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The Essential Wine Book: A Modern Guide to the Changing World of Wine
A field guide to the new world of wine, featuring an overview of today’s most exciting regions and easy-to-use advice on properly tasting wine, discovering under-the-radar gems, and finding the perfect bottle for any occasion.
Highlighting wines from old world regions such as France, Italy, Spain, and Germany to new world wines from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and more, The Essential Wine Book tells you what to drink and why. Beginning with foundational information about how wine is made, how to taste it, and how to understand terroir, wine expert and journalist Zachary Sussman then gives an overview of the most important and interesting wine regions today—both established and still emerging.
For instance, the great French wines of Burgundy and Champagne are already well known, but for affordable bottles you can easily find at your local wine shop, Sussman profiles up-and-coming producers in other regions, including the Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon, and more. In a similar vein, California's Napa Valley has for decades been the source of America's most prestigious wines, but here you'll learn about other areas of the state that are gaining recognition, from Lodi to the Santa Rita Hills.
You'll find user-friendly "just the highlights" notes for each region, as well as recommendations for producers and particular bottles to seek out. Diving deep into what makes each region essential and unique, this comprehensive guides gives new wine drinkers and enthusiasts alike an inside track on modern wine culture.
Highlighting wines from old world regions such as France, Italy, Spain, and Germany to new world wines from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and more, The Essential Wine Book tells you what to drink and why. Beginning with foundational information about how wine is made, how to taste it, and how to understand terroir, wine expert and journalist Zachary Sussman then gives an overview of the most important and interesting wine regions today—both established and still emerging.
For instance, the great French wines of Burgundy and Champagne are already well known, but for affordable bottles you can easily find at your local wine shop, Sussman profiles up-and-coming producers in other regions, including the Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon, and more. In a similar vein, California's Napa Valley has for decades been the source of America's most prestigious wines, but here you'll learn about other areas of the state that are gaining recognition, from Lodi to the Santa Rita Hills.
You'll find user-friendly "just the highlights" notes for each region, as well as recommendations for producers and particular bottles to seek out. Diving deep into what makes each region essential and unique, this comprehensive guides gives new wine drinkers and enthusiasts alike an inside track on modern wine culture.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published October 20, 2020
23 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 22, 2020
A great overview of many different wines in the world - what they are, what the differences are, and what some excellent choices in each type are. This is a wonderful primer about how wine is made, what grapes are used for each type of wine and how to select a wonderful wine.
This book is essential in planning your own wine tasting.
I've received a free copy from Ten Speed Press in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
This book is essential in planning your own wine tasting.
I've received a free copy from Ten Speed Press in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
October 23, 2020
This is a very handy and well organized book outlining what's new...and what's old in the wine world. The format is very user-friendly and perfect for someone who wants to learn about wine. It covers all of the major wine-producing regions in the world. The writing is sharp, clear, and entertaining. I've received a free copy from Ten Speed Press in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
December 10, 2025
What new hobby?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews