Wine. All the Time.: The Casual Guide to Confident Drinking

by Marissa A. Ross

A fresh, fun, and unpretentious guide to wine from Bon Appetit columnist Marissa A. Ross

Does the thought of having to buy wine for a dinner party stress you out? Is your go-to strategy to pick the bottle with the coolest label? Are you tired of choosing pairings based on your wallet, rather than your palate? Fear not! Bon Appetit contributor and Wine. All The Time. blogger Marissa A. Ross is here to help.

In this utterly unpretentious yet comprehensive guide to wine, Ross will help readers to understand the ins and outs of wine culture, from how to describe what they're drinking, to finding the best bottle for their budget, to picking the perfect red for a boyfriend's discerning parents. Told in her signature comedic voice, with personal anecdotes woven in among its lessons, Wine. All the Time. will teach readers to sip confidently, and make them laugh as they're doing it."

Genres: Nonfiction, Wine, Food, Audiobook, Humor, Cooking, Cookbooks

304 pages, Paperback

Published June 27, 2017

About the author

Marissa A. Ross is a writer, humorist, and leisure enthusiast. The comedy-writer turned wine-writer is a contributing editor and the official wine columnist for Bon Appétit Magazine. Marissa began blogging about wine in 2012 and has since been named one of Wine Enthusiast's 40 Under 40, served as Man Repeller's "go-to wine expert," was named "Coach of the Month" by Elle magazine, and has been featured as one of the wine world's leading writers in Food & Wine, GQ, and Esquire. Her blog, Wine. All the Time., has earned her Editor's Choice and Reader's Choice awards for "Best Wine Coverage" at the Saveur Blog Awards.

Marissa was born, bred and has never left California. She is from Upland and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, pets, and a stack of Slim Aarons coffee table books. She is a "texture person," and is represented by Waxman Leavell and CAA.

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have seen some fairly negative reviews of this book, but they seem targeted at the delivery so let me say this: if you are remotely stuffy, easily offended, or believe that profanity and sexual references instantly invalidate the wealth of knowledge being imparted simply because of their inclusion, this is not the book for you.

However, if you recognize great comedic writing for what it is AND want to learn about wine in a totally engaging, not at all snotty book, READ THIS. I have tried to be interested in wine before, even taking a trip to wine country, but it all fell flat. Marissa is the one who truly sparked my interest. I first heard her on the Bon Appetit podcast and decided to check out this book. It is a book that needed to be written, and she did it so well. Just read it! You'll see. Laugh out loud on most pages and starting to not feel like an idiot about wine feels pretty awesome.

[Lorilin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marissa Ross began casually blogging about wine in 2012. For three years she sent words out into the great and vast darkness of the internets without much of a following. But she got her big break in 2015 when she was interviewed by New York Magazine. Just a few months later, she got a book deal (for this book) and then began contributing to some of the most impressive wine and food magazines in the country. She found her groove and has been on a roll ever since.

Which is all well and good for her, but is this book any good? I am so happy to say it is PHENOMENAL. I didn't have high expectations, especially after seeing the cover (she looks a little smug, no?), but Ross is so, so funny and entertaining. I definitely never thought I'd be laughing out loud while reading a book about wine, but I did---multiple times. Here's a good example of her irreverent writing style and all-inclusive approach to wine tasting:

Wine tasting often conjures thoughts of quiet tasting rooms with a handful of well-to-do white people who are slurping and murmuring things in slightly British-sounding accents like, "I'm getting willow bark, John." John shakes his head and spits into a bucket with great velocity, saying, "No, no, no, Felicia. You're doing it wrong; you must swirl counterclockwise. And it's most definitely the bark of a silver birch." And there I am in the corner, drinking my wine, trying to figure out their accents and why John is being such an asshole about Felicia's willow bark because who died and made John the king of deciphering different trees in wine, and above all, asking myself, "Where the hell are they getting bark? Am I supposed to be tasting bark? IS THERE BARK IN THIS WINE?!"

And though I love that Ross makes learning about wine fun, I also love that this book actually taught me something about wine. I legit know how to read a wine label now. And I'm not afraid to order wine at a restaurant anymore. I know how wine is made, and I know why it's important to know what region it came from. I can tell you the difference between reds and whites, and I can explain what tannins are. That's crazy to me, that reading just a few hundred pages can make me feel like I actually know something about a subject that used to make me break out in a cold sweat. 

So yeah, I loved this book. I even went out and bought a copy of it, which I almost never do (lest my bookshelves overflow and quickly dominate my home). So if you're looking to learn more about wine---and don't mind a youthful teacher who has a healthy love of swears---I'd absolutely recommend this book.

ARC received through Net Galley.

[Randal White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing! Disappointing. If you are looking for juvenile and profane writing, you may enjoy this book. Otherwise, there are many, many better introductions to wine. Let me quote just a few examples. "Or you can just pour it in a glass and let it chill out for a while, and boom, you just aerated that shit!" "Brut: Pretty fucking dry champagne". "It was easy to ignore that they were unemployed, only wanted blowjobs, and always smelled like cigarettes" (there are numerous wine/oral sex comparisons). "the finish is the flavor and sensation a wine leaves in your mouth after you've swallowed, insert innuendo of choice" (I warned you). "I should know the difference by now, just not when it's 9:00 am, and I'm totally stoned, which is the only way I go to the market". So, if you want to equate your education in wine with profanity, unsatifactory sexual encounters, or abusing drugs, maybe this book is for you. Me, I'll stick with more mainstream literature.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Voy a comenzar haciendo énfasis en la sinopsis, donde dice que es una guía no pretenciosa para introducirte al mundo del vino. Pues vamos, es presuntuosa y pretenciosa, Marissa trata de parecer graciosa, pero no lo es.
Hay tantas contradicciones, pues a pesar de que te dice que cada uno percibe de manera distinta, te hace una descripción detallada de cómo saben los vinos de forma bastante personal, con esto cae en la categoría de esos sommelier que tanto echa abajo.

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy the occasional bottle of wine but I'll freely admit I don't know much about it. One of my best friends works for a vineyard and she gave me this guide.

If you want something serious in tone and a bit more encyclopedic, this might not be your book. However, if you enjoy the author's snarky sense of humor, she packs a lot of helpful information into each chapter. I've already discovered some new-to-me wines that I'm liking very much.

[Lisa Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The un-snobbiest guide to learning more about wine. At times crude, but always funny, I enjoyed learning more about my favorite beverage.

[Jenny Houle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of this book from FirstToRead for an honest and unbiased opinion.

My first complaint is not actually with the writer or the book, but instead with the editors...there were at least five places where obvious typos (one example was "worlds" where the word "words" should have been. Hopefully, things like that will be corrected before the book actually goes on sale.

Admittedly, I too expected the book to be a bit less encyclopedic. FirstToRead's description said "Told in Ross' signature bawdy voice, with personal anecdotes woven in among its lessons, WINE. ALL THE TIME. will teach readers to sip confidently, and make them laugh as they're doing it.". I kept hoping for more anecdotes and was sort of disappointed.

I need to confess another thing, though, and that's that I do not drink. I was hoping that the tips and knowledge throughout the book would help me to learn what to bring to dinner parties or give as gifts to those in my life who do. I can apply some of the tips Ross shares and at least find out what others have liked in the past and then try to find something similar.

I didn't find her writing as entertaining as expected (even in the anecdotes) and that made the book move super slow for me.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in the wine country of Northern California, I like to fancy myself an avid wine drinker. A member of a few wineries, going wine tasting regularly, I was unsure if I would learn much by reading this book. What I learned is I want to be Marissa A. Ross' best friend.

Holy smokes! Not only did I learn a grape bunch about varietals I hadn't heard of (I'll admit I typically stick to California wines), but her detailed explanation of tasting notes, regions, terroirs, and more blew me away! I am now not afraid to try some Old World wines!

Besides wanting to be her BFF, I learned I want to run to my local wine shop and start peppering them with questions. And schedule our next wine tasting adventure to learn as much as I can about some of these new (to me) varietals.

Thank you Marissa, for you have been sent from the wine Gods above.

Thank you Penguin First to Read for an ARC of this book for a fair review.

[A SC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa A. Ross is a comedy writer turned wine expert, turned my new imaginary wine-drinking friend.

Last year’s natural wine obsession led me to research some niche magazines and books that talk about wine in non-pretentious ways. Luckily Marissa A. Ross’s “Wine. All The Time” somehow found my way.

This read is a comedic, authentic and insightful book that makes you get REALLY curious about wines, from how wines are made, how to read the labels to what and how to match.

I loved this book and really recommend if you like me actually want to look into a bottle or a wine menu and understand what it really is that you drink, or what to drink. Also, if you want to continue exploring and learning, instead of drinking a few types of wines all the time.

Now I just wish Sweden actually had proper and nice wine stores 😭

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It almost seems outlandish that I enjoyed this book as much as I did... but "Wine. All the time." changed my approach to wine almost immediately.
Ross's humor and writing style make it easy to dive into the book. I got this from the library but will be buying my own copy so I can refer back to it. She does a great job breaking down types of wine, her descriptions are amazing, and she makes it clear that all it takes to appreciate wine is *wanting* to appreciate it.

[Rich Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and hilarious!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello I’m a confident drinker now.

[Mary Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first stumbled upon Marissa Ross' blog last summer when Chris and I went to a fancy French restaurant because of a Groupon deal and I had the BEST WINE EVER. Wine like I had never had before that completely changed my life and made me want to actually educate myself about wine because holy hell, how can wine taste that good? Anyways, a quick google search on this bottle of wine later...she had reviewed the same bottle we had that night at dinner and I spent the next week or so reading (devouring) her entire blog. I loved her story -- 100% self-educated about wine, went from drinking $3 Chuck to $15 amazing wine (you don't have to spend a lot of money for a great bottle of wine, take away #1 from this book), etc.

ANYWAYS. This book was great. Weirdly empowering in a sense. Wine has always seemed like a macho, highbrow, highly intellectual pursuit to me. Ross flips that on its head. I now am going to go to a wine shop! And talk to someone there about wine! And not be afraid! She's smart, crass, and wicked funny. She makes wine FUN, but also educational. She makes a LOT of crude jokes, so if that's not your style, reader beware.

I could go on and on. I know I will need to read this through about 2-3 more times before I really understand even the basics, but I am now armed with a lot more knowledge about wine. And to me, that's pretty cool.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marissa Ross has an irreverent writing style but she knows her shit. So if T.M.I. sexual innuendos and bad language don't bother you, and you want to learn something about wine then pick this up. Don't let the irreverent tone make you think there isn't a lot of info in here. I would probably have to read this two more times for the actual wine info to sink in and for me to truly remember it. Oh and she is really into something called "natural wine" which is a cool thing if you live in California or New York but kind of harder to come by in the midwest. (becoming easier as it gets more and more popular) Regardless, tons of info in this book, and totally worth reading and then continuing to peruse as a reference guide. Oh and some of her personal anecdotes I could have had a lot less of but that's just me and really did not take away from the fact that she really does know a lot about wine. So all in all four stars and a pretty approachable way to learn more about wine.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through First to Read in exchange for a review.

I would say I thoroughly enjoyed this guide to wine and wine drinking. It was fun and entertaining as well as informative. My favorite parts were her guide to taking wine along with you, and what type of wine to drink with what person/event. They were hilarious with a ring of truth to them.

The biggest thing I took away from this book is don't be afraid to try new and different wines - there is something out there for everyone at every price point. Also, to figure out what you like, you need to try different kinds of wine and actually give some thought to the flavor and aroma. This way you start to notice patterns and soon have a better idea of what you like. She reiterated again and again, that there is no wrong opinion about the wine you're drinking. What you taste and like is different from anyone else; and your taste is just as valid as anyone else's. This author makes wine approachable to a beginner or a younger person. It helps a person to see that you don't have to be a "wine snob" to understand and enjoy tasting wine.

I think I'll go seek out her blog now, because this author is informative, funny and entertaining.

[Donna Kremer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe if I was a 30-something, or if I lived in California, or if I didn’t listen to the sage advice of everybody everywhere that you shouldn’t express your political views, I might really love this f-bomb throwing, sometimes crude, who-would-say-that author. At times it was like being at a comedy show where the swearing is supposed to be funny but it wasn’t. This classless writing was unnecessary, denying credibility, especially since there were some really great points! I DID seek out a wine shop. I DID taste my wine without gulping it. I even paired wines appropriately with my food! Congrats for writing his easy to read beginners wine guide. A clean act would’ve warranted 5-stars.

[Ashley Reading Stewardess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Penguin ' First to Read and I wasn't impressed with this. I expected more humor and comedic writing, instead I felt like I was being talked down to. The only reason this gets 2 stars is due to my learning just how many types of wines I've never heard of there are.

[D.Moch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel more confident ordering and buying wine plus I laughed out loud a few times - win!

[Nicole Calkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and easy to read. I knew most of the info from my wine selling days, but a good place to start for beginners!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars on audio! Ross delivers a fun and humorous guide to learning about wine!

[Susan Howson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and inspiring and my wine drinking (and inevitable hangovers) improved 100% almost immediately.

[January Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and fun for all wine lovers regardless of budget or knowledge of wine. Highly recommend. Very fun without being stuck up.

[Katie Mather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really useful, casual and easygoing guide to wine. I know there will be many times I'll come back to certain sections for reference.

[Aiswarya Kishor · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like wine, you’re going to like this book.

Hands down the best secret Santa gift I’ve ever received!

[Eli Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could do with like 20% less comedy

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went to my local wine store last week (not one of the many cult LA ones name-dropped in this book) and I realized as I was talking to the guy there that I have drank enough wine to have very specific tastes but I don't have any vocabulary to talk about what I like and don't like. I thought I should maybe read a wine book to rectify that. This book only kind of helped.

The book is really unfocused. I get that it's partially a humor book but it basically starts with stories about being poor and drinking shitty wine and then goes into a somewhat overwhelming list of all the different kinds of wine and their common properties. This is useful I guess but doesn't teach a person much.

Here are the basic takeaways:
1. Pay attention when you drink wine. If you like a wine, look it up (preferably while you are drinking it, if it's not rude) and figure out what it is that you like about it. Keep notes. (N.B. this is obvious and I knew this but it's so tedious to do. But it makes sense to devote some time into it, considering the hundreds/thousands of dollars a year that we (I) spend on wine.) The five primary wine aromas are fruit, earth, floral, green, and spice for those of us with new wine noses.
2. Buy natural wine. (The author spends a lot of time talking about this. I'm basically convinced, and will do this if it's convenient, like all other consumption-related missives.)

The best part of the book was definitely the section "Buying Wine for Yourself" where the author tells you what to drink based on your mood.

[Eddie Osburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ADORED this wonderful audiobook of wine drinking knowledge, tips, tricks and stories. Marissa Ross takes you on as, not a student, but a friend. She casually introduces wines to you, lets you shake their hands and get to know them, tells you their embarrassing stories and fun facts and helps break the ice to a whole new world of wine. If you’ve ever been intimidated by the world of wine, Ross’ book is a great way to start your journey. Although I know a little about wine, and much of this was repetitive, Marissa A. Ross makes sure to include facts that even I didn’t know. She talks about uncommon varietals as much as the basics and she makes it all worth it. As someone who worked at a wine shop I appreciate how she talks about how to go to a wine shop. Talk to the professionals and learn from them, ask your friends, and be the one to share your knowledge when you have it. Anyways, if any of my lovely friends here on Goodreads wants to learn more about wine I’d love to teach you, and heck, I’d even recommend this book. Although the jokes are occasionally cheesy, Ross feels like a friend patting you on the back when you take a sip of Gamay for the first time. So grab a glass, and sit with this book to learn everything you need to get started on your wine journey.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have such mixed feelings about this one. I listened to her read the book herself via an audiobook (not surprising to me that she was trying to become an actress and a comic before she became a wine writer) while nursing and sick (and, therefore, unable to drink wine *cries*), so I was probably more into it than I should have been. Also, she’s totally insufferable and totally vulgar (is this a surprise though?), but I found myself thinking of the MANY people I would recommend this book to so they don’t have to listen to me blather on about the basics (BASICS! that’s all you’ll find here here, folks) of wine. I rounded up probably 2 stars because I actually bought this book for a friend and finally caved and followed her on Instagram after avoiding her for years. Eek. Ok. The end.

[Jackie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, very accessible wine guide. Sure, the humor was crude at times, but in a fun R-rated comedy way. The important thing is that I learned a ton because it was written for normal people, and took time to define all those big crazy words you hear in the wine world. Would recommend to a millennial interested in wine.

[Justlesa Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

what a funny, lengthy, interesting book all about wine. It's informative, detailed( I haven't been able to look at commercial wine right every since) and reads like you're chatting with a close girlfriend. Definitely recommend for all those 20 somethings looking to move past the grocery store wine.