine's origin- but unfortunately no steady, dependable Civics that can give you a lot of mileage for everyday consumption. Different first-growth Bordeaux are stylistically Turgenevs, Tolstoys and Dostoyevskys-at least he can spell them right-though I have no idea what he's talking about. A poor South African winemaker is described as "the gruff Charles Barkley-sized black sheep of the family," which is such an unintentionally inappropriate and hilarious analogy I had to include it even if it doesn't refer to a wine. I can't wait for his book on basketball.

Which brings me to the final complaint. Perhaps the book's most annoying feature is the seemingly random perspective the individual essays take relative to the reader's presumed knowledge of wine. I'm sure many will have already decided I'm an unrepentant geek of some kind because I don't appreciate the wit and accessibility on display here, or that I'm focusing on the bad instead of the good, but I would think that McInerny owes it to his readers to talk to them at a consistent level instead of a voice that's literally and figuratively all over the map. From one paragraph or essay to another he either speaks to the audience in an instructive and engaging tone like he was the grand prize in a "win an evening with Jay McInerny" winetasting sweepstakes for H&G subscribers, or he prattles on with the most abstruse, incomprehensible name-dropping drivel about wines that only a billionaire can afford.

Just to show this is a balanced review, I will credit the author for trying to sprinkle most essays with a few recommended examples of whatever he's talking about. When exploring the wide world of wine, we all need someone we can Lichine on, and if you want to, you can Lichine on he. Although I hate to see it in print, I must also give him credit for outing the fabulous though increasingly expensive wines of Montefalco's Paolo Bea.

I'm about done here. My recommendation would be for you to try to read a few of the short chapters before you buy this book to see if it hits the mark for you. But if I were writing in the clever McInerny style, I'd be compelled to return to my opening and say something like, while Hugh McElhinney made it into the football Hall of Fame, this book is going into my wine writing hall of shame

Editorial Review:

In A Hedonist in the Cellar, Jay McInerney gathers more than five years’ worth of essays and continues his exploration of what’s new, what’s enduring, and what’s surprising–giving his palate a complete workout and the reader an indispensable, idiosyncratic guide to a world of almost infinite variety. Filled with delights oenophiles everywhere will savor, this is a collection driven not only by wine itself but also the people who make it. 

An entertaining, irresistible book that is essential for anyone enthralled by the myriad pleasures of wine.

Grape vs. Grain: A Historical, Technological, and Social Comparison of Wine and Beer

Charles Bamforth

Amazon Price: $19.71 List Price: $27.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Cambridge University Press Amazon Marketplace: 61 new & used starting at $8.71

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Beer
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Wine & Winemaking

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Non-biased review 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Please, take this book for what it is worth. It's written by a brewer, so obviously it is going to be skewed to brewing. The author never denies this. Look at the first paragraph. This books is great at showing why wine has gained the social status that it has and why beer has not, but should have. Wine has always been considered a rich mans drink, and beer is considered to be a poor mans drink. This book goes to show why this is not true. Beer is just as social and respectable as wine and should be considered so.

Editorial Review:

Why is wine considered more sophisticated even though the production of beer is much more technologically complex? Why is wine touted for its health benefits when beer has more nutritive value? Why does wine conjure up images of staid dinner parties while beer denotes screaming young partiers? Charles Bamforth explores several paradoxes involving these beverages, paying special attention to the culture surrounding each. He argues that beer can be just as grown-up and worldly as wine and be part of a healthy, mature lifestyle. Both beer and wine have histories spanning thousands of years. This is the first book to compare them from the perspectives of history, technology, nature of the market for each, quality attributes, types and styles, and the effect that they have on human health and nutrition.

French Wine for Dummies

Ed McCarthy, Mary Ewing-Mulligan

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: For Dummies Amazon Marketplace: 56 new & used starting at $4.94

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Wine & Winemaking
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

“Whether you are an avid collector or wine novice, this book offers an extensive resource in an accessible format.”
—Charlie Trotter, Acclaimed Chef and Award-Winning Author

“This book is an invitation to discover the bountiful wine regions, each different from one another, and is an homage to the beauty and uniqueness of the delicious wines they produced.”
—Georges Duboeuf, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf

“The diversity of French wine is one of its attractions, but it can seem perplexing...until you pick up this marvelous guide. The route is well -marked, easy-to-follow, and the destinations are delicious.”
—Kermit Lynch, Wine Merchant and author, Adventures on the Wine Route

“...Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan lead us by the hand down the road of adventure to discover the wines of France that they know so well.... In their relaxed, wise, and mischievous way, they show us the joy and pleasure of drinking French wine.”
—Prince Alain de Polignac, Winemaker, Champagne Pommery

You no longer need to be confused or intimidated by French wine. Authored by certified wine educators and authors Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan, French Wine For Dummies introduces you to the delicious world of fine French wine. Among other things, you’ll discover how to:

• Translate wine labels
• Identify great wine bargains
• Develop your own wine tastes
• Match French wines with foods

Here’s everything you need to know to sip and savor the best—and the best-value—Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Alsace, and other delicious wines. This lighthearted and informative guide covers:

• The story of French wine and how it came to dominate the wine world
• How the French name and label their wines and why
• France’s most important wine regions—including a region-by-region survey of the best vineyards and their products
• France’s other wine regions, including Champagne, Alsace, the Loire Valley, and others

So pour yourself a big glass of Beaujolais Nouveau, sit back, and enjoy the ride as Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan take you on an intoxicating journey through the wonderful world of French wine.

Spectacular Wineries of the Napa Valley: A Captivating Tour of Established, Estate and Boutique Wineries (Spectacular Wineries series)

List Price: $34.95 By: Panache Partners LLC Amazon Marketplace: 2 new & used starting at $19.99

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Photography -> Nature & Wildlife
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Wine & Winemaking

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Spectacular photos of spectacular wineries 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Having visited many of these wineries I can say that this book truly captures the best of Napa Valley. The book is an excellent guide of the "must see" wineries of California. I sent a dozen copies to my friends.

Editorial Review:

From high-end, cult wineries—whose interiors have rarely been seen—to smaller, more accessible vineyards, this series surveys the legends and lore of various locales. Large-scale photographic essays are complemented by a narrative chronicling various aspects of the wineries including their architecture, art, cuisine, gardens, and history of the sites and what makes each of them unique. Terrific keepsakes for wine aficionados, these guides are also useful in trip planning and as a reference for those who want to become knowledgeable about wine making particular regions.

 

Clos Pegase, Consentino, Mondavi, and St. Supéry are just a few of the stops in this magnificent tour of some of Napa Valley’s most exclusive vineyards.

Lessons in Wine Service From Charlie Trotter (Lessons from Charlie Trotter)

Edmund O. Lawler

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Ten Speed Press Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $11.99

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Wine & Winemaking
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

Editorial Review:

At Charlie Trotter's eponymous restaurant in Chicago, the innovative and award-winning wine program is an essential part of an extraordinary dining experience. "Lessons in Wine Service" outlines and analyses the intricate challenges inherent in developing and executing consistently outstanding wine pairings and service.

Questions of Taste: The Philosophy of Wine

Amazon Price: $18.45 List Price: $27.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Oxford University Press, USA Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $9.99

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Wine & Winemaking
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

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

Editorial Review:

Interest in wine has steadily increased in recent years, with people far more sophisticated about wine than they used to be, and with more and more books being written about it, not to mention the success of films like Sideways. And, inevitably, those who take a serious interest in wine find themselves asking questions about it that are at heart philosophical.
Questions of Taste is the first book to tackle these questions, illuminating the philosophical issues surrounding our love of wine. Featuring lucid essays by top philosophers, a linguist, a biochemist, and a winemaker and wine critic, this book applies their critical and analytical skills to answer--or at least understand--many thorny questions. Does the experience of wine lie in the glass or in our minds? Does the elaborate language we use to describe wine--alluding to the flavors of cheese or fruit, or to a wines suppleness or brawniness--really mean anything at all? Can two people taste one wine in the same way? Does a wine expert enjoy wine more than a novice? How much should we care about what experts say about wine? These questions and others are not just the concern of the wine lover, but go to the heart of how we think about the world around us--and are the province of the philosopher.
With a foreword by leading wine authority Jancis Robinson (editor of the Oxford Companion to Wine), this volume will be of interest to anyone who thinks seriously about the experience of enjoying wine, as well as those interested in seeing philosophy applied to the world of the everyday.

Cordials from Your Kitchen: Easy, Elegant Liqueurs You Can Make & Give

Pattie Vargas, Rich Gulling

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Storey Publishing, LLC Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $6.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Wine & Winemaking
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A year later and I still think this book is fantastic! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book a year ago to make some unique holiday gifts, and I'm already excited to start ramping up for this year. Now I have a food processor, so I can give the nut liquors (i.e. homemade amaretto, yum) a shot. We have found these recipes to yield quite delicious results. Our top three so far are the raspberry, vanilla bean, and honey liqueurs. The honey liqueur is the easiest to make, as it is basically a honeyed brandy. The fruit ones are more work, since they need to be strained and then need time to settle. The results are worth it though!

A previous reviewer who did not like the book mentioned the "quickie" recipes using artificial colors and artificial flavorings. Yes, those recipes are in the book, and yes, I've tried some of them. The caramel liquor yielded great results, but the "quickie" raspberry was completely sub-par compared to the real deal. For the most part, I've been avoiding them, although I want to give the butterscotch one a try. The good news is that the book is so full of recipes, I don't feel like skipping them leaves me with less of a book.

Supplies-wise, I bought 2 and 3-quart mason jars from The Container Store. Trader Joe's has a 1 quart bottle of Green Tea in a green glass bottle for $1, and I use those bottles as well as my empty vodka and brandy bottles for recipes that make 1 qt. or less. For gift-giving, I order 5 oz. "woozy" glass bottles with a white lid from www.specialtybottle.com. (Click on "Glass Bottles", then "Sauce", and you'll see a great assortment.) The 5 oz. Woozy starts at $.57 each. I also recommend using their easy to apply Shrink-Wrap Bands.

The book is also chock full of ideas on how to use your liqueurs once made. Just yesterday I added the raspberry liqueur to buttercream icing for cupcakes.

I think this book is awesome. I'll be using it for years to come!

Editorial Review:

Includes unique and luxurious recipes for fruit, nut, spice, coffee, and cream liqueurs, plus flavored brandies, rums, and vodkas.

The Geography of Wine: How Landscapes, Cultures, Terroir, and the Weather Make a Good Drop

Brian J. Sommers

Amazon Price: $4.99 List Price: $16.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Plume Amazon Marketplace: 12 new & used starting at $4.98

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Wine & Winemaking

Editorial Review:

Wine is more than taste, smell, and appearance???it is a reflection of a place and its people. Why is Bordeaux a great place for red wines? Why do some places produce Rieslings and others produce Chardonnay? A fun and fascinating examination of terroir (the French word for the geography of a vineyard) this book takes connoisseurs???and potential connoisseurs???on a tour of wine regions, and explains the principles geographers use to understand the critical factors that make up the ???wine character??? of a place. From the Loire Valley to Napa Valley, Madeira to South Africa, Australia to Chile, The Geography of Wine is an entertaining and informative introduction to viticulture for worldly wine lovers everywhere.

Backroads of the California Wine Country: Your Guide to the Wine Country's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures (Backroads of ...)

Karen Misuraca

Amazon Price: $14.93 List Price: $21.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Voyageur Press Amazon Marketplace: 26 new & used starting at $10.50

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Wine -> Wine & Winemaking
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> General AAS
Subjects -> Travel -> North America

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Wine Grapes have been cultivated in California’s verdant valleys since the days of the Spanish missions in the eighteenth century. Since the 1970s, the California wine country has been among the world’s premier wine-growing regions, and California wines hold their own against the best of Europe and elsewhere. Beyond the well-known vintners of the Sonoma and Napa valleys, the Golden State is home to quality wine producers from Mendocino to Santa Barbara. The temperate climate and lush landscapes that make this state an ideal locale for wine production also offer spectacular scenery for leisurely drives and backroads adventures. A tour through the wine country is a tour through the history of California, a journey back to the Old West, a wilderness adventure, an encounter with American literary icons, and much more. The mystique and history of California’s wine regions are captured in full glory in Backroads of the California Wine Country. From the misty northern appellations of Mendocino County to the hot, dry flatlands of Paso Robles, in the wilds of the Santa Cruz Mountains and along the placid Russian River, writer Karen Misuraca and photographer Gary Crabbe lead you on an informative and colorful tour of the most spectacular landscapes of California, offering myriad excursions for wine-lovers and weekend adventurers alike.

The University Wine Course: A Wine Appreciation Text & Self Tutorial

Marian W. Baldy Ph.D.

Amazon Price: $23.10 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wine Appreciation Guild Amazon Marketplace: 48 new & used starting at $11.98

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Baking -> General AAS
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Drinks & Beverages -> Spirits

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great course! 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

If you want to learn more about wine at yoru own pace- this is the book for you!

An excellent primer 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

For personal use, I think it's too extensive for the average Joe. Well thought out and informative. I own a cheese and wine shop and intend on using this for new hires.

very informative 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I enjoyed this book. It provides great detail into the basics of winemaking. If you are interested in how wine is made or getting into this industry, it is a great reference guide which shows how wine is made start to finish. It is a great starting point.

Editorial Review:

Now the most widely used wine textbook for colleges and universities. Also popular with serious wine enthusiasts for home study. Provides a 12 week program for learning about wine in-depth, from sensory evaluation to the science of viticulture and winemaking. Written and organized in a "user friendly" style. Includes chapter exams and answers, study guides, lab exercises, final exams and extensive references and bibliography. Illustrated with appendixes on Wine & Food, Label Reading, Do-It-Yourself Labs, Student tasting notes and more. Dr. Baldy is a USDA award-winning professor of sciences who has operated her own vineyard and winery and has taught wine appreciation for academic credits to university students for over 20 years.