Vintage: The Story of Wine

by Hugh Johnson

From one of the preeminent writers on wine today, the lavishly illustrated and brilliantly told story of wine and civilization, from ancient Rome to the present. Combining extensive research and scholarship with wit and eloquence, Johnson traces the path of the grape from agricultural product to work of art. 200 four-color photos; 20 four-color maps.

Genres: Wine, History, Nonfiction, Food, Gastronomy, Food and Wine, Audiobook

480 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 1989

About the author

Hugh Johnson, younger son of a London lawyer, began his life-long passion for wine in all its variety as a member of the Wine & Food Society at Cambridge University, where he gained an Honours Degree in English literature. When he left King's College in 1961 he became a feature writer for Vogue and House & Garden, writing, among other articles, travel and wine columns for both magazines and their sister-papers in New York.

In 1963, as a result of his close friendship with the octogenarian André Simon, the founder of The International Wine & Food Society, he became General Secretary of the Society and succeeded the legendary gastronome as editor of its magazine Wine & Food. At the same time he became wine correspondent of The Sunday Times and started work on his first book, Wine, whose publication in 1966 established him as one of the foremost English gastronomic writers. There are now over 800,000 copies in print in seven languages and the book is still regularly reprinted. After a year as Travel Editor of The Sunday Times he became editor of Queen Magazine, in two years doubling the circulation of the fashionable glossy. It was 1969 when James Mitchell of the newly-founded publishing house Mitchell Beazley invited him to write The World Atlas of Wine. The research involved took Hugh Johnson all over the world; the result was a best-seller that might justly claim to have put wine on the map. Its publication was described by the Director of the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine in his Foreword as "un événement majeur de la littérature vinicole".

Reviews

[Darius Liddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by a wine mentor of mine. Informative, well-written and entertaining (actually). Severely biased towards the "fine wine" regions of the world (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Barolo, Napa Valley). It was still a pretty good book, and like another reviewer said, "not encyclopedic".

And a great "classical" foundation for the overall history of wine. But it's weird to tell the "story" of wine, and spend a little more than a few chapters on the place where the vine was born (which was not France/Italy/Spain, but rather Georgia/Armenia/Azerbaijan, modern-day Anatolia, Ancient Egypt, etc etc. The entire Fertile Crescent. But I guess most people who want to read the "story of wine", don't want to read about those countries. Also, a lot of wine writers/personalities don't even acknowledge those countries have a diverse and storied wine history. Alas, here we are.

All those countries that made wine BEFORE the vine even got to Western Europe are basically summarized (and even then, mostly archaeologically) in the first few chapters.

In a nutshell, this book is about the story of wine for Western Europe (including Ancient Greece of course). Everything east of Italy (except for Tokaj and Greece) is treated as mostly a footnote. I don't think a single Eastern European country was ever even mentioned; if it was, only tangentially.

North/South American and Australian wine countries also got plenty of coverage, although they are so YOUNG in wine's story. Shrug.

All that said, I really enjoyed the book, but a better title would be "The Story of Wine in Western Europe, and those countries descended from Western Europe", but as I said, many readers probably didn't even think twice about this, because they don't associate winemaking (its past, present or future) with Eastern Europe or those countries that make the border of modern-day Eurasia.

Read it, it's good! Then go find a book on Georgian wine (8000 year winemaking history). Alice Feiring's book might be a good place to start.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming, breezy, and, like the proverbial iceberg, resting on an even more substantial bed of knowledge and experience. Not encyclopedic, but rich nonetheless.

[Alex Rauket · Rating 3 out of 5]

A vast and sprawling discourse on the history of wine. Extremely interesting for those interested in the detailed story of where wine came from and the paths that it took to become the modern drink.

The writing can be a little dry, even when describing Dionysian parties and 3 bottles each port parties. In addition, it is due for an update as it is apparent that it misses some of the more recent developments in wine, such as a wider appreciation of smaller and emerging wine regions and a greater interest in non-traditional vindication.

It's a book I will keep on the shelf as a great reference as I continue my study of wine.

[Elfdart · Rating 5 out of 5]

a comprehensive guide to the history of wine. grape wine that is, they don’t go much into sake or wines made from other products, though some are mentioned. it goes through many countries and time periods and was overall very readable for a history text.

[Alice Verberne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugh Johnson is the expert on wine. Another of those amazing people who has published a major work while so very young. This book is a lovely coffee-table book but it would be a pity to not actually read it. I highly recommend it for those who love history and wine.

[Serge Pierro · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview on the history of wine. Well written and deeply researched.

[Donna Gough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Loved the television series that went with it (available only on DVD at the moment, I believe).

[Ed Downs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cuando inicié mi carrera en la industria del vino, siempre pensé en que quizás algún día podría plasmar mis intereses humanistas escribiendo un libro donde se tratase en profundidad cómo el vino se imbrica con la historia universal. Un análisis que no hablase solamente del vino y su estilo, sino cómo influía en el comercio, la política, la sociedad e, incluso la salud. Aquel libro, un proyecto vital, tendría que ser un profundo análisis hermenéutico, donde cada estilo de vino se analizase desde la perspectiva de su tiempo y que explicaría el por qué de su gusto, de su finura o tosquedad. He decirle al "yo" de hace unos años que ese libro ya ha sido escrito.

Hugh Johnson escribe esta profunda y extensa Historia del Vino con una prosa densa, cargada de información, precisa en sus detalles, atando cada cabo. Esta obra justifica ampliamente la encumbrada fama de escritor de vino de este autor, colaborador de Jancis Robinson en The Wine Atlas of Wine, otra obra de referencia para todo aquel que quiera profundizar seriamente en el conocimiento de esta bebida.

Imposible resumir la amplitud de esta magna obra en unos pocos párrafos. Su esencia, no obstante, es la de una bebida que, desde los primeros asentamientos humanos en el Neolítico, ha ido ligada a los grandes hitos históricos y ha moldeado las relaciones entre las personas, la religión, los intercambios comerciales; ha sido testigo de infinidad de conflictos bélicos sobre sus viñedos; que ha sido bebido en las cortes y en los arrabales siguiendo las palabras de J. W. von Goethe, "los ricos quieren buen vino, los pobres, mucho vino".

Recomiendo ampliamente la lectura de The Story of Wine (hay traducción al español), con el aviso de que es un libro denso, extenso y serio, difícil de leer, pero que trae consigo la enorme satisfacción de un conocimiento profundo, genuino y sin aristas sobre historia del vino.

[Arimathea · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing story of wine and the people who drank it, starting with the Mesopotamians and working through history from then. A good book to read in small sips (much like enjoying a bottle of wine), with historical nuggets included with the wine knowledge.

I kept having to refer to an atlas because I'm not familiar with all the regions of France and Spain, a map of the regions would have helped (or maybe I missed it or someone cut it out of the book, which I borrowed from the library).

The explanation of the techniques and some of the technical terms helped.

[Colin Geils · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives a compelling narrative of the origins and history of wine. Gives lots of background on why wine was made the way it was (tastes, technological limitations, etc.) and how it has evolved into the industry we know today.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, Mr. Johnson and his spider-like eyebrows have produced another pillar of wine literature. If you've seen his BBC series on the history of wine, this book repeats some content, but elaborates on more. Each chapter has a chronological and geographical theme, masterfully researched and almost humorously written. A must-have for any serious wine lover, drinker, or professional.

[Liam Mycroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history of the world of wine from the very beginning up to the early 80's when the book was originally published. Final chapter brings a rounding up to today, but the last 35/40 years are another book waiting to be written.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugh Johnson's other books on wine are reliable and informative, serving as references, etc. This one is a great read as well.

[Joshua]

Great fun. Short topic. Comprehensive, but without being scholarly.

[Gaby Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good and interesting. I just got lost in data and facts at some points.

[Katie]

For me it was too focused on history of countries and regions and the politics than the wine itself