The winemasters

by Nicholas Faith

In this paperback edition of his classic book The Winemasters, Nicholas Faith tells the story of the wines of Bordeaux - the most glamorous in the world. It is the history of a group of merchant families, mostly from Ireland and Germany, who for two centuries controlled the sales of the finest clarets and Sautemes. It is the tale of the way the owners of the region's greatest estates and chateaux freed themselves from the merchants' grip. Above all it is a story of the fascinating men and women involved - from the Rothschilds to dozens of eccentric chateau owners. The Winemasters of Bordeaux brings the story up to date, including the way that Bordeaux repelled the intrusion of the major international drinks groups. More successful newcomers have been the French nouveaux riches who have bought many of the famous chateaux.

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Nicholas Faith is a former senior editor for the Sunday Times and The Economist, a journalist and author.

He has written widely on wines, spirits and transport.

In 1996 he founded the International Spirits Challenge.

In September 2010 Nicholas Faith was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Bureau National Interprofessional de Cognac.