Suggested Reading
The Fab Four
There are thousands of books about wine, (I must have half of them), and if you were independently wealthy and had no kids to raise or football games to attend, my list would be a lot longer. But you do have those things with which to contend, so start with this list and I will add to it over time! And email me if you think I'm wrong (or right) in my summations and conclusions.
Napa: The Story of an American Eden by James Conaway This is a masterful narrative, of interest to oenophiles, wine drinkers, travelers, and cultural historians, too. Compelling personal stories, enough details of the challenges and politics of the winemaking business, and a good sense of the times in which American wine pioneers labored add up to a wonderful page turner. Read this before your first visit to Napa and your experience will be all the more wonderful.
How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine by Jancis Robinson If you have time to read only one book about the art and science of wine tasting and appreciation, this is it. This is an easy, enjoyable read on which I was actually able to focus while on the stairmaster, and after you finish it you'll know more about wine appreciation than 99.9% of wine drinkers. If you pay even scant attention, you will also likely be able to describe in some detail what you are tasting, and why it is better or worse -- or at least more enjoyable -- than another wine.
Wine: From Grape to Glass by Jens Priewe Some might think this a coffee-table book...and it is. But it is loaded with solid information, in lay terms, about the world of wine -- winemaking, wine grape varieties, wine regions, and the storing, enjoying and serving of wine. There are many other books that offer the same approach... such as the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course (Zraly) and The World Atlas of Wine (Robinson and Johnson). But while I own both, I find the former too simplified and incomplete for even a wine novice, and the latter, while exceptionally good, just "too much information" for most. From Grape to Glass is a "mid-palate" compromise and the perfect anchor to your wine library.
The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker Jr. and the Reign of American Taste by Elin McCoy Ok, so the guy is more full of himself than Geraldo Rivera, if that is possible. And I'm not sure how good his palate is, although I know how good he thinks it is. But there's no doubt that Parker has more influence on who buys and drinks what, than any other individual on the planet. So for those of you interested in the influence of wine evaluation more than its mechanics, this is worth a look. You can also get a good sense of what the 100 point wine rating scale means and how it is arrived at. And you'll learn some interesting details about the Judgment of Paris wine tasting in 1976 that changed how the world views American -- and especially California -- wines.
NOTE: No, I don't have any arrangement with Amazon.com but I thought you all might like to have a go-to source of information on these books. They are available in most large bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders.
There are thousands of books about wine, (I must have half of them), and if you were independently wealthy and had no kids to raise or football games to attend, my list would be a lot longer. But you do have those things with which to contend, so start with this list and I will add to it over time! And email me if you think I'm wrong (or right) in my summations and conclusions.
Napa: The Story of an American Eden by James Conaway This is a masterful narrative, of interest to oenophiles, wine drinkers, travelers, and cultural historians, too. Compelling personal stories, enough details of the challenges and politics of the winemaking business, and a good sense of the times in which American wine pioneers labored add up to a wonderful page turner. Read this before your first visit to Napa and your experience will be all the more wonderful.
How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine by Jancis Robinson If you have time to read only one book about the art and science of wine tasting and appreciation, this is it. This is an easy, enjoyable read on which I was actually able to focus while on the stairmaster, and after you finish it you'll know more about wine appreciation than 99.9% of wine drinkers. If you pay even scant attention, you will also likely be able to describe in some detail what you are tasting, and why it is better or worse -- or at least more enjoyable -- than another wine.
Wine: From Grape to Glass by Jens Priewe Some might think this a coffee-table book...and it is. But it is loaded with solid information, in lay terms, about the world of wine -- winemaking, wine grape varieties, wine regions, and the storing, enjoying and serving of wine. There are many other books that offer the same approach... such as the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course (Zraly) and The World Atlas of Wine (Robinson and Johnson). But while I own both, I find the former too simplified and incomplete for even a wine novice, and the latter, while exceptionally good, just "too much information" for most. From Grape to Glass is a "mid-palate" compromise and the perfect anchor to your wine library.
The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker Jr. and the Reign of American Taste by Elin McCoy Ok, so the guy is more full of himself than Geraldo Rivera, if that is possible. And I'm not sure how good his palate is, although I know how good he thinks it is. But there's no doubt that Parker has more influence on who buys and drinks what, than any other individual on the planet. So for those of you interested in the influence of wine evaluation more than its mechanics, this is worth a look. You can also get a good sense of what the 100 point wine rating scale means and how it is arrived at. And you'll learn some interesting details about the Judgment of Paris wine tasting in 1976 that changed how the world views American -- and especially California -- wines.
NOTE: No, I don't have any arrangement with Amazon.com but I thought you all might like to have a go-to source of information on these books. They are available in most large bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders.
