This is an exploration into how a certain plant became a global commodity, creating fortunes and despair, bringing people together and tearing them apart, playing a starring role in the awakening of the modern world.

Everyone who loves wine has a story to tell about it, from that first sip to that special event where a particular bottle had great meaning or impact. For some, drinking good wine has become a way of life and getting to that point involves some great moments and some unfortunate lapses in judgment. The end result is a life rich with memories and good friends made so because of a most marvelous process called fermentation.

Supermarket wines now win Gold Medals in International Challenge. Best Wines in the Supermarkets, identifies these superior wines, often at bargain prices. It also has its own secure website extension, in which to search and sort more wines. This is unquestionably the best source of wine drinking through the year. Now with its own secure website for searching and sorting- at www.bestwinesinthesupermarket.uk. The book provides plenty of interesting knowledge and for each wine, tasting and style notes, for readers to use in finding what they enjoy. Now that supermarkets deliver Internet wine orders, you need a guide through the amazingly, wonderful, wide range they offer. The perfect wine guide for you to find the wines you enjoy at the price that suits the budget of the occasion. The huge buying power of the supermarkets - and the fact that they employ the finest wine tasters - means that they can buy the very best of every type of wine. The trick is knowing which is the best of their best. * For Best Wines in the Supermarkets, Ned Halley tastes, and rates 2000 wines. * His rating system includes, uniquely, a factor for VALUE. * He recommends only wines of character in each category. * Every year, Ned works with the supermarkets to identify their best wines for you. * Excellent, insightful, reviews reveal award winning own label wines taste wonderful. * Handy, pocket size is ideal to tuck in a pocket or bag and use while browsing the shelves. * Helps you navigate the bottles in supermarkets and sift between the regions and grapes. * Discover 26 wines that are rated a perfect 10 and 137 wines rated at high 9s. * What Wine Words Mean is a wonderfully simple, down-to-earth guide to wine terms * Ideal stocking-filler-gift that will constantly throughout the year. * Supermarkets own the wine markets. Ned Halley's help to find the best of their best.

Presenting both the concerns and problems of beer consumption as well as the emerging evidence of benefit, Handbook of Beer Health and Disease Prevention offers a balanced view of today's findings and the potential of tomorrow's research.
From a beverage of warriors to a cheap and affordable commodity, beer has been a part of our consumption for nearly 8000 years. Like most alcoholic drinks it has been prone to abuse and in some counties the per capita consumption of beer has led to considerable health risks.
However, just as wine in moderation has been proposed to promote health, research is showing that beer -- and the ingredients in beer -- can have similar impact on improving health, and in some instances preventing disease. For example, some cancers like bladder cancers and the incidence of cardiovascular disease are reported to be lower in moderate beer drinkers. Furthermore there is a considerable body of emerging evidence to show that the anti-oxidant capacity of beers is high. It has been argued by some that the total antioxidants ingested in some beer drinkers equates that consumed by red wine drinkers.
The key to this, of course, is understanding and this volume presents a collection of the most current writings on the subject of beer and it's potential in health.

Winner of the 2009 Best Drinks and Health Book in the World - "Gourmand World Cookbook Awards

"*The most comprehensive coverage of the broad range of topics related to the role of beer and beer ingredients in health *Addresses the impact of beer and beer ingredients on cancers, cardiovascular disease, anti-oxidant benefits, and other health related concerns Presents a holistic view from beer brewing to the isolation of beer-related compounds. *Appropriate for scientists and researchers from a variety of fields and industries from beer production to health-care professionals *Consistent organization of each chapter provides easy-access to key points and summaries *Self-contained chapters written by subject matter experts

'I fell in love with Porto and I love it still. The city's spectacular bridges, its vertiginous riverbanks, steep with ancient buildings, the old port houses, the wide squares: I was entranced by them all.' J.K. ROWLING One of the oldest cities in Europe, Porto is recognised the world over for its wonderful Port wine. Rising from the steep banks of the Douro (the river of gold) with picturesque pracas, churches and houses with colourfully tiled facades. Its ancient name Portucale forms the origin of the country - Portugal. Today, Porto is a vibrant commercial and cultural centre that is proud of its historic links to the outside world. An essential read from one of the world's foremost writers on Portugal, Porto: Gateway to the World uses the beautiful buildings and landmarks across the city to take the reader on a journey through its rich history, from its origins right up to the modern era.

With over 13yrs experience David Vancil shares all of the techniques that he has learned while perfecting his bartending skills in Who's Your Bartender: The Secret Techniques and Basics of Bartending. From Cultivating regular customers to making newcomers feel at home, these techniques offer a bird's eye view of how to become a successful bartender. Vancil Shares his vast knowledge of the ways of a successful bartender as well as the recipes for the wide variety of drinks that a bartender must know and be able to make quickly and efficiently. From classic drinks like martinis and boiler makers to delicious non-alcoholic drinks, this guide presents recipes for hundreds of real, essential, drinks that can be ordered anywhere. Vancil also provides need to know memorization techniques that will help any bartedner remember hundreds of drinks, and recipes in an easy-to-read format. Bartending offers the opportunity to work anywhere in the world. This handy reference guide can help you become a successful bartender. "David Vancil is amongst one of the most enthusiastic, passionate and skilled bartenders I have had the pleasure to work with since my move to Los Angeles from Italy in 2006. His attention to detail and knowledge of both spirits, wine & mixology, make his book a must read for anyone interested in the beverage industry." Diego Meraviglia 4th level certified Sommelier AIS Vice-President, Fourcade & Hecht Wine Selections David Vancil is not just a bartender but an Alchemist who puts the true meaning of "Spirits" in every drink -J.D. Amoro Estrill -Artist "I've never experienced bar service at the level of David Vancil's-he is THE BEST. There is a reason he is called The Sensei When he is behind the bar, it"s like a magician with his cape on. You don't even see his hands moving then abracadabra you've got a drink in your hand. And it's either your favorite drink, or your new favorite drink That's how he works. And he brings this level of service and integrity each and every night. I would take anything David says straight to the bank when it comes to the history of bar service, or the modernization of it. "-Benjamin Yiapan-Fitness Consultant

On May 4, 1964, Congress designated bourbon as a distinctive product of the United States, and it remains the only spirit produced in this country to enjoy such protection. Its history stretches back almost to the founding of the nation and includes many colorful characters, both well known and obscure, from the hatchet-wielding prohibitionist Carry Nation to George Garvin Brown, who in 1872 created Old Forester, the first bourbon to be sold only by the bottle. Although obscured by myth, the history of bourbon reflects the history of our nation. Historian Michael R. Veach reveals the true story of bourbon in Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. Starting with the Whiskey Rebellion of the 1790s, he traces the history of this unique beverage through the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and up to the present. Veach explores aspects of bourbon that have been ignored by others, including the technology behind its production, the effects of the Pure Food and Drug Act, and how Prohibition contributed to the Great Depression. The myths surrounding bourbon are legion, but Veach separates fact from legend. While the true origin of the spirit may never be known for certain, he proposes a compelling new theory. With the explosion of super-premium bourbons and craft distilleries and the establishment of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, interest in bourbon has never been higher. Veach shines a light on its pivotal place in our national heritage, presenting the most complete and wide-ranging history of bourbon available.