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One Thousand Vines: A New Way to Understand Wine
*SHORTLISTED FOR THE ANDRÉ SIMON DRINKS BOOK AWARD 2024*
* A DECANTER BEST WINE BOOK OF 2024*
*WINNER OF AN OIV AWARD 2024*
"Dazzling" The Times Literary Supplement
"Wine lovers who read this book will deeply, richly profit" The Best Wine Books of 2024 by Eric Asimov, The New York Times
"Written by the very impressive Pacaline Lepeltier, one of a handful of female master sommeliers and, in my opinion, the best in the world, she can be trusted to guide you and inform you on your wine journey... It's an all-knowing textbook perfect for a wine nerd like me." Eugene Shevertalov, Condé Nast Traveler
"This book is every wine book you ever needed and every wine book you could ever want."
JancisRobinson.com
"Whether you're a curious enthusiast or seasoned connoisseur, Lepeltier offers the keys to unlock wine's mysteries, one vine at a time. So no, this book isn't about one thousand vines alone; but about equipping you to embrace wine's vast, beautiful, and interconnected world with clarity and confidence." Forbes
"One Thousand Vines is an exceptional achievement worthy of a special place on your wine bookshelf." The Wine Economist
" A masterpiece that offers a deep dive into the world of wine. It's a testament to its author's passion, expertise and commitment to sustainable practices." Robert Parker Wine Advocate
'A remarkable book, a once-in-a-generation book, quite unlike any other, reflecting a profound understanding of the world of wine...It's tremendous work of synthesis, broad in its scope, thoroughly up to date, imaginative, philosophical, scientific and profound. There's nothing like it.' Jamie Goode
"Lepeltier's expertise is addictive and admirable. The talents that made her an in-demand sommelier and lecturer are the same qualities that come through in her writing." Drinkhacker
"Entwining culture, philosophy, history, and science, Pascaline Lepeltier's One Thousand Vines is nothing short of an astonishing work of genius. This is an essential resource for understanding wine in all its marvellous complexity." Alice Feiring
"One Thousand Vines is a crucial resource for understanding wine on both a global and local scale, and an essential read for anyone who loves wine." Jon Bonné
"Pascaline's work is essential for anyone who wants to fully understand wine. Additionally, you will find a multitude of conceptual maps and illustrations that make the reading even more delightful." Ferran Centelles
'One Thousand Vines is the price of a good bottle of California Pinot Noir, but it's worth an entire case...It belongs in any connoisseur's wine library.' - International Wine Review
In One Thousand Vines internationally celebrated sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier answers all the important questions about wine. With three main parts - Reading Vines, Reading Landscapes and Reading Wines - the book challenges preconceived ideas about the vine and its wine. It explains where we are now, how we got here, and shows us a way forward - in how grapes will be grown, made into wine, sold and enjoyed.
One Thousand Vines isn't an encyclopedia or atlas but offers the reader keys to understand the links between the bottle and the producers, terroirs and vineyards which give birth to it. With a refreshingly unique approach, star sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier offers those curious about wine not only the answers but also the tools to understand it by oneself.
* A DECANTER BEST WINE BOOK OF 2024*
*WINNER OF AN OIV AWARD 2024*
"Dazzling" The Times Literary Supplement
"Wine lovers who read this book will deeply, richly profit" The Best Wine Books of 2024 by Eric Asimov, The New York Times
"Written by the very impressive Pacaline Lepeltier, one of a handful of female master sommeliers and, in my opinion, the best in the world, she can be trusted to guide you and inform you on your wine journey... It's an all-knowing textbook perfect for a wine nerd like me." Eugene Shevertalov, Condé Nast Traveler
"This book is every wine book you ever needed and every wine book you could ever want."
JancisRobinson.com
"Whether you're a curious enthusiast or seasoned connoisseur, Lepeltier offers the keys to unlock wine's mysteries, one vine at a time. So no, this book isn't about one thousand vines alone; but about equipping you to embrace wine's vast, beautiful, and interconnected world with clarity and confidence." Forbes
"One Thousand Vines is an exceptional achievement worthy of a special place on your wine bookshelf." The Wine Economist
" A masterpiece that offers a deep dive into the world of wine. It's a testament to its author's passion, expertise and commitment to sustainable practices." Robert Parker Wine Advocate
'A remarkable book, a once-in-a-generation book, quite unlike any other, reflecting a profound understanding of the world of wine...It's tremendous work of synthesis, broad in its scope, thoroughly up to date, imaginative, philosophical, scientific and profound. There's nothing like it.' Jamie Goode
"Lepeltier's expertise is addictive and admirable. The talents that made her an in-demand sommelier and lecturer are the same qualities that come through in her writing." Drinkhacker
"Entwining culture, philosophy, history, and science, Pascaline Lepeltier's One Thousand Vines is nothing short of an astonishing work of genius. This is an essential resource for understanding wine in all its marvellous complexity." Alice Feiring
"One Thousand Vines is a crucial resource for understanding wine on both a global and local scale, and an essential read for anyone who loves wine." Jon Bonné
"Pascaline's work is essential for anyone who wants to fully understand wine. Additionally, you will find a multitude of conceptual maps and illustrations that make the reading even more delightful." Ferran Centelles
'One Thousand Vines is the price of a good bottle of California Pinot Noir, but it's worth an entire case...It belongs in any connoisseur's wine library.' - International Wine Review
In One Thousand Vines internationally celebrated sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier answers all the important questions about wine. With three main parts - Reading Vines, Reading Landscapes and Reading Wines - the book challenges preconceived ideas about the vine and its wine. It explains where we are now, how we got here, and shows us a way forward - in how grapes will be grown, made into wine, sold and enjoyed.
One Thousand Vines isn't an encyclopedia or atlas but offers the reader keys to understand the links between the bottle and the producers, terroirs and vineyards which give birth to it. With a refreshingly unique approach, star sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier offers those curious about wine not only the answers but also the tools to understand it by oneself.
- GenresWineFoodNonfiction
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 11, 2026
some good insights
There are interesting insights into the origin of wine grapes, geographically, unique trellising systems and vineyard manage,ent practices, and more.
I speak French, and with this being a translation from a French book, there are many vocabulary choices that make sense in French, such as Latin expressions which are more common, but a bit unusual in English.
There is a very heavy emphasis of French research and authors…. And perhaps the French have been philosophizing about wine longer than other countries, but it seems to be French research-centric.
There are interesting insights into the origin of wine grapes, geographically, unique trellising systems and vineyard manage,ent practices, and more.
I speak French, and with this being a translation from a French book, there are many vocabulary choices that make sense in French, such as Latin expressions which are more common, but a bit unusual in English.
There is a very heavy emphasis of French research and authors…. And perhaps the French have been philosophizing about wine longer than other countries, but it seems to be French research-centric.
Want to Read
December 13, 2024Eric Asimov best wine books of 2024
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/life...
Wine is easy to drink but complicated to understand. Most modern books focus on one element – a region, history, wine science, tasting and so on. Few seek to explain it in its totality.
That’s what makes Pascaline Lepeltier’s new book so extraordinary. It examines every aspect of wine, starting with the domestication of the grape vine thousands of years ago through the nature of the vine, the geology, flora and fauna of vineyards, the production and serving of wine, how we taste it and how we talk about it. It’s a remarkable synthesis that incorporates biology, chemistry, history and philosophy.
Lepeltier, the beverage director at Chambers in New York and a world-class sommelier, also writes regularly about wine and, with Nathan Kendall, produces wines under the Chepika label in the Finger Lakes of New York. This certainly gives her a well-rounded background. But before she devoted herself to wine, Lepeltier was a philosophy graduate student in France, which helps to explain her passionate concern with wine’s elemental nature.
For her, no question about wine is too simple or basic. No assumption is left unexamined. Perceptions and beliefs are cross-checked through history as science builds and evolves. Yet wine cannot entirely be understood through science, and Lepeltier is careful to point out the limits of what is known and the areas in which research continues or would be most useful.
This book is not entirely about science and history. It’s also about beauty, the roles wine has played in different cultures and how we perceive aromas and flavours. Cumulatively, this work is an act of love as well as a work of scholarship. It’s a celebration of a beverage that singularly has inspired so much wonder and discussion over thousands of years.
It’s not for people who would simply like to know how to select a bottle or enjoy a glass. It’s rather for those who are already invested in wine and would like to dive deeply into the subject.
“One Thousand Vines” was originally published in French, and Lepeltier can’t help but offer a point of view dominated by her French heritage. But few cultures have contributed as much to modern wine as France, and French wine scholars have studied the subject for centuries. It’s a serious book, leavened by lovely illustrations by Loan Nguyen Thanh Lan.
It’s often said that the more we learn about wine the less we know. But wine lovers who read this book will deeply, richly profit.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/life...
Wine is easy to drink but complicated to understand. Most modern books focus on one element – a region, history, wine science, tasting and so on. Few seek to explain it in its totality.
That’s what makes Pascaline Lepeltier’s new book so extraordinary. It examines every aspect of wine, starting with the domestication of the grape vine thousands of years ago through the nature of the vine, the geology, flora and fauna of vineyards, the production and serving of wine, how we taste it and how we talk about it. It’s a remarkable synthesis that incorporates biology, chemistry, history and philosophy.
Lepeltier, the beverage director at Chambers in New York and a world-class sommelier, also writes regularly about wine and, with Nathan Kendall, produces wines under the Chepika label in the Finger Lakes of New York. This certainly gives her a well-rounded background. But before she devoted herself to wine, Lepeltier was a philosophy graduate student in France, which helps to explain her passionate concern with wine’s elemental nature.
For her, no question about wine is too simple or basic. No assumption is left unexamined. Perceptions and beliefs are cross-checked through history as science builds and evolves. Yet wine cannot entirely be understood through science, and Lepeltier is careful to point out the limits of what is known and the areas in which research continues or would be most useful.
This book is not entirely about science and history. It’s also about beauty, the roles wine has played in different cultures and how we perceive aromas and flavours. Cumulatively, this work is an act of love as well as a work of scholarship. It’s a celebration of a beverage that singularly has inspired so much wonder and discussion over thousands of years.
It’s not for people who would simply like to know how to select a bottle or enjoy a glass. It’s rather for those who are already invested in wine and would like to dive deeply into the subject.
“One Thousand Vines” was originally published in French, and Lepeltier can’t help but offer a point of view dominated by her French heritage. But few cultures have contributed as much to modern wine as France, and French wine scholars have studied the subject for centuries. It’s a serious book, leavened by lovely illustrations by Loan Nguyen Thanh Lan.
It’s often said that the more we learn about wine the less we know. But wine lovers who read this book will deeply, richly profit.
May 30, 2025
True to its title, Pascaline Lepeltier has written a book about wine that feels sui generis. Lepeltier draws on her background in philosophy and her experience as a sommelier to challenge many of the commonly held notions about what wine is and why we drink it.
September 2, 2025
An epic effort by the author, who raises more questions than answers (but that is the nature of the topic) in a beautifully designed book. Very thought provoking and rewarding read if you are interested in wine.
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May 11, 2026It’s not the book It’s me. My brain cannot process information if too technical.
April 9, 2023
Be careful if ordering this book on amazon - the journey of delivery quite damaged the beautiful cover, and the book should have some additional protective layer
Otherwise, it brought me to the times when being 5y old i would read adult’s encyclopedias not fully understanding the contents, but still mesmerized by the magic of the world.
I wouldn’t understand wine technicalities in none of the languages i read in, so it didn’t bother me at all.
What i found beautiful were the philosophical parts about what role or place wine has these days and if that should change in the future. The underlying theme of the need to make wine more environmentaly friendly would be one of these subtopics that i enjoyed.
For anyone wanting to get (very) serious about wine, it’s a must read. For those who are serious about enjoying their wine, the book is worthy of going through the pages and enjoying the beautiful illustrations, at the very least. maybe also learning a thing or two.
Looking forward for the english translation and then maybe rereading with a bit more ease.
Otherwise, it brought me to the times when being 5y old i would read adult’s encyclopedias not fully understanding the contents, but still mesmerized by the magic of the world.
I wouldn’t understand wine technicalities in none of the languages i read in, so it didn’t bother me at all.
What i found beautiful were the philosophical parts about what role or place wine has these days and if that should change in the future. The underlying theme of the need to make wine more environmentaly friendly would be one of these subtopics that i enjoyed.
For anyone wanting to get (very) serious about wine, it’s a must read. For those who are serious about enjoying their wine, the book is worthy of going through the pages and enjoying the beautiful illustrations, at the very least. maybe also learning a thing or two.
Looking forward for the english translation and then maybe rereading with a bit more ease.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews