You might be an oenophile if enjoying a glass of wine while reading an informative or intriguing book about wine sounds like a fun way to spend time. Much like the complex flavors in a fine Bordeaux, wine books range in topics from educational tomes on wine agriculture and wine tasting to inspirational stories of winemakers and downright intrigue and trickery. Books about wine gives readers the opportunity to read about wine from some of the world’s foremost experts on wine, like sommeliers, growers, and regulators. These books also apport wine history, stories and culture to modern day society about an industry that is almost as old as our civilization. These 8 books are a must read for wine lovers.
Windows on the World by Kevin Zraly
Since 1985, Kevin Zraly’s
Windows on the World has been the essential wine study guide. This informative book makes learning about wines and wine
tasting approachable and fun. Not only does this book teach you about
varietals, wine tasting and growing regions, it’s also full of fun facts and has a guide on how to stock your wine cellar.
Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace
Benjamin Wallace discovers the sordid truth about an alleged bottle of wine owned by Thomas Jefferson that sold at a Christie’s auction for a record setting amount in 1985. This in-depth look at the antique wine market is full of surprises and outrageous wine characters. If you’ve ever questioned pretentious connoisseurship of wine, you will enjoy this tale of deceit and greed that centers around controversial German wine collector Hardy Rodenstock and the lengths people will go to taste the past.
How to Love Wine by Eric Asimov
The prolific wine writer, Eric Asimov, ditches pretense and wine study in this no-nonsense book about the simple pleasure that comes from loving wine in
How to Love Wine. Asimov throws traditional wine tasting aside as he explores the romantic appeal of wines. This book is a great read and lets you follow the author’s journey away from study and big wine terms to simple reflection, thought and enjoyment of the taste and world of wine in every glass you drink.
The Widow Clicquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo
In this true story, about Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, Tilar J. Mazzeo tells a remarkable tale about the triumph of persevering against all the odds. In the wake of the French revolution, a young widow was left to raise and care for her children and built a dynasty from her late husband’s struggling Champagne business, and she literally changed the way we drink and the way wine business is conducted.
Reading Between the Wines by Terry Theise
Terry Theise pays tribute to the romance, history and mystery of wine in
Reading Between the Wines, an incredible story of how wine affects our lives and experiences. He takes us on an in depth look at what wine means to the vintners who make it and discusses the attributes of his favorite wine varietals. If you want to learn more about
terrior and artisanal wines, you’ll find this book inspirational and very informative.
World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson
Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson have created the most comprehensive and authoritative wine reference book in
World Atlas of Wine. The World Atlas of wine takes an in depth look at how geography, soil, climate, wines styles, modern tastes, regulation and techniques affect the wines we drink. This definitive reference can answer just about any question you have about wine from growing grapes in the
vineyard, to modern wine making techniques.
Tangled Vines by Francis Dinkelspiel
Francis Dinkelspiel's
Tangled Vines uncovers the tale of con-man and arsonist, Mark Anderson, who set fire to the Wines Central Warehouse in California that destroyed 4.5 million bottles of wine worth over $250 million dollars. Anderson set the fire with gasoline soaked rags and a propane torch and destroyed priceless and sought after wines. This tale of modern destruction also looks into the wild past of California vineyards and uncovers a history of greed, corruption and wrong-doing.
Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch
Kermit Lynch’s,
Adventures on the Wine Route is a must read for any wine lover who wants to follow along with a wine merchant as he travels through France experiencing great wine. First published 25 years ago and recently revised, you’ll read Lynchs’ tasting notes and hear stories about vineyards, vintners and the ever changing dynamic world of French wine.
