If you are interested in becoming more familiar with wine, there
are a number of resources one can go to for advice, knowledge and
entertainment.
If you are interested in becoming more familiar with wine, there are a number of resources one can go to for advice, knowledge and entertainment.
Books are being published at a dramatic pace, with many authors trying to shed light on this vast subject. I have perused some and read others from cover-to-cover. Here are a few of my favorites:
‘Red, White and Drunk All Over’ – Natalie MacLean
MacLean opens with calling the book a wine-soaked journey from grape to glass. That is all I needed to pick it up for review. Good natured, MacLean shares her personal experiences with being a restaurant sommelier for a day, visits the ancient wine cellars in Champagne and helps with a grape harvest. This take is fun and personal, just what wine should be. I loved how she explained the evolution of Robert Parker (from the United States) and Jancis Robinson (from England) as the two most important wine critics of our time, how they came into these roles and why they are always disagreeing. The hard-cover version runs $24.
‘Wine for Dummies’ – Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan
As the No. 1 wine book in the world, this familiar sounding title follows the path of other books for dummies. Written in approachable language, this married couple has also written other books in the same vein, including “Italian Wine for Dummies and French Wine for Dummies.” Now in its fourth edition, the authors demystify wine myths, compare New World and Old World winemaking and provide an extensive glossary of wine terms and phonetic pronunciations. These soft-cover books cost $22.
‘The Wine Bible’
– Karen MacNeil
This book is truly biblical in length, almost 900 pages long, with a thorough examination of wines and winemaking around the globe. One chapter is exclusively devoted to up-and-coming wine regions in Virginia, Missouri, New York, Texas and Canada. It examines how the soils and climates treat viniferous plants, as well as all the American hybrids, French hybrids and crosses that constitute unique varietals. Fun facts include how New York State produces roughly 90 percent of all the grape juice made in the United States, using the infamous Concord grape that made Welch’s so popular. The font in the book is very small, so count on pulling out your reading glasses! The cost is less than $20.
‘Great Wine Made
Simple’ – Andrea
Immer-Robinson
Bubbly and cute, the Rachel Ray of the wine world is a Master Sommelier. Immer-Robinson even has two shows on the Fine Living cable channel. The hard-cover book retails for $28 and focuses on gaining knowledge and familiarity with the world’s “big six” grape varietals: syrah, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. Eighty percent of the world’s wines are made with these six grapes, so the approach is logical and practical. Despite her vast knowledge, Immer does a good job of explaining things in a way that is fitting for both novice and connoisseur.
‘Wine Lover’s Cookbook’ – Sid Goldstein
Loaded with great recipes that are simple and varied, Goldstein incorporates stunning photos and solid suggestions for pairing wine with food. Every recipe has a “recommended” wine, but also an alternative suggestion that encourages you to explore your palate.
For example, for a pizza recipe with peppered shrimp, Canadian bacon, mushrooms and feta cheese, Goldstein’s choices are a fume blanc/sauvignon blanc blend or a hearty zinfandel. “Do not stress over choosing, drink both,” he suggests! The zinfandel would lock in the pepper spice and earthiness of the mushrooms; the fume blanc would fit well with the feta cheese and shrimp.
Besides the books, there is a phalanx of magazines that one can buy or subscribe to – my favorite being Food & Wine.
Giving equal time to food and wine, this easy-to-read monthly publication is full of recipes, including contemporary takes on classic cuisine. Good photos, estimates on food preparation time and great columnists. Food & Wine also does not tediously rate and score the wines they suggest. You can get a year’s subscription for less than $20.
Enjoy your reading!
Cheers!
