Bacchus & Me: Adventures in the Wine Cellar

by Jay McInerney

The best-selling novelist has turned his command of language and flair for metaphor on the world of wine, providing untraditional musings on wine and wine culture.

Genres: Wine, Nonfiction, Food and Wine, Culinary, Food and Drink, Food, Essays

308 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

John Barrett McInerney Jr. is an American writer. His novels include Bright Lights, Big City, Ransom, Story of My Life, Brightness Falls, and The Last of the Savages. He edited The Penguin Book of New American Voices, wrote the screenplay for the 1988 film adaptation of Bright Lights, Big City, and co-wrote the screenplay for the television film Gia, which starred Angelina Jolie. He is the wine columnist for House & Garden magazine, and his essays on wine have been collected in Bacchus & Me (2000) and A Hedonist in the Cellar (2006). His most recent novel is titled The Good Life, published in 2006.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of short wine essays made me want to drink more wine, and made me wish for the ability to throw down $$ on wine as McInerney so clearly can.
The writing is smart, entertaining, and informative. I'm only familiar with one of his novels (Bright Lights, Big City), and I found this just as readable (if not more so) than that book. The essays are generally 3-5 pages, so this is very easy to pick up and put down. I was already a lover of wine when I started reading this, and familiar with some (but by no means close to all) of the vineyards, people, grapes, regions, etc that come up in the essays, so I could draw some connections with my own experiences and compare his thoughts vs my own interests - with this in mind, I'm not sure how this book would fare with someone who isn't into wine, or who is just starting out.
In addition to the essays, there are some useful appendices, including a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Gold star for these!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compendium of short wine columns initially published in House and Garden magazine. Since the author is primarily a novelist, and not heretofore a wine journalist, the vignettes are colorful and breezy, although a good level of expertise also comes through. Although far from a comprehensive survey of wine, this would be on my short list of first books to loan to a wine neophyte, as it reads quickly and conveys much enthusiasm for the subject matter. On the downside, the author leans a tad heavily on the same (frequently lascivious) metaphors throughout, and tends to focus on very expensive, special occasion wines. Overall, an easy and engaging read, chock full of informative wine tidbits, and suitable for wine lovers at all levels.

[Justin Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Compromises are for relationships, not wine."

[Nick Milinazzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most well-known for his New York based novels of excess, Jay McInerney has also been a wine drinker (and lover) for many years -- although he admits he's no expert. But in the 90s, a friend recommended that he write the wine column for House & Garden magazine. This book is a collection of those articles and explores some of the great wine regions and varietals, but mostly is used as a tool for McInerney to reminisce, gush, and bitch about notable wine-based experiences. However, anyone reading this book would be hard-pressed to recreate these experiences, unless they happen to have significant wealth and/or connections. Indeed, Jay has led a privileged life where wine is concerned, and some of the passages can come off as a bit pompous (especially when he's extolling the virtues of much California wine). But more than anything, this book is meant to entertain: to allow the reader to be a fly on the wall -- whether that wall be an upscale restaurant or the cellar of a great chateau. Having become more knowledgeable on the subject, I can't say as I always agree with his opinion, but there's no question the man has had more than his fair share of some exquisite wine throughout the years. And having been a fan of his writing for a considerable amount of time, I was also pleased to find that the copy of the book I purchased (used) came with the author's signature. If you know wine and feel like living vicariously through an enthusiast, this book is for you.
3.5 stars

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Y2K collection of McInerney's "Uncorked" columns for House & Garden magazine. It is now dated in some aspects, such as recommended vintages and prices that leave one wistful these days (2018). Even six years later, in 2006, I could get Bordeaux Premier Crus (Latour, Margaux and Mouton) from the LCBO for from $330 to $525 a bottle. Now they are 4 to 5 times that, thanks to the rise of Russian and East Asian zillionaires who buy by the Antonov 225-load. That said, there is good information in the book, and McInerney's style is breezy and fun to read - he is no snooty wine snob. He does, however, name-drop shamelessly, not just many wine personalities but from all manner of professions in his sybaritic tastings and dinners (e.g. Janis Robinson, Stephen Fry and Julian Barnes and Auberon Waugh in a series of dinners at each's place with decadent food and wines leading up to Y2K New Year's). As the articles are around 20 years old now, it doesn't catch the rise of more recent wine areas, such as Chile and Argentina (which were still producing mostly plonk then).

[Nancy Wellinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5 stars) An accomplished, amusing novelist attempting to explain wine through literary, musical and other pop culture references? This is going to be great. And for the first several chapters it was. Then I realized, he's talking about wines I'll never be able to afford and won't remember reading about, so why am I wasting my time? Some interesting bits scattered throughout, but too out of reach for this $10-15-a-bottle wine drinker.

[Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative compilation of the author's columns on wine from Home & Garden. Published in 2000, the wines referenced are from the 90s, but still noteworthy wines. Interesting & unique descriptions of wine (i.e.: comparing wine to rock n' roll music), but some of the comparisons to sex and beautiful women were a bit overdone.

[Allison Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love this author and his wit, but there were a couple of arrogant lines that made me roll my eyes a bit. Still, reading this made you feel as if you were sitting side by side, tasting some of the world's finest wines via beautifully written essays.

[Mat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benchmark on how to write about wines! Perfect for a wine tasting around the world.

[AA · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read that inspires you to plan your next wine country trip or wine store run.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information, but the later part of the book started to feel like just tons of name dropping

[Jacky Benjamin Tollestrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book on wine by my favorite author on wine, culture, and NYC

[Les Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got a bit repetitive after a while, but interesting and funny.

[Peter Wassam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous and a great refresher in wine writing as the author is actually capable of writing well. Not all too informative for ya boi, though.

[Amy]

Would recommend, no other notes

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like I did not know wine well enough to enjoy this book. I can see the merit and humor of it, but I could not really connect with the material.

[Russell Bittner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must confess that I picked this book up only because I recognized the author’s name and knew that I was long overdue to read something of Jay McInerney’s. He’s a local boy – and one who enjoys a possibly worldwide reputation thanks to the likes of Bright Lights, Big City.


I read a few pages and decided I’d give it a go. Jay’s style, while not singular, is quite amusing. He writes like a very gifted kid, though also like one who’s not overwhelmed with his own genius (no names, please).


Since I pay my rent and my kids’ tuition with the money I make from the business Jay writes about in these pages, I suppose I know a little about the business. I also spent a decade of my “professional student” career in Europe – specifically, in Switzerland; Austria; Italy: (then) West Germany; the (then) Soviet Union; and Spain – and was able to sample a variety of Old World wines.


Just short of a year ago, I read a little thing titled Wine (All-in-One) for Dummies – yes, all 600+ pages of it. And, given my employment, I probably now read a little something about wine every day.


All of that said, I can easily recommend this book, whether to the neophyte or to the experienced connoisseur, as a worthwhile read. The former will find it educational; the latter will find it, at the very least, entertaining. McInerney touches upon the history, geography and topology of the wine-making and –drinking business just enough to render the book educational – and does so in a kind of wine-spritzer style to render the subject entertaining. If you have to start anywhere in this continually evolving world of wine, this is as good a place as I can imagine to get your feet wet and your palate titillated.


If I have any criticism at all (and this frankly doesn’t count as a valid criticism, given the subject-matter and its requirements), it’s that the book seems just a tad dated. But in some sense at least, books about wine – just like books about gardening or cooking – never age out. And although this book may well be a mere collection of essays written over months or years for the likes of House & Garden, Jay McInerney’s prose doesn’t age out either. Unlike many of the wines he describes, he’s good to go – right now.


RRB
10/30/14
Brooklyn, NY

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book should have come with a small ribbon of warning on the cover, something along the the lines of "WARNING - Please know at least a little bit of your shit about wine before proceeding, less you enjoy feeling belittled". McInerney tries to act like he's a beginner in the cellars and, let's face it, he ain't. He doesn't even write about wine for beginners, something I wish I would have realized before picking this up. The huge collection of wines described in the index led me to believe I would get a brief synopsis of each inside; nothing too intense, maybe a suggestion or two, varying price ranges and so on. In actuallity, this book is a collection of wine writings McInerney had done for Home and Garden Magazine (I think) and, had I known this, I would have realized that people with a) Homes and b) Gardens probably have a little bit more discretionary income than myself to spend on grape. So that much is my fault. McInerney writes like I can drop 500 bucks at dinner impressing my fellow diners and assumes that I might be more intimately familiar with the thousands of bottles in his personal cellar than I am.

All this isn't to say that the book wasn't any good. I learned a lot from it and did discover some new bottles to try. I just wasn't ready for it. Maybe if I come back to it in five years, I'll get the grown up jokes.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of short pieces McI did for House & Garden. Published as a book in 2000, so it is a bit dated at times. I wish each of the pieces was dated, to give us a better sense of the timeliness of each article. Some pieces do come off as just a list of wine producers and years for outstanding vintages.

If you know wine, read the "Millennium" piece first - a description of some of the wines he and friends (including Brit novelist Julian Barnes) drank over a series of 4 dinners to introduce the new millennium. Jealous!

The short pieces seemed to go on and on, but I got more interested w/ the last two group headings, "Grape Nuts" and "On Doing It Right". They had more general info on wine and personalities.

The book is a good intro to some background and history of wine production around the world.

I'd put this as "bathroom reading" - as most of the chapters never exceed 3 pp. Nice to pick up for the occasional read on the side. He has a 2nd volume out, collecting his later pieces.

[Maggie Downs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely interesting and educational for wine lovers. Jay McInerney's strength is that he writes rich, opinionated descriptions that go beyond the typical wine snob language. Like this: "It's a winemaking axiom that stress is good for grapes -- more or less on the What-Doesn't-Kill-You-Makes-You-Stronger principle -- and since the vines of Chablis are, like, totally stressed out half the time just trying to survive, the region's wines tend to have the stoic grace and tangy strength of will that we sometimes find in the children of severely dysfunctional marriages."

I also loved this: "Americans are just starting to notice how badly Chardonnay behaves with food -- rather like an obstreperously drunken guest who shouts down the rest of the table."

Great stuff.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, this book me forever to finish. I enjoyed it whenever I read it, but I keep finding something else to read. It's a collection of McInerney's columns for House & Garden about wine. And man, did it make me want to drink. A lot. I mean while reading it, I sort of wanted to dedicate the next five years of my life to traveling around the world to drink all these fantastic wines I've never heard of. While he's mostly talking about wines I've never and probably will never drink, his writing was accessible and engaging - no nose in the air wine snobbery here. Now I'm gonna go find me a drink.

[Robin Shreeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. It's a collection of McInerney's wine columns from House & Garden. Published in 2000, the information about certain wineries and what they produce as well as their prices is out out of date, but the information on the varietals and the regions does not change - and that's what makes this book valuable. McInerney introduces his readers to varietals though stories, and that works very well for the way I learn. Each chapter (column) is short 4-5 pages at the most, but in almost every chapter I learned something or two about wine. Definitely worth a read, and I'm looking forward to reading the authors other wine books written after Bacchus and Me.

[cynthia Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great source of info about great wines of the world - many of which I'd heard about and some that I hadnt. It's full of engaging character sketches and important background on some of the major players in the CA wine market and abroad. The best thing about this book is that the information is presented in digestible chunks - perfect for those who are not super into wine but would like to know a little more. The unfortunate thing is that much of the vintage info and wine buying advice is already outdated.

[Ozlem Ertekin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a bit outdated, from 2002, still enjoyable. He spares a few pages to each major wine regions in the world and his selection of winemakers. He introduces wines and wine makers, their styles, characters with lots of stories and anecdotes. For example, his comparison of the styles of Mouton Rothschild and Lafite wines with their owners’ character was very compelling. One of the most enjoyable and easy read, as well as informative at a certain level, wine book I read recently. If you have any interest in wine you will like it.

[V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great collection of wine essays for those that appreciate wine, but find other oenophile themed books a bit too dry. The author is at his best when he's describing the circumstances that provide the setting for the consumption of great wines. And most essays end with a wrap up of wines you should write down and seek out. There's a convenient glossary in the back for commonly used wine terms. I picked up a consecutive collection of essays just the other day...

[Elizabeth Vanderesch]

I might have enjoyed this book more had I known even a little, tiny, eensy-weensy bit about French wine. Reading it, I felt like the foreign exchange student who wants to get the jokes, and laughs along when everyone else laughs, just so she won't appear like she's not understanding. In reality, though, nothing makes sense and she just feels awkward, a little bored and ready for the evening to be over so she can just go home and watch dvd's in her native language.

[Alex DeBlois]

I'm just getting started, the essays are short but without being able to crack open a bottle or read while at the wine store, the lists of appellations and other recommended labels aren't very compelling.

I'll keep plugging through. The details on the grades of grapes regarding the degree of ripeness when harvested was interesting so far.

[Eric Armusik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for anyone looking to get a personal understanding of varietals. I have been an enthusiast for over 17 years now, and have learned a lot through experience more than suggestions about what is good. What I loved about this book is that it isn't snobbish or pushy. It doesn't promote price as a standard either which I would agree is not a given of what is good. Lovely read.

[Jennell McHugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy essay reads about different varietals filled with quips, quality information and expected eye-rolling pomposity.

Most appreciated the chapters about Gaja & the big 3 of Italian B's: Barbaresco, Barolo and Brunello.... probably wise / unwise to read en route to Italy where I spent all of my $ and now need a temperature controlled storage unit.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hurricane Irene read...

A collection of essays he wrote working for House & Garden as a wine critic. Overall a good read (read in one sitting) with some great facts and tidbits. However, some essays also felt a bit dated (would have been interesting to know exactly when each essay appeared in the magazine).