Reading between the Wines, With a New Preface

by Terry Theise

Acclaimed importer and wine guru Terry Theise, long known for his top-notch portfolio and his illustrious writing, now offers this opinionated, idiosyncratic, and beautifully written testament to wine. What constitutes beauty in wine, and how do we appreciate it? What role does wine play in a soulful, sensual life? Can wines of place survive in a world of globalized styles and 100-point scoring systems? In his highly approachable style, Theise describes how wine can be a portal to aesthetic, emotional, even mystical experience―and he frankly asserts that these experiences are most likely to be inspired by wines from artisan producers.

Genres: Wine

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2011

Reviews

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I drink a glass of wine maybe three times a year (typically a cheaper version of the "New World, bold, hedonistic" wines Theise decries) and have zero belief in spirituality and the soul. So why did this book strike such a chord with me? Theise's integrity, expertise, and heart-on-his-sleeve advocacy stir your interest and win your respect. His passion for his cellermasters' work and lives is infectious, and he has the ability to communicate his abstract, highly personal responses to these wines in a way only great writers can.

[Nikita Malhotra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to reread this as news of the author’s departure from his portfolio recently came to light. It’s hard not to think of him when tasting wines from that portfolio. His tasting notes have entertained many of us in the beverage industry year after year. His approach to wine is all consuming and borders on a mystical journey. Always nice to revisit the text with a glass of Riesling- and it’s a good book to remind oneself about how wine in a glass encompasses the sum total of many experiences, narratives, history- so for those who want to delve into that tricky wine concept of terroir, pick this book up and make sure you have Wine!

[Neal Tognazzini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of thoughtful and beautifully written essays on wine - its beauty, its place in the author’s life (he’s a wine importer), and what wine can be to anyone who wants to take it seriously. There’s a lot of attention paid to the romance and mystery of wine in these essays, and I appreciated that, even if it did sometimes go a bit over the top for my tastes. Still, I found myself very much enjoying getting lost in someone else’s beloved world, made vivid for others.

[Lorenzo Savona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for appassionati di vini and people who love life. It is written by a wine professional, an importer who clearly loves his job and has found a way to make a living and support his friends making the wine. The writing is very good and I admit his perspective vis a vis wine and life is closely aligned with mine. His passion is infectious and I think anyone who loves the natural world will really enjoy this book. I want to thank Terry Theise for putting in the work of writing this book and for graciously opening his heart and soul to us. The prose is terrific. The pacing works. And the characters come to life on the page.

[Vincent Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most enlightening wine book I've ever read.

[Stevek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring pretentious long-winded