Secrets of the Sommeliers: How to Think and Drink Like the World's Top Wine Professionals

by Rajat Parr, Jordan Mackay, Ed Anderson (Photographer)

A fascinating exploration of the inside world of sommeliers, sharing their unique perspectives, extensive expertise, and best stories.

Rajat Parr’s profound knowledge of wines, deep relationships with producers, and renowned tasting abilities have made him a legend in the business. As wine director for the Mina Group, Parr presides over the lists at some of the country’s top restaurants. In Secrets of the Sommeliers , Parr and journalist Jordan Mackay present a fascinating portrait of the world’s top wine professionals and their trade. The authors interviewed the elite of the sommelier community, and their colleagues’ insights, recommendations, and entertaining stories are woven throughout, along with Parr’s own takes on his profession and favorite winemakers and wines. Along the way, the authors give an immersion course in tasting and serving wine; share strategies for securing hard-to-find bottles at a good price and identifying value sweetspots among the many regions; and teach readers how to make inspired food pairings.

Winner - 2011 James Beard Cookbook Award - Beverage Category

Genres: Wine, Nonfiction, Cooking, Food and Wine, Food, Food and Drink, Booze

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book; it imparts some information that other wine books overlook. The section of notes for different grape varieties and regions is especially helpful, as is the discussion of how to build a blind-tasting selection (from well-known varieties in order to develop your knowledge and palate rather than from obscure, "gotcha" wines). This is a book about people dedicated to wine and the enjoyment of wine rather than pandering to certain winemakers, distributors, trends, or money-making strategies. It offers a down-to-earth perspective that is neither too elementary nor too esoteric for the armchair wine connoisseur to enjoy.

[Carlos Mueses · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first serious wine book and while I don't think is an entry level read, is a great door into a more profound wine experience. The passion that's used to talk about wine, the process, the destinations, is what keeps you in.

Rajat's story is a great one. You can agree or not with his opinions. Its clear that he has a deep appreciation for the pureness and the story that's behind a bottle.

What I take from this book is the passion. The ability to let the liquid inside the bottle tell the story regardless of rating or the name on the label. The curiosity to try more obscure grapes and wine regions.

A must read for any wine lover.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am officially obsessed with Rajat Parr. (I even follow him on twitter.) This book has a great balance of details of his career, how to think like a wine expert and then some solid and innovative wine instruction. He is clearly a good teacher even though he doesn't think of himself as an instructor the same way someone like, Kevin Zraly does.

I also really enjoy hard cover books that don't have a separate paper jacket. It's the little things in life.

[FitzBellehumeur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pratiquement un an après le début de la lecture, je termine enfin. Ce n’est pas une évidence qui témoigne en défaveur du livre, mais bien de mon manque de temps pour lire avec mon projet domiciliaire et mon petit turbulent qui me demande plus de temps.

De l’excellente literature sur l’œnologie. Rajat Paar, un des deux auteurs, qui est également une légende de la sommellerie en Californie et également viticulteur, y va de ses conseils sur les vins à rechercher dans de nombreuses régions de la France, mais aussi dans d’autres pays digne de mention. Certains sont inaccessibles pour le commun des mortels, mais ce qui est intéressant est qu’il nous conseille également des producteurs moins célèbres, mais tout aussi talentueux et qui gagnent à être connus et dont les bouteilles sont plus abordables.

Il se gêne pas pour partager son désarrois concernant certains producteurs dont les vins ont perdu en qualité à travers les années et qui se vendent toujours à des prix exorbitants et dont la réputation demeure inébranlable.

Rajat me semble un homme authentique et qui recherche par dessus tout, comme la plupart des bons sommeliers, un vin qui exprime davantage le terroir et ses particularité que le tonneau dans lequel il réside pendant la vinification.

J’ai adoré, pris plusieurs notes et mis à ma liste de nombreux vins. Définitivement pas une perte de temps pour un amateur de vin. C’est un livre relativement abordable pour le néophyte.

Voilà.

[Mark Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book is like reading a book by an astrophysicist. I understand the basic concepts, while recognizing that I’m really just getting a glimpse into the author’s experience. And just as I will never visit the stars, it’s just as unlikely that I’ll be able to taste some of the wines described.

A wonderful insight into the world of sommeliers, the wines they love and the community they share.

[Jim Reaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads briskly, and you are introduced to a number of fascinating personalities in the world of wine - sommeliers as well as winemakers - making it an enjoyable read.

In the secret world of sommeliers, the idea of a good time is to get together after work to blind taste each other. I suppose thick skin is needed for these late-night competitions - but how else do you perfect this wine skill?

As an oenophile, I liked the method of establishing mental benchmarks of what each type of wine should taste like, based on the characteristics of wine from classic regions, like Burgundy. With this, I can compare other wine regions to note what is different.

The 'Buyer's Tips' within this book were very useful and will prove useful in obtaining many great wines in the future. The photographs were very well done as well.

[Clint van Heerden · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I liked

This book is fairly well-written, if not a bit flowery with the vocab. I liked the sections on wine service, and some of the somms' life stories toward the beginning of the book were good.

What I didn't like

Quite a lot. It wasn't what I was expecting: what I had in mind was a book featuring interviews with famous sommeliers. Instead, this was written as Rajat's biography and his musings on unattainable wine. If you are a wine beginner, this book will leave you totally lost - the last third of the book was pure torture (even for me, someone who has studied wine a little) as it was overly technical and almost show-offy ("Look at all the wine I know and have tasted!"). In short, this was a vanity piece.

Review round up

Not enjoyable to read (not the last third, anyway), and not exceptionally well-written. Overly technical and a bit flouncy.

Rating

It was OK: 2/5

[Michael MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A year or so after reading Kermit Lynch's "Adventures on the Wine Route" I was drawn towards this book by acclaimed sommelier-turned-winemaker, Rajat Parr. It really is more oriented towards aspiring sommeliers, which I am definitively not, but still had a depth of information and framing of the appreciation of wine that was informative. I found the choice of speaking in the third person a little odd, but understand the decision for a co-authored resource.

[Ksrugel · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are not a lot of secrets revealed. Like everything in live if you want to be an expert it takes 10,000 hours. In the case of a sommelier that is 10,000 of mostly drinking wine to develop your palate. I got the most from the wine notes, which were extensive when it comes to French wines. He should have ended there though as the brief comments on other countries were so brief they were more a waste of time.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Secrets and the recently published Atlas, Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay have reignited my passion for farming, wine making, and of course discovering and experiencing the craft of fine wine.
The writers deliver thier research and deep experience for a broad audience - not just the aspiring Sommelier.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A valuable resource for anyone serious about wine. Lots of interesting tips and tricks. Deeply detailed with various insights into which vineyards Rajat likes and which he feels are more hype than substance which is a refreshing deviation from some of the fan boy accounts out there. If you like classic low alcohol wines with character, nuance and terroir, Raj's book is for you.

[Shawn P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed, opinionated opus on the wine industry from the perspective of sommeliers. The chapters on the wine scenes in the various countries are especially illuminating for their unabashed no-holds-barred critiques.

[Matthew Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Possible Introduction

Written in an accessible and enjoyable manner, this book was the best possible introduction to the world of wine and the life and training of a sommelier. Highly recommend

[Lynne Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information, well-written. Classic examples of great wines from all over the world and their benchmark qualities. Great buyer's tips too.

[Kelvin Sze Eng Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read

For all wine lovers, enthusiasts, those who want to learn more about wines, this book is a wealth of knowledge, experiences, written in a way that is easy to read.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about a world I did not know much about.

[Ti Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

First hand insights from the best wine professionals.

[Chongzhi Sun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focus a bit too much on the Burgundy wines...

[Elizabeth Low · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent opener on the world of wine.. Practical yet insightful. Love. Fantastic for any quality bargain hunter.

[Dmytro Safonov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on popular wines

Thoroughly enjoyed the book, and even I do not agree on the opinion expressed about Priorat wines, this is a very expert book

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so helpful in getting that first exam completed to somm. I still use it as a reference and has been key in my wine journey. I highly recommend this book.

[Jack Spiridellis]

Legendary view of the wine world from a legend in the business

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

First two-thirds of the book is brilliant offering great insight into the thought process of Sommeliers at the top of their game. The final third offers detailed notes on Parr's preferred regions that reads like filler in contrast to what preceded it.

[Alan Onnen]

It's a little thinky...but by the title you would have guessed that it's coming at wine from a pretty professional, buttoned up point of view. However, I found it pretty readable and it has tons of great tips, sign posts for certain wines & vineyards, and ideas for planning & service.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and articulate. A la "Somm," it has more to do with sommeliers and their operative habits than wine itself, but there is tons of practical information throughout the book, especially about wine service.

[Lisa Lesyshen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great wine book!

[Hana-Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book full of easy to understand wine knowledge. Def nice to brush up on the somm skills!

[Carol]

4.5 stars

[David Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book but wish I was rich enough to afford the wines they talked about.... So depressing.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty dry for a book on wines. It's more reference than readable. Still if you love wine not a bad buy.