Wines and Spirits

by Alec Waugh

An encyclopedic treatment of wines with beautiful color photos. Includes the following chapters: "Of Grape and Grain," "Beer, Spirits and the Cocktail," "The Hour of the Aperitif," "White Wines of Germany and Alsace," "The Great Wines of France," "Wines of Italy and America," "Dessert Wines: Sherry, Port, Madeira," and "After-Dinner Drinks: Brandy and Liqueurs."

Genres: Cookbooks, Reference, Food, Food and Wine

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Born Alexander Raban Waugh to Arthur Waugh, author, literary critic, and publisher. He was the elder brother of the better-known Evelyn Waugh. His third wife was Virginia Sorenson, author of the Newbery Medal-winning Miracles on Maple Hill.

Waugh was educated at Sherborne School, a public school in Dorset, from where he was expelled. The result of his experiences was his first, semi-autobiographical novel, The Loom of Youth (1917), clearly inspired by The Harrovians (1931) by Arnold Lunn, and so controversial at the time (it openly mentioned homosexual activities between boys) that Waugh remains the only former pupil to be expelled from the old boys society (The Old Shirburnian Society). It was also a best seller.

Waugh went on to a career as a successful author, although never as successful or innovative as his younger brother. He lived much of his life overseas, in exotic places such as Tangier - a lifestyle made possible by his second marriage, to a rich Australian. His 1957 novel Island in the Sun was a best-seller, as was his 1973 novel, A Fatal Gift.

He also published In Praise of Wine & Certain Noble Spirits (1959), an amusing and discursive guide to the major wine types, and Wines and Spirits , a 1968 book in the Time-Life series Foods of the World.

Waugh is said to have invented the cocktail party when active in the 1920s London social life and served rum swizzles to astonished friends who thought they had come for tea. Within eighteen months, early evening drinks had become a widespread social entertainment.

Waugh also has a footnote in the history of reggae music. The success of the film adaptation of Island in the Sun and the Harry Belafonte title track provided inspiration as well as the name for the highly successful Island Records record label.
(Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Rebecca Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got my set of Foods of the World by Time-Life in 1969. I have enjoyed looking through them over the many years. But I seldom would read one cover to cover. My daughter the sommelier was here on the 4th of July and talking about her current wine program for her 4th level. She was studying for her test on spirits so I pulled this book off the shelf. She said she had so many books to study from that she didn't need another. This one is dated being from the late 60's. Upon glancing through it, she was intrigued how some of the bottles and labels have changed in the last 50 years. She went home and I started reading the book. Fortunately after almost 50 years living nearby the vineyards of northern California and having a wine professional daughter, I am aware of many things on this subject and have enjoyed some fine glasses of wine over the years. Alec Waugh had been drinking wine for almost 40 years in the late 60's when he wrote this informative book for the general reader. Of course many of the vintages he talks about are long gone and new tastes prevail. But it is interesting to read the history and see what never changes.

[Poppy]

I would really enjoy getting into this book, which is a serious, historical treatment of the subject. Unfortunately, I've killed too many brain cells.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waugh gives a wonderful description of the world of wine and other alcoholic beverages. Many personal memories.

[LimesRickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alec Waugh has a beautiful writing style that greatly enhanced the pleasure of reading this book from cover to cover.