What's the difference between brut and extra dry? Is Vintage Champagne worth the extra money? How good are Champagne-style sparkling wines from California? If you find shopping for Champagne a challenge, try the fun, friendly, pretense-free guide Champagne For Dummies and find out just how easy it is to select the perfect bottle of bubbly.

Discover how to

• Appreciate various Champagne styles
• Store and serve Champagnes
• Pair Champagne with food
• Evaluate sparkling wines from the United States and other countries

With complete coverage of 25 great Champagne houses, you can enjoy the author's favorite Champagnes. Here's what French Champagne-house Director Christian Pol-Roger had to say about Author Ed McCarthy and Champagne For Dummies:
"A spiritual man, lover and devotee of Champagne, and one who expresses this passion with great talent. Magical words, effervescent phrases, and fizzy formulas celebrate a wine bubbling with crazy ideas. I raise my glass to Ed McCarthy to thank him for evoking his ebullience for Champagne with such humor."

Celebrate the new millennium with the crisp, classic, delicate elegance of Champagne For Dummies!

Champagne: Wine of Kings and the King of Wines guides you through the astounding history of how this delicious drink became the hallmark of celebrations, commiserations and partying across the globe. It covers the process of making champagne and the vintage years and the special cuvees; the history of champagne; individual entries on all the major Champagne Houses, the lesser estates, co-operatives, growers and variations of sparkling wine; the social and cultural impact of champagne - how it has become a part of certain traditions; by a man with great knowledge of the drinks business, the beautifully illustrated Champagne: Wine of Kings and the King of Wines is for the connoisseur and the newcomer alike.

"A great primer. . . . If you're new to the natural/organic/biodynamic wine debates, Authentic Wine is the place to start."--Huffington Post
"This is one of the most engaging, thoughtful and enlightening books on contemporary wine. . . . A manifesto for an industry looking to shape its future."--Wine And Spirits

Naturalness is a hot topic in the wine world. But what exactly is a "natural wine"? For this pioneering book, best-selling wine writer Jamie Goode teams up with winemaker and Master of Wine Sam Harrop to explore the wide range of issues surrounding authenticity in wine. They begin by emphasizing that wine's diversity, one of its strengths, is currently under threat from increasingly homogenized commercial wines that lack a sense of place. Drawing on a global array of examples and anecdotes, Goode and Harrop examine complex concepts--terroir, biodynamics, and sustainability--in clear language. They also discuss topics including cultured and wild yeasts, wine "faults," the carbon footprint of the wine industry, "natural" as a marketing concept, and more. "Authentic Wine" illuminates a subject of great interest to wine producers, consumers, and anyone wondering where the wine industry is headed.

Hard cider helped build North America, and this ode to the fermented drink sometimes referred to as scrumpy begins with a snapshot of that forgotten history and then goes on to present the most comprehensive guide to tasting and appreciating the diversity of today's rapidly growing cider movement. An overview of how cider is made and a tasting tutorial prepare readers for the heart of the book: Profiles of 100 ciders -- from dessert ciders, spiced ciders, and hopped ciders to perry -- along with 30 recipes for pairing and cooking with cider, plus 30 cider-based cocktails. More than two dozen stories bring to life the men and women who produce some of the hottest craft ciders around -- including 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Oregon, Blackbird Cider Works in New York, and Cidrerie Michel Jodoin in Quebec.

Master the art of brewing your own beer and hone this life-long skill! Home-brewing hero Greg Hughes brings you a comprehensive guide to teach you how to brew your own beer, from the comfort of your own home! Within the pages of this all-encompassing brewery book, he shows you every step of each process with clear, photographic instructions, to maximise your beer-making skills and unleash your potential. What are you waiting for? Dive straight in to discover: -Over 110 recipes categorised by style -30 spreads on home brewing techniques and general brewing advice for a range of levels -100 accompanying photos to visually highlight the step-by-step instructions to brewing -Valuable information on the history of brewing and the craft beer revolution Discover detailed information on ingredients to help you choose your malt, yeast, hops and flavourings, and learn exactly which equipment you need to get started. With more than 100 tried-and-tested recipes to choose from, you can brew beer of almost any style from across the world, such as London bitter, American IPA, Mexican cerveza, Munich helles, or Japanese rice lager. Each is suitable for the full-mash technique, while many also contain malt extract variations. This newly-revised edition includes new techniques and recipes with brand new recipe photos to keep in line with contemporary craft beers within the market. Featuring 15 brand new recipes within this new edition, including Oaked Imperial Brown Ale and Blueberry and Coconut Export Stout, there is something for everyone to love, and you'll have all the information you need to brew your perfect beer! Additionally, you can explore a dedicated section for writing your very own beer recipes that are sure to have your taste buds tingling! From ginger beer to winter warmers, Belgian tripels to Bohemian pilsners, this is a must-have volume for craft-beer newbies looking to begin their journey of making their own beer, or homebrewers looking for more comprehensive advice to attempt more complex methods.

The long-awaited cocktail book from Vanderpump Rules stars Ariana and Tom is finally here! Bravo's hit show Vanderpump Rules, which Vogue recently called "America's perfect reality show," is a spin-off of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The show is centered around the crazy, booze-fueled lives of the staff at Lisa Vanderpump's wildly popular SUR restaurant in West Hollywood. Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval, two of the show's stars, fell in love on the show and have stuck together through it all. They've been talking about writing a cocktail book on the show for a few seasons, and now they're finally delivering the goods with this book that has drinks for every situation. It features a mix of classy cocktails for fancy special occasions and trashier recipes for those times when you just have a few random ingredients in your kitchen and want to keep the buzz going. Shots and recovery recipes are also included, so your pregame and morning after will be covered too. Woven throughout are brand-new photos and behind-the-scenes stories crafted with the help of Bravo insider and co-author Danny Pellegrino, making this a true must-have for fans of the show.

This book is a complete overview of all thirty Belgian abbey beers. Where is the rich patrimony of Belgian abbey beers rooted? What are the remarkable stories about this authentic, labour-intensive product. In which way are Trappist beers different from the others? In Belgian Trappist and Abbey Beers, Jef Van den Steen unravels the different stages in the production process of the beers and talks very passionately about the origin and development of the various breweries within the walls or under the license of the abbey. Each brewery is presented with practical information, different types of beer, and the author always includes tips for tourists.

The Cocktail Garden offers cocktail recipes focused around the flavours and produce found throughout the seasons, all stunningly illustrated by internationally renowned artist Adriana Picker. From summery raspberries and rich figs to citrus and white peaches, apples and pineapples, and infusions using a riot of herbs - basil and thyme, to sage and lavender and other flavours found in the garden. There are drinks for long hot summer afternoons spent among flowers in the garden; wine spritzers for breezy evenings on the back porch; champagne cocktails for celebrations under the apple tree; nightcaps for wintry nights by the fireside; and fruity party punches for that garden party gathering with style.

Warm sun, cool drink, and nowhere to be-that's Margaritaville! It's a celebration of relaxation and an invitation to enjoy good food and good company. Margaritaville: The Cookbook is filled with recipes that bring the flavour of island living and the spirit of Jimmy Buffett's iconic song straight into your home. The first ever cookbook from the beloved world of Margaritaville features laid-back favourites like the explosively good Volcano Nachos and the heaven-on-earth-with-an-onion-slice Cheeseburger in Paradise, alongside more sophisticated options that will wow your guests (Coho Salmon in Lemongrass-Miso Broth, anyone?). With its combination of recipes, stories, and gorgeous full colour food and lifestyle photographs throughout, it is sure to put you in a Margaritaville state of mind! Margaritaville isn't confined to single spot on the map-the recipes draw inspiration from around the world, from Jerk Chicken to Tuna Poke with Plantain Chips and Jimmy's Jammin' Jambalaya. And we've got you all covered, from family-friendly Aloha Hotdogs to drool-worthy Vegetarian Burgers. It's 5 o'clock somewhere and no vacation is complete without a cocktail-preferably a margarita, of course! Margaritaville: The Cookbook is loaded with drink recipes to inspire your blissful island cocktail hour-from Jimmy's Perfect Margarita and Paradise Palomas to Cajun Bloody Mary's and the quintessential Key West Coconut and Lime Frozen Margarita.

In this richly literary anthology, Jay McInerney--bestselling novelist and acclaimed wine columnist for Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, and House and Garden--selects over twenty pieces of memorable fiction and nonfiction about the making, selling, and of course, drinking of fine wine. Including excerpts from novels, short fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction, Wine Reads features big names in the trade and literary heavyweights alike. We follow Kermit Lynch to the Northern Rhone in a chapter from his classic Adventures on the Wine Route. In an excerpt from Between Meals, long-time New Yorker writer A. J. Liebling raises feeding and imbibing on a budget in Paris into something of an art form--and discovers a very good rose from just west of the Rhone. Michael Dibdin's fictional Venetian detective Aurelio Zen gets a lesson in Barolo, Barbaresco, and Brunello vintages from an eccentric celebrity. In real life, and over half a century ago, Jewish-Czech writer and gourmet Joseph Wechsberg visits the medieval Chateau d'Yquem to sample different years of the "roi des vins" alongside a French connoisseur who had his first taste of wine at age four. Also showcasing an iconic scene from Rex Pickett's Sideways and work by Jancis Robinson, Benjamin Wallace, and McInerney himself, this is an essential volume for any disciple of Bacchus.

The perfect gift for cocktail lovers and would-be mixologists is this set of four mini paperback books - Gin, Tequila, Rum andVodka - beautifully packaged together in a slipcase. From favourites like the Moscow Mule, Cosmopolitan and Margarita to exotic concoctions, such as the fruity Caribbean Cruise and Kahlua-based South of the Border, there are 200 recipes to try. Each book also contains essential bartending tips and fascinating anecdotes about the cocktails and how they got their names.

The distinctive beverage of the Western world, bourbon is Kentucky's illustrious gift to the world of spirits. Although the story of American whiskey is recorded in countless lively pages of our nation's history, the place of bourbon in the American cultural record has long awaited detailed and objective presentation. Not a recipe book or a barman's guide, but a fascinating and informative contribution to Americana, The Social History of Bourbon reflects an aspect of our national cultural identity that many have long suppressed or overlooked. Gerald Carson explores the impact of the liquor's presence during America's early development, as well as bourbon's role in some of the more dramatic events in American history, including the Whiskey Rebellion, the scandals of the Whiskey Ring, and the "whiskey forts" of the fur trade. The Social History of Bourbon is a revealing look at the role of this classic beverage in the development of American manners and culture.

Wine Unfiltered is a friendly, charming, and beautifully illustrated introduction to the world of natural wine -- where to buy it, what it tastes like, how to share it, and why it matters.What makes a wine 'natural'? And why does it matter? In Wine, Unfiltered Katherine Clary, author and creator of the Wine Zine, tackles these questions and many more -- like the difference between organic and biodynamic wines, and whether natural varieties really prevent hangovers -- to give readers a holistic picture of the thriving world of natural wine. From grape varietals and legendary figures to the best way to navigate an unfamiliar wine shop, this accessible, witty book is an irresistible exploration of the cutting edge of wine. Perfect for both natural wine novices and seasoned drinkers, Wine Unfiltered offers an unpretentious look at what makes natural wine so special. Sections on growing regions, building your own wine cellar, and how to taste a 'living wine' will impart readers with the confidence to finally explain what natural wine is at a party, ask a sommelier a question at a restaurant, or convince a reluctant family member to make the switch from conventional to natural wine. Vital information and nuanced opinions are broken out into digestible bites, alongside bold illustrations, in this essential read for anyone interested in the rapidly expanding world of natural wines.

Now in its 33rd edition, the Penin Guide Spanish Wine 2023 is the definitive guide to Spanish wine. Each year our team of tasters travels to every wine-growing area of Spain to taste and review new varieties, labels and vintages, and this year's edition of the guide contains information on more than 9,900 new wines. Whatever your budget, the Penin Guide is the indispensable guide for those who want to discover the best of Spanish wine.

An inside look at how craft beer makers and IPA devotees come together to brew, taste, and enjoy fine ale while also building a sense of community in Las Vegas Equally reviled and revered as Sin City, Las Vegas is both exceptional and emblematic of contemporary American cultural practices and tastes. Michael Ian Borer takes us inside the burgeoning Las Vegas craft beer scene to witness how its adherents use beer to create and foster not just a local culture but a locals' culture. Through compelling, detailed first-hand accounts and interviews, Vegas Brews provides an unprecedented look into the ways that brewers, distributors, bartenders, and drinkers fight against the perceived and preconceived norm about what "happens in Vegas" and lay claim to a part of their city that is too often overshadowed by the bright lights of tourist sites. Borer shows how our interactions with the things we care about-and the ways that we care about how they're made, treated, and consumed-can lead to new senses of belonging and connections with and to others and the places where we live. In a world where people and things move around at an extraordinary pace, the folks Borer spent time talking (and drinking) with remind us to slow down and learn how to taste the "good life," or at least a semblance of it, even in a city where style is often valued over substance.

Originally published during the early part of the twentieth century, the Cambridge Manuals of Science and Literature were designed to provide concise introductions to a broad range of topics. They were written by experts for the general reader and combined a comprehensive approach to knowledge with an emphasis on accessibility. Brewing by A. Chaston Chapman was first published in 1912. The volume presents an account of the methods and scientific principles underlying the process of brewing.

Best-selling beer author Randy Mosher leads you on a delicious tour of beer-tasting opportunities through the year. Organized by season, the book guides you through all the best summer fests and seasonal beer releases and helps you make the most of Craft Beer Week, Oktoberfest, and much more. It also describes the best beers to drink in each season -- the ones that are perfect for lazy summer Saturdays, barbecues with friends, traditional Thanksgiving dinners, and icy winter nights. Fun, fresh, and full of inside information, "A Beer for All Seasons" will be on every beer lover s wish list."

This is the second edition of the definitive analysis of the international wine trade. This new edition focuses on individual trade flows across the major importing and exporting countries, examines the increasing role of food retailers in wine selling and looks for the future trends which will shape the industry in the new millennium.
The book begins by examining technical factors in the wine trade giving rise to differences in pricing and considers how wines' characteristics help to position the final products. It shows how trends in consumption are changing in different ways in the traditional and Anglo-Saxon markets and explains the effects of developments in international trade such as the role of trade barriers.
The heart of the book profiles the ten major wine importing countries and considers: Trends in the consumption of alcoholic drinksWine market and import patternsThe configuration of import and distribution channelsEach country's trade policy with detailed comparisons between themThe book then goes on to consider the wine trade from the exporters point of view and describes: The challenge posed by New World producers to those based in Western EuropeThe influence of the previously planned economies of the former Soviet blocThe role of the EU and the likely effect of further European integrationThe influence of tariff schedules and the GATT negotiationsThis edition will be essential reading for all wine trade professionals including: wine producers, importers and exporters, negocients, co-operatives and regional economic development agencies, and wine merchants and retailers.

For many people, wine is an anxiety-inducing mystery as arcane as quantum physics, and with so many varieties, it's difficult to know what to choose. As New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov argues, that puzzling uncertainty often prevents people from buying and ordering wine, depriving them of an exquisite, deeply satisfying experience. In How to Love Wine, Asimov examines why the American wine culture produces such feelings of anxiety and suggests how readers can overcome their fears and develop a sense of discovery and wonder as they explore the diversity and complexity of the world of wine. With warmth, candor, and intelligent authority, Asimov interweaves his professional knowledge and insights with engaging personal stories of his love affair with wine, a lifelong passion that began when he was a graduate student on a budget. In a direct, down-to-earth manner, Asimov discusses favorite vineyards, wine's singular personalities, the tyranny of tasting notes -those meaningless, over-written wine descriptions that often pass for criticism today-and current wine issues. Throughout, he incorporates in-depth discussions of beautiful wines, both easy to find and rare, and pays special attention to those that have been particularly meaningful to him. Thought-provoking and enjoyable, How to Love Wine will help diminish readers' anxiety, bolster their confidence, and transform them into true wine lovers.

The Gaelic word for whisky is Uisge beatha, translated literally as 'water of life'. That is as a good a starting place as any to enjoy whisky, as a connoisseur, taster or just an occasional tippler. This beautifully produced volume, Scotch Whisky: The Essential Guide for Single Malt Lovers goes on an incredible journey around Scotland and back in time too. Written by a Scotsman who considers it a blessing to grow up with Scotch whisky, you will learn about the history of whisky distillation, the famous men whose passion can be found in their special malts, and take tours of the main whisky regions, including the Western Isles, Speyside, Highlands, Lowlands, and Campbeltown, visiting some of the greatest names in the production of Scotch, The Glenlivet, Ardbeg, Glenmorangie, Balvenie, Talisker - other brands (more than 100 of them) are available. Written with a passion and love for the subject Scotch Whisky: The Essential Guide for Single Malt Lovers is complemented by stunning photographs, maps and artworks. It make this superb book a unique insight into Scotch whisky, one of the world's most loved drinks.