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Edible
Wine: A Global History
Look. Swirl. Sniff. Taste. Savor. Whether you’re tasting a refreshing white or an aromatic red, these well-known steps are the only proper way to take the first sip of wine.
Oenophiles have never been rare, but over the past decade, wine culture has exploded. Amateur wine enthusiasts join dedicated collectors at tastings and on vineyard vacations, and young professionals pack trendy wine bars. Even Hollywood has gotten in on the action—movies like Sideways , Bottle Shock , and French Kiss relate the deep love we have for a glass of pinot noir, a bottle of chardonnay, and the grapes that produce them. But how did wine surpass all other beverages to achieve global domination? In Wine , Marc Millon travels back to the origins of modern man to find the answer, discovering that this heady drink is intertwined with the roots of civilization itself.
Wine takes us from Transcaucasia some eight thousand years ago across the Mediterranean Sea, following wine as it spread along with classical civilization throughout Europe, and showing how, thanks to the myths of Dionysus and Bacchus, many of the major wine-producing regions were established in Western Europe. Millon then details how the Spanish conquistadors first brought European grapes to the New World to develop wines for the Catholic mass, and he depicts how wine production traveled to the distant lands of Australia and New Zealand. Today, it is even part of the burgeoning economies of India and China. Millon also explores the types of wine developed in each region, describing the many varieties of grapes and the process of fermentation and storage.
Crisp and concise, with a hint of cherry and a soupcon of citrus, Wine provides the perfect introduction for wine novices seeking to impress at their first tasting while offering an engaging chronicle for experts looking to learn more about this most mysterious and magical of beverages.
Oenophiles have never been rare, but over the past decade, wine culture has exploded. Amateur wine enthusiasts join dedicated collectors at tastings and on vineyard vacations, and young professionals pack trendy wine bars. Even Hollywood has gotten in on the action—movies like Sideways , Bottle Shock , and French Kiss relate the deep love we have for a glass of pinot noir, a bottle of chardonnay, and the grapes that produce them. But how did wine surpass all other beverages to achieve global domination? In Wine , Marc Millon travels back to the origins of modern man to find the answer, discovering that this heady drink is intertwined with the roots of civilization itself.
Wine takes us from Transcaucasia some eight thousand years ago across the Mediterranean Sea, following wine as it spread along with classical civilization throughout Europe, and showing how, thanks to the myths of Dionysus and Bacchus, many of the major wine-producing regions were established in Western Europe. Millon then details how the Spanish conquistadors first brought European grapes to the New World to develop wines for the Catholic mass, and he depicts how wine production traveled to the distant lands of Australia and New Zealand. Today, it is even part of the burgeoning economies of India and China. Millon also explores the types of wine developed in each region, describing the many varieties of grapes and the process of fermentation and storage.
Crisp and concise, with a hint of cherry and a soupcon of citrus, Wine provides the perfect introduction for wine novices seeking to impress at their first tasting while offering an engaging chronicle for experts looking to learn more about this most mysterious and magical of beverages.
175 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 1, 2023
“Of all man’s potable creations, wine has the unique capacity to bring pleasure to our lives. It is a celebratory libation, a comfort in times of sadness or sorrow, and simply an everyday beverage that makes us feel happy to be alive.”
About time that I learn just a little about wine…
Our family, Pisoni relatives in the Salinas Valley of California, under the leadership of my cousin, Gary Pisoni, are well known and respected experts in vineyards, especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, under the leadership of Gary’s oldest son Mark Pisoni, and winemakers, sold under the Pisoni Vineyards and Lucy brands. under the leadership of Gary’s youngest son Jeff Pisoni.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I so, so, so respect what they’ve accomplished.🙏🏻
Someday hopefully Monicah can visit and enjoy Pisoni wines🍷🍷🍷
About time that I learn just a little about wine…
Our family, Pisoni relatives in the Salinas Valley of California, under the leadership of my cousin, Gary Pisoni, are well known and respected experts in vineyards, especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, under the leadership of Gary’s oldest son Mark Pisoni, and winemakers, sold under the Pisoni Vineyards and Lucy brands. under the leadership of Gary’s youngest son Jeff Pisoni.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I so, so, so respect what they’ve accomplished.🙏🏻
Someday hopefully Monicah can visit and enjoy Pisoni wines🍷🍷🍷
September 20, 2022
A solid, if brief, history of wine, with a minimum of snobbery. The last chapter, about how various factors may influence wine, was the most interesting to me.
July 14, 2014
This was a fun book--short, interesting anecdotes, and full of information. The whole series is an interesting collection with each short volume dedicated to a particular edible, from hotdogs to curry. They're written by different authors, so the quality of prose and research does vary, but they're generally all of a good standard. This one stands out as particularly good, and would make a good gift for readers who take wine at least somewhat seriously (or just enjoy a good glass while reading!).
October 12, 2014
A short and solid book that is part of Reaktion's Edible Series, the key debates in wine studies are presented. There is attention to terroir, technology, climate change, marketing, production and consumption.
The challenge with the books in this series is how to provide an introduction - logging key debates in the field - while also offering a fresh spark of innovation in the discussion. Perhaps this book features too much of the former and not enough of the latter. However, as an introduction to wine and wine studies, it is solid.
The challenge with the books in this series is how to provide an introduction - logging key debates in the field - while also offering a fresh spark of innovation in the discussion. Perhaps this book features too much of the former and not enough of the latter. However, as an introduction to wine and wine studies, it is solid.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews