Who's Afraid of Romanée-Conti?: A Shortcut to Drinking Great Wines

by Dan Keeling

Wine can be daunting without an incisive guide. Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti? is a no-holds-barred voyage of discovery, from sourcing good cheap vino to drinking its most unattainable and holiest of grails – Romanée-Conti – and the universe of interstellar wines that lie in-between. From new-school Burgundy, Barolo and Champagne to Tenerife, Corsica and Chianti, Noble Rot co-founder Dan Keeling visits some of the world’s most renowned vignerons and vineyards on a quest to find out why some wines matter – and why many others don’t. Throughout, he details the complex aspects of traditionalist wine culture, offering insights into subjects such as sulphur in winemaking, building a cellar, and many personal recommendations on what to buy for every pocket. It’s wine – but not as you know it.“I love this book. There’s pleasure on every page. It’s essential reading for wine lovers and wine novices.” – Keira Knightley   “Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti? makes discovering great wine as exciting as the NME made discovering great music back in the day.” – Mike Diamond, The Beastie Boys   “In the world of fine wine and fine eats, Keeling’s palate rules. Above all, this Englishman is a literate man of taste, passion, and talent. Bon appétit!” Kermit Lynch, author of Adventures on the Wine Route.   “This book is bloody amazing! ... Empowering, energising and without a scintilla of snobbery, this set off little explosions of excitement in me. It's your passport to pleasure.” Diana Henry   “Every word and thought here is shot through with verve, wit and often piercing snark. I dare you not to be engaged by the wisdom and writing of Dan Keeling. Do you need this collection of attitude-changing essays? If you care about wine (or want to) you absolutely do.” Alice Feiring, author of To Fall in Love, Drink This.   “No-one writes about wine like Dan Keeling. Who's Afraid is totally absorbing and just as importantly fun. Love it.” – Angela Hartnett

Genres: Wine, Food

288 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2024

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays and lovely pictures about wine growers and experiences. Coffee table style book so I've just been picking it up occasionally and reading a chapter when I have a spare moment. Would make a lovely present for a serious wine fan.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a wine lover, I was eager to dive into the latest book by writer, restaurateur, and wine importer Dan Keeling. Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti? explores approachable ways to enjoy great wines. Styled much like Noble Rot, the magazine Keeling is known for, the book unfolds as a collection of articles in which he visits wineries across both famous and lesser-known winemaking regions. Each section—once you navigate the French names and terminology—offers recommendations on what to drink, from which wineries, and at what price point, ranging from “affordable” to eye-wateringly expensive.

The premise is appealing, but some articles fall flat. A few are so densely packed with obscure French places and château names that even with my decent wine knowledge, I occasionally lost the thread. There are also plenty of name-drops—of people the author assumes we should know—but for many readers, they’ll mean little.

As the book progresses, the articles tend to get shorter and punchier, with the occasional longer piece mixed in. Still, the repetition makes them start to blend together, and by the end, the initial charm feels a little worn.

Taken as a whole, though, the book feels exactly like what it aims to be: a magazine in book form, complete with both hits and misses. It’s fun, informative, and very well written. And for wine enthusiasts, it’s worth picking up. Beyond its content, it’s also a handsome object: a large-format hardback with a ribbon bookmark that looks just as impressive on a coffee table as it does on a bookshelf—a fine addition to any wine lover’s library.

[Sanford Chee]

Eric Asimov best wine books of 2024
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/life...
Dan Keeling is one of Britain’s foremost figures in wine. He is an owner of three excellent restaurants and an import company. He is also a founder and the editor of Noble Rot, a must-read wine magazine that combines erudite essays and criticism with brash humour and pieces by celebrity wine-lovers like Keira Knightley and Mike Diamond of the Beastie Boys.

“Who’s Afraid of Romanée-Conti?” collects some of these articles. Rather than a conventional guide as suggested by the subtitle, the articles inspire more than teach. Keeling roams the wine producing world – well, Europe, at least – visiting some of the most interesting regions and winemakers, whether in humble Muscadet or at the titular Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, the Burgundy estate that is among the world’s most venerated wine producers.

Each essay is crammed with bits of wisdom and insight, self-deprecating humour and wonder. Interspersed are gorgeous photographs and recommendations of producers.

It’s the sort of book where you can roam, reading an essay here or there as the mood strikes. Like so much of the best wine literature, this book compels you to seek out the bottles he’s writing about to taste for yourself.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're an oenephile or a winemaker or a somm or anyone who wants to be any of those things, Dan Keeling's writing is a must-read. In clear but jovial and affectionate prose, Keeling introduces you both to the basics of wine enjoyment (like ordering a bottle of wine at a restaurant) to the most exciting names in Old World winemaking today. He certainly has a type - usually an iconoclast working in a magisterial wine region - but by fixating on these newer names, he offfers some fresh perspective on what can often be a stuffy subject only for the toffs. I would love to see him write a book like this about California winemakers.

[Gerald Randklev · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting new book (2024) written by a a very interesting British Guy. The book may be a bit too detailed for someone just beginning to explore wine, but is a valuable resource for those of us who have been around a while and think we know the subject. This wine explores some wines and places that I have never heard of and does a good job of explaining some of the evolution going on in the wine business. I learned a lot that I did not previously know. Kudos to the author for some of the most unique descriptions, puns and wit I have seen lately in an educational text!

[Raymond Franssen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is not suited for a novice to the world of (fine) wine as the assumed knowledge level exceeds that of most novices. Nor does it present enough interesting and innovative insights and narratives to keep the reader steeped in wine engaged. Not sure who the target audience might be.

Photography is artsy more than informative, lay-out is hip and ineffective.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! You can either read the whole thing in one go, or read story by story and you’ll learn something every time!