Around the World in Eighty Wines: Exploring Wine One Country at a Time

by Mike Veseth, Eric Michael Summerer (Narrator)

Inspired by Jules Verne's classic adventure tale, Mike Veseth takes listeners "around the world in eighty wines." The journey starts in London, Phileas Fogg's home base, and follows Fogg's itinerary to France and Italy before veering off in search of compelling wine stories in Syria, Georgia, and Lebanon. Every glass of wine tells a story, and so each of the eighty wines must tell an important tale. We head back across Northern Africa to Algeria, once the world's leading wine exporter, before hopping across the sea to Spain and Portugal. We follow Portuguese trade routes to Madeira and then South Africa with a short detour to taste Kenya's most famous Pinot Noir. The route loops around, visiting Bali, Thailand, and India before heading north to China to visit Shangri-La. Shangri-La? Does that even exist? It does, and there is wine there. Then it is off to Australia, with a detour in Tasmania. The stars of the Southern Cross guide us to New Zealand, Chile, and Argentina. We ride a wine train in California and rendezvous with Planet Riesling in Seattle before getting into fast cars for a race across North America, collecting more wine as we go. Pause for lunch in Virginia to honor Thomas Jefferson, then it's time to jet back to London to tally our wines and see what we have learned.

Genres: Nonfiction, Wine, Travel, Food, Food History, Food and Drink

MP3 CD

First published November 1, 2017

About the author

Wall Street Journal wine columnist Lettie Teague writes that “Of all the wine blogs in the wide, wide blogosphere, one that I look forward to reading the most is Mike Veseth’s Wine Economist. There’s nothing else quite like it—a blend of economic insight … and often irreverent winespeak.”

Economist Mike Veseth (pronounced VEE-seth) is an authority on global wine markets who travels the world studying wine economics and speaking to wine industry groups. He reports his discoveries on this blog, The Wine Economist, and in more than a dozen books including Wine Wars (2011), Extreme Wine (2013) and Money, Taste & Wine: It’s Complicated! (2015). The newest book, Around the World in Eighty Wines, will appear in November, 2017.

The Wine Economist was named 2015 “Best in the World” wine blog by Gourmand International. Money Taste, and Wine received the 2016 Gourmand International award for “Best in the World” wine writing.

Reviews

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free electronic copy of Around the World in Eighty Wines: Exploring Wine One Country at a Time by Mike Veseth from NetGalley for my honest review. I love the cover of the book and the fact that it was inspired by Jules Verne’s tale. This book takes you around the World so you can learn about and discover wines from London, France, Italy, Syria, Lebanon, Georgia, Spain, Portugal, Africa, India, Shangri-La, Australia, Tasmania and Napa Valley. I love how it bring every glass of wine to life with each glass having it's own story. This is a very fun and detailed book for any wine lover.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come on a wine adventure and discover the world of wine through the eyes of Jules Verne's classic Around the World in 80 Days protagonist, Phileas Fogg. Follow him as we travel from London to France, Syria, Georgia, North Africa, Spain, Portugal, South Africa, China, Australia and more. You'll be surprised to know that superior wine is harvested and drank in nearly every country of the world.

I really enjoyed this book and not only because I'm a huge wine drinker. Okay, well, maybe that's 40% of the reason behind my rating, but the other 60% has to go to Mike Veseth for writing an imaginative, creative book on the wines of the world. He's the celebrated editor in chief of The Wine Economist so he's renowned for his taste in wine. But he doesn't come across as a wine snob, quite the opposite actually.

I've read it twice now and it would make a perfect gift for any wine lover on your list. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Rowman & Littlefield via Netgalley in the hopes I'd review it.

My Rating: 5+ stars

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one more for the travel narrative angle than to hear wine details. Story worked okay for me, but it's not a travelogue, except to emphasize the effect of local geography on wine production. Target audience might be those who see all those international options at the store, but are confused or daunted by the differences.

Audio narration helped bring out author's enthusiasm, but reader stumbled on some items occasionally.

[Lesley Looper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about wine and geography in this book. I’m glad I read it, but it took me a while to finish it.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of wine, whiskey and cheese so I had to get this audio book. I LOVED IT. Mike Veseth is a true wine connoisseur. I wasn't sure what to expect because he planned to follow the route from the story "Around the World in Eighty Days". At times his following the route seemed "sketchy" because he states, "we don't know where Phileas Fogg (main character) went from here so we'll just stop in XXXX because he MIGHT have." So the gimmick to the book was a bit off at times but it really did not detract from the knowledge Mr. Veseth passes along.

The information about wines and vineyards is in-depth and extremely interesting. I learned so many new facts and I was simply amazed by many of the stories. Did you know about wine in Africa (not South Africa / The Four Cousins) and China (Shangri-La)? Find out the details inside this book/audio book. So much to learn...and if you did know the info he is passing along, Mr. Veseth often has a personal story of his own to add that makes the knowledge that much better.

If you love wine, this is for you...if you like wine, listen to this, you'll learn so much and be able to look REALLY knowledgeable at the next party you attend where they are serving wine!

LOVED THE AUDIO BOOK. I may use the knowledge I gain from this is one of my own future books!

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an audio CD from Library Thing for an advanced review, and I am new to the concept of audio books so take that with a grain of salt. The author is a wine economist, and I did not know that was a thing. The book focuses more on the trade market and political impacts on the trade market, such as prohibition and wars. I did learn that port comes from Portugal, but I would have preferred a discussion of the wine taste rather than the economics. I also learned how much the narrator can impact your value of the book, this narrator was a little too peppy for me. He said "Riunite on Ice" about one time too many. I would have preferred a narrator like Jim Harrison who is a little more world weary (I realize he has passed away), but you get my point.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have friends who will enjoy reading this book! It would make a fine gift for a wine drinker, too! Although I'm not a wine drinker, I do enjoy a sip now and again, so maybe this boo wasn't really up my alley... But I did enjoy reading it and- it's entertaining- and it was fun to read about various wines being produced around the planet. Anyone interested in world wines will love it.

[Bruce Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book traveling the rough path that Jules Verne took in his famous novel, but this time in a search for wines the world over. Veseth does a good job of describing the stories behind the vineyards and labels along with just the right amount of technical information for an uninformed novice like me to enjoy.

[Ninemiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the chapters are quite interesting and mouthwatering - you just want to try the wines described. In other chapters - especially in the last ones, the author merely adds one winery after the other, hurrying on without much detail or any mentionable stories. Quite a lot of the wines are very expensive and clearly not meant for the average consumer. I liked the connections/references to the original Jules Verne book though and have ordered a copy, so this book kept me reading - therefore I can award three stars.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and informative read. I enjoyed getting a little bit of wine history from around the world. Emphasizing wineries and vineyards that helped build the love of wine in a country. I wouldn't have mined a longer book.

[Talisa Galvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some history on wine and its differences but the author seems to rely heavily on their own personal experiences when it comes to rating and choosing a wine for each country which I don't think gives an accurate representation

[L.M.]

It's a bit like looking at someone else's vacation photos, except you don't know the person and there are no pictures (I listened to the audiobook, maybe there are pictures in the physical book). Interesting information, but it didn't work for me as an audiobook.

DNF 12%

[Les Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the journey, not as much the writing. Kind of wish I’d read instead of listened to it, but then I’d have a long list of wines to try…

[Leon Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious account and a fun, light-hearted read.

[Christine Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing and informative, a bit cheeky. A very whimsical exploration of the worlds wine producers, with some excellent discussion of the impact of climate change on growing regions.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic premise fine, and had some good stuff in the text, but awfully wordy at points that made me drift off in the middle of the paragraph.

[Alexander Marvin]

Stunning Cover design,
Do you them yourself mike?

[Catarina Venancio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A volta ao mundo em 80 vinhos- Mike Veseth