A leading importer of limited-production wines of character and quality takes us on an intimate tour through family-owned vineyards in France and Italy and reflects upon the last three decades of controversy, hype, and change in the world of wine
In the late 1970s, Neal I. Rosenthal set out to learn everything he could about wine. Today, he is one of the most successful importers of traditionally made wines produced by small family-owned estates in France and Italy. Rosenthal has immersed himself in the culture of Old World wine production, working closely with his growers for two and sometimes three generations. He is one of the leading exponents of the concept of "terroir"--the notion that a particular vineyard site imparts distinct qualities of bouquet, flavor, and color to a wine. In "Reflections of a Wine Merchant," Rosenthal brings us into the cellars, vineyards, and homes of these vignerons, and his delightful stories about his encounters, relationships, and explorations--and what he has learned along the way--give us an unequaled perspective on winemaking tradition and what threatens it today.
Rosenthal was featured in the documentary film "Mondovino" and is one of the more outspoken figures against globalization, homogenization, and the "critic-ization" of the wine business. He was also a major subject in Lawrence Osborne's "The Accidental Connoisseur." His is an important voice in defense of the individual and the artisanal, and their contribution to our quality of life.

This book is a facsimile reprint and may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages.

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.

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

This work features 2000 separate tastings to identify the best wines on offer this year. 70 per cent of UK wine is bought in supermarkets so that's where we focus our tasting. By concentrating on supermarket wines that are moving up-market, we are the focused experts for the - everyday and something a bit special - wines with style. It includes clear, accessible tasting notes and a simple points system to provide great drinking at home - try it yourself and you won't be disappointed.

There are many famous wines selling for over $100 per bottle and there are far more unknown wines of remarkably similar quality and taste selling for under $10 and $20. How do you find the very finest wines for $5-$20? If you enjoy expensive wines, this book can save you 25%-75% with no decrease in quality. Consumers of bargain basement wines can improve the quality of their wine by 100% at no increase in price.

First published in London 1903. A detailed and comprehensive treatise interspersed with sundry anecdotes and reminiscences in the author's own inimitable style. Contents Include: History of Drink Drinks Ancient and Modern Some Old Recipes Glorious Beer All Ale A Discourse on Spirits Cups Which Cheer Punch Strange Drinks Champagne Old and New Wines Cocktails Cider Cordials and Liqueurs Hangover Cures Temperance Index of Recipes etc.

Newly expanded and updated second edition Finally A book for the novice... Contrary to popular belief, Scotch is not just for old men sitting around stuffy country clubs...it's the original luxury spirit and it's now more popular than ever But for someone who wants to learn about Scotch, it can be a little intimidating - overwhelming even - all those unfamiliar terms, different brands - the novice has no idea where to get started. Most books on the topic are written for those already familiar with Scotch and tend to concentrate on author ratings, distillery overviews, and tasting notes. They simply do not address the needs of someone new to Scotch. That's where The Instant Expert's Guide to Single Malt Scotch comes in. In the end, this book will equip readers with the fundamentals, enabling them to continue to explore the great taste of single malt Scotch whisky on their own. With new-found knowledge, what once seemed like an overwhelming number of choices will suddenly become an infinite number of unique possibilities to experience and enjoy

An Unabridged Reprinting Of The 1874 Edition by The National Temperance Society And Publication House, To Include All Text Thought To Be Lost. Originally Titled: Laws of Fermentation and the Wines of the Ancients (1871).

This book takes you on a very different journey to wine country, inviting you to enjoy the remarkable stories of twenty dynamic women in the world of wine. These women share their lives, wine tips, pairings, and most important, enthusiasm for wine while imparting their rich life lessons and wine expertise--a wonderful way to share your love for wine with the enterprising women who help bring it to your table.

1909. A wonderful collection of recipes and tips for making wines. The idea of compiling this little volume occurred to me while on a visit to some friends at their summer home in a quaint New England village. The social customs of this Adamless Eden were precise and formal. As with the dear ladies of Cranford, a call was a very serious affair, given and received with great gravity, and had its time limit set with strict punctuality. Cake and wine were invariably served as a preliminary warning toward early departure. Here came in my first acquaintance with many varieties of homemade wines, over whose wealth of color and delicacy of flavor my eyes and palate longed to linger. Vulgar curiosity made me bold to inquire the names of a few; imagine my astonishment when graciously told that the gay dandelion, the modest daisy, the blushing currant, had one and all contributed their nectar to the joy of the occasion. Flattered by my interest, my gentle hostess broke strict rules of etiquette and invited me to linger, showing me rare old gardens aglow with flowers, fruits and vegetables that in due time would contribute to their store, and at parting various timeworn recipes were urged upon me, with verbal instructions and injunctions upon the best methods of putting them to test...With a gentle hand I tie my little bunch together and present you my bouquet.

Published in 1994 to worldwide acclaim, the first edition of Jancis Robinson's seminal volume immediately attained legendary status, winning every major wine book award including the Glenfiddich and Julia Child/IACP awards, as well as writer and woman of the year accolades for its editor on both sides of the Atlantic. Combining meticulously-researched fact with refreshing opinion and wit, The Oxford Companion to Wine presents almost 4,000 entries on every wine-related topic imaginable, from regions and grape varieties to the owners, connoisseurs, growers, and tasters in wine through the ages; from viticulture and oenology to the history of wine, from its origins to the present day. Now exhaustively updated, this third edition incorporates the very latest international research to present almost 400 new entries on topics ranging from globalization and the politics of wine to brands, precision viticulture, and co-fermentation. Hundreds of entries have undergone major revision, among them yeast, barrel alternatives, climate change, and virtually all wine regions; and useful lists and statistics are appended, including controlled appellations and their permitted grape varieties, and wine production and consumption by country. Illustrated with maps of every important wine region in the world, useful charts and diagrams, and stunning colour photographs, this Companion is unlike any other wine book, offering an understanding of wine in all of its wider contexts - notably historical, cultural, and scientific - and serving as a truly companionable point of reference into which any wine-lover can dip and browse.

The pleasures of wine are visual, olfactory and gustatory. The Wine Etiquette Guide explains the modern conventions for the enjoyment of the multitude of wine styles available to today's consumers. In truth, these behaviors are the result of an evolution through thousands of years of experience. All aspects of wine etiquette have been explained. From the selection of a suitable wine and removal of the stopper through to serving temperature, glass shape and size have been discussed with clarity. Here is a concise yet comprehensive guide to the appreciation of wine.
Wine is consumed in many contexts. The appropriate etiquette may vary according to the situation. The Wine Etiquette Guide has considered the possibilities. Readers will feel comfortable in any wine setting, from a formal dinner function to a casual wine tasting at a winery.
The Wine Etiquette Guide has been presented in an entertaining and encouraging manner. The reader will not only learn much about wine and its interaction with food, but will be stimulated to try more varieties and styles from the wonderful world of wine.

In this provocative new book, Owen Bird writes frankly and with authority on the German wine industry; how it got into trouble and how it can rescue itself. He gives considerable insight into the pre-eminence of Riesling as driving the future of the industry. An in-depth analysis of German wine laws, labelling, competition from the New World and the advent of "flying winemaking" are all presented from a winemaking point of view. The steps taken by the German Wine Institute and the Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguter (VDP) to renew the image of German wine are compared and contrasted. For the first time in English, the new "Great Growths" Classification system launched by the VDP is explained and the individual terroirs discussed making this an ideal reference book and providing a current overview of the German wine industry.

The purpose of this book is twofold: to supply the reader with a basic knowledge about wine, and to develop the expertise necessary to successfully match wine with food. It is a book of concepts, not a long list of wine-food pairings. The concepts are simple, logical, and easy to understand. After reading this book, the pleasure you derive in pairing wine with food will be greatly enhanced by your newly acquired knowledge of the culinary arts. " This book is extremely readable. I especially like the organization, which makes it a great educational tool for wine novices as well as connoisseurs." -David Rosengarten, author of Red Wine with Fish

In "Wine Wisdom", certified sommelier Magandeep Singh takes wine off the snob table and puts it in a handy brown bag for all to relish. With the irrepressible passion he reserves for his favourite beverage, Magan leads you through the simple methods of classifying wine to the intricate process of tasting it (complete with instructions on what to say, when to say it and when to simply raise your eyebrows and keep your lips sealed). He demystifies wine labels and restaurant wine lists, gives practical tips on ordering the perfect wine for a magical evening (together with a phonetic guide to pronouncing the names so you can impress your guests), and advises you on the best way to uncork a bottle without causing any unfortunate spills. This indispensable book also includes: the history of wine drinking and changing trends in India and across the world; a comprehensive list of the major wine brands currently available in India, as well as the ones to look out for if you're shopping abroad; the basic rules of serving wine - temperatures, glassware and perfect pairings of Indian cuisine and wine - and storing it; and a reference list of wine-related terms and their definitions.

This fascinating book provides a wealth of information on the uses of herbs by homemakers of the past and gives more than 500 authentic recipes exactly as they appeared in their original sources. The recipes cover the use of herbs for medicinal, culinary, cosmetic, and other purposes. Readers will discover not only how herbs were used in making vegetable and meat dishes, gravies and sauces, cakes, pies, soups, and beverages, but also how our ancestors employed them in making dyes, furniture polish, insecticides, spot removers, perfumes, hair tonics, soaps, tooth powders, and numerous other products. More than 100 fine 19th-century engravings of herbs add to the charm of the text-an invaluable reference and guide for plant lovers and herb enthusiasts that will "delight and astound the 20th-century reader." (Library Journal). Index. Bibliography. 113 black-and-white illustrations.

Here is the book that Frank J. Prial in the "New York Times Book Review" called "delightful...it weaves history, geography, wine, and some of the fascinating people who make it into a downright enthralling tale." It is the grape that has been stepped on, but never crushed. Long thought to produce workaday wines at best, the zinfandel grape has triumphed in the last decade, with stylish, sophisticated wines from the Ravenswood and Ridge wineries, among many others. In "Zin," David Darlington delves into the murky and curious history of the wine and takes the story right up to the present, with portraits of the eccentric artisans who engineered the ascension of America's "native" wine. With an unerring eye for detail (a bedraggled vineyard in Sonoma County is described as looking "like a collection of fright wigs") and a gift for the on-target characterization (Sutter Home, for example, is called "the Sylvester Stallone among wineries"), Darlington has created a classic transcending its genre.

For over 30 years, photographer Charles O'Rear has been fascinated with wine and the process that transforms ordinary grapes into a world-class wine. To understand the making of two of the most renowned varietals, the bold red cabernet and the more delicate white chardonnay, O'Rear traveled 100,000 miles, visited four continents, talked with hundreds of winemakers, and captured thousands of unprecedented images. In many ways, these books are like the profiled wines themselves: full of character, lush beauty, subtlety, and surprise.

In "Cabernet," O'Rear illuminates processes that the casual observer never has a chance to see. He and his camera are everywhere: looking down at vineyards from the window of a Cessna flying at 5,000 feet; tucked inside a stainless fermenting tank; or sprawled in the dirt of a September vineyard. Whether he's with the pickers in the field, the vintners in their aging caves, or the revelers enjoying the festivities of a successful harvest, O'Rear truly captures the essence of cabernet's mystique.

Join Joy Sterling on a stroll through the vineyards and gardens of California's Iron Horse Vineyards, into her kitchen and to her table. Filled with charming anecdotes, a year's worth of news from the grapevine, and imaginative menus and recipes, this is a delightful window into her life as wine lover, epicure, philosopher, and hostess. Vintage Feasting February 14. The vineyards are asleep. Our Valentine's Day feast is fresh, cracked Dungeness crab soup cooked with Fume Blanc, served with garlic mayonnaise and bubbly.... In settings suffused with the scents of Giverny-like gardens, Joy shares secrets of tasting and cooking with wine, reveals her own experiments with menus and vintages, and explains why certain pairings of food and wine endure. And she exults in life's surprises, like the magical cluster of rare morels that appeared one day under a century-old Douglas fir and became an exotic ragout. Whether it's savoring the intense aromas of crushed violets in a young Cabernet Sauvignon; recalling a culinary adventure at Paul Bocuse's restaurant; drinking in the Provence scents of zinnias and lavenders; or concocting a Halloween dinner of turban squash, Vintage Feasting is a treasure of fascinating lore, succulent menus, memorable wines -- and a zest for enjoying life that leaves us refreshed, delighted, and inspired anew.

For over 20 years the most widely used wine textbook in higher education courses, The University Wine Course 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, this book serves as a comprehensive-yet-easy resource for self-tutoring. 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. A Teacher s Manual is available from the publisher."

A brand new wine buyer’s guide will be launched this month, a guide that classifies South Africa’s top reds, whites, rosés, bubblies, dessert wines and ports, unique in featuring those cellars with the best track records and pin-pointing the top wine routes on the basis of reviews by the world’s top wine judges. From MapStudio, a leader as regards maps and travel publications both in print and online, My WineRoute cuts to the chase like no SA wine guide has done before. The book showcases the country’s very best wine producers, with illustrated profiles including information about the owners and the winemakers, the farms’ history, the wines that the cellars are most famous for as well as the business hours, wine tasting fees, contact information, where they are in the winelands, plus details of where to eat and where to stay at these leading cellars, in amongst the vines. What makes My WineRoute extra special are the detailed maps pin-pointing the location of every cellar, important landmarks and places of interest. The cartography spans all of the main wine regions, districts and wards and the maps are such that you can plan your trip according to whatever your preferences might be – scenic drives, routes according to certain wine types or varieties, day-trip itineraries including lunch venues or where to go when time is short. My WineRoute also includes recommendations in terms of the best restaurants, B&Bs, guesthouses and hotels, the markets and picnic spots, galleries and museums – those in the countryside, on the farms. Moreover, the guide’s event calendar is useful should you want to plan a trip around one of the shows or festivals in the Cape Winelands.

On The Illustrated Winespeak's first publication in 1983, this hilarious send-up of winetaster's jargon was hailed by 'The Financial Times' as "one of this year's bubbling successes". It has since been constantly reprinted to meet demand and has become a classic of its kind. For all those mystified by the strange pontifications of wine-buffs, Ronald Searle's The Illustrated Winespeak is the perfect guide to the meaning behind "distinctive nose", "full bodied" and "elegant but lacks backbone".