If only more people espoused this type of attitude toward wine
929869
It is so nice to find someone so down to earth, realistic and at the same time picky about what makes them happy in wine.  He does not "score" wine, he tells you, in a beautiful manner why he likes the wines.  How the back stories, mystery and people that work the land, are therefore shaped by it make wine enjoyable not an arbitrary number assigned by a certain person in Monkton, Maryland.  The French attitude toward wine has morphed, even since the writing of this book, with the globalization of tastes propagated by scores and a general "sameness" with everything in our world.  However living 20 minutes from Kermit Lynch's wine shop in Berkeley, I can promise you that he has not bent to any market trends, and after reading this book, perhaps neither will you.
3785462
Quality made -------and all that come -------get a kick out of it.  Everyone knows they need to bring some Wine now. ha
4610504
Zraly's book illustrates the world of wine with lavish visual appeal.  In real life there's no substitute for tasting a wide variety of wines.  But if you don't have years to build up your own tastes, advice from experts helps a lot.  This volume may not suit those who want the Advanced Graduate Course in the World's Price-No-Object Wines.  Wines here are common enough so you can expect to find them on a wine list.  So most readers will find tasty ideas worth remembering from the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course.

There's a lot of detail and wine industry lore in Zraly's book in addition to his lists of widely available wines.  If you study carefully, you can become a knowledgeable consumer of wine, and with luck inspire interesting remarks from the sommelier.  Scattered through the book you'll find references to more focused volumes "for further reading."  Yes, it takes a lot more than reading one book to make a valued sommelier.

I'm a very visual learner, so the maps of the world's wine regions helped me understand much better the differences in flavors.  Thirty years ago, I tasted many Bordeaux wines and developed my own list of favorites in St-Estephe and St-Julien.  (Your tastes will differ, and that's the point of doing a lot of tasting.)

In the mean time, American vintners have developed remarkable wine making skill.  I've come to appreciate some remarkably complex Napa Valley Cabernets with an independent flavor worth sipping with clean bread.  And I've enjoyed some delightfully fruity Willamette Pinot Noirs that go especially well with raspberries and kisses.

This book helped me update my knowledge of wines, which I haven't purchased since the last time I ate at Windows on the World.  So there was a lot to absorb and the book did a fine job of helping me to learn the general field quickly.  In the next lessons, I have to think carefully about the flavors of the wines I encounter, and remember them well.  The systematic organization of this book can help a reader put the wines  in context and compare the flavors more easily.  So beyond merely recommending vintages, I have to score this book high for helping the reader learn to compare wines and make a decent guess about wines he or she has not tasted yet.
195991
My study of philosophy ended at approximately the time that my love for wine came fully into bloom. I appreciate both, though wine the more so, as it comforts and befriends whereas philosophy is concerned merely with proving the unprovable. It is, however, a great mental pleasure to indulge now and again in the kind of speculative thought and deep reasoning that characterizes the best of philosophical speculation. And what better companion to such literally heady work than a glass of something wonderful and thought-provoking.

Roger Scruton knows whereof he speaks, which is not to imply that he is always, or even usually, correct. But he does posit some compelling thoughts and relativities. For the non-philosopher, this book requires some chipping away at the high-browed facade to get to "the good stuff." But it's there. A true thinker is rare these days and takes a bit of getting used to. Yet, his huge streak of hedonism, his excellent wine knowledge, especially of lesser known and under-appreciated wines, his love of travel and music and human experience in general all give value to the reader. While this book will be a bit much, a bit dense to many, the mere attempt at digesting it will benefit either or both, the wino or the philosopher.
1861778
People are always impressed by these. It seems like I always have people over spontaneously, and of course they want some white wine, and of course I have none in the fridge. No problem. I have a wine chiller.
4249028
In this collection of linked essays, Deirdre Heekin describes her growing appreciation for wine and the land from which it comes.  Her musings range from her travels to the small winemaking villages in Italy to her life at home in Vermont where she and her husband own and manage an Italian restaurant that uses locally grown ingredients.  In her own words, Heekin describes Libation as a book "about soil, vines, fruit, history, scent, taste, chemistry, and memory."

The breadth of the topics covered--from high-end perfumery in Paris to a casual family meal in Tuscany--ensures something to interest just about any reader.  The lack of a central focus, however, renders Libation a bit disjointed.  Heekin is knowledgeable and passionate about the subjects she discusses.  Her writing is mostly charming but occasionally overloaded with technical detail.  Winemakers and restaurateurs will appreciate the rigorous treatment, but armchair tourists will be left wanting more whimsy and less technique.
1053032
This book addresses a subject which is, or should be, a concern for all of us: the preservation of our quality of life and the integrity of our planet. During his journey up "the grape vine" R. Camuto introduces us to a fascinating and diverse group of people, purists, poets, musicians, winemakers and lovers of the earth all of them, for whom quality, tradition, and the love of "terroir" becomes an art and a "raison d'etre". Often humoristic, this foray into an industry which is fast becoming spoiled by "big" money puts in proper perspective three essentials in the life of modern man: maintaining the quality of life, reclaiming the pride an individual takes in his trade and a growing awareness that preserving the integrity of the planet has become equivalent to self preservation. C.M.Smith
1062188
I live a couple of miles south of Napa Valley. Go there for the food and the wine, love the vistas, and the smells. I drive those roads wondering who are these people on all this vineyard land? Now I know. Paging through Wine Country Women introduced me to some of them. I thought the profiles were very interesting. Some of these women come from diverse backgounds while others have families that have been ther for generations. I'm foodie so the reipes were of the most interest. I tried  2 appetizers, the eggplant caviar and the smoked salmon candy, I lked them (as did my guests) and not too difficult to prepare. This would be a good book as gift as well. I hope this helps.
3951022
Yes the book is about being an entrepreneur, and about a start-up, but it also about the birth of the modern wine industry in the US with parallels to many other emerging business sectors. When John and Michaela started Domaine Chandon there were about 250 wineries in the US.  There are over 8,000 today. Wineries then were struggling with basic questions. But Chandon's vision was excellent.  They were pioneers in many areas with their Club, outstanding restaurant, and superb attention to the experience of consumer and trade guests. Many today could learn by understanding what Michaela was doing 40 years ago. A delightful read.
3944166
I ordered two of these for the wine lovers in the family for Christmas gifts.  They thought they were great.  It took them a little while to figure out it wasn't really wine that you drank!  LOL-
3663020
This is not a religious book but a cultural examination of how wine has figured in history and how bible stories from Noah's vineyard to Jesus' changing water into wine reflected the evolution of human understanding of wine and spirituality.

The first six chapters examine wine as presented in bible verses and other ancient texts in the context of modern understanding of climate, wine making, history and archaeology. The second half of the book turns to the authors' wine travels through the countries described in the Bible and other texts of the Ancient Near East: Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece, discovering what the wines of those regions are like today and estimating what the wines of ancient times might have been like.

It's a fascinating book for any wine lover, history buff or spiritually inclined person, and you don't have to be a seminarian or church-goer to enjoy it. It's highly accessible and of interest to anyone who seeks a literate romp through the history of ancient wine.
1675778
I am sure that many of the people who read this reciew will be old enough to remember the band "APRIL WINE".
Even if you do not remember the band, you may want to give this album a listen, WHO KNOWS YOU MAY LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR!!!.
3990678
Dear philosophers and wine lovers THANKS ! what a wonderfull time I had reading Question of Taste : the philosophy of wine. I particulary enjoyed the multi-talent approaches and review of the wine world, no matter you're a wine expert or a great philosopher to learn, think, smile... and almost taste.
The NY Time review is what triggered my choice (if you don't believe my enthusiastic comment, check the NY Time review).
Question of Taste is the first book on the phylosophy of wine... but it won't be the last of my christmas gifts (what a perfect one !).
1688807
But I loved Wine. All the Time!
Maybe partially because it seems I have similar taste in wine (gimme all the glou-glou) and that made me feel like I was "doing things right" but also because Marissa's voice is so approachable and the information surprisingly useful. I can't even count the precious hours I've wasted standing in a wine shop trying to decide what level of fancy and how many bottles to bring to a party or to have on hand for dinner. And now I know! And I also know it's ok to take a few glugs right from the bottle!
2264812
Great for first timers who are interested in learning more about wine
4344648
My husband is quite the wine aficionado, so when we received amazon gift cards we decided to try some of the wines available. My husband and most of our friends are strictly red (mostly Cabs and Merlot), so I was completely shocked when they were favoring this instead!

I am a sweet wine lover myself, but have to say that this one is not too dry...it's much lighter and leaves zero negative after tones like a lot of Chardonnays do. If you're looking for something a tad less sweet as a spatlese (Riesling), but not as dry as a Chardonnay this would be well worth the try.  Just bear in mind it will take an additional time to process because it does require a second fermentation process before it can be bottled.
30927
I am just a little bit disappointed about the sense of the word "Authentic" when you talk about wine making in the old world. Is it just a substitute to the organic or biodynamic concept which are linked with fashion and new marketing for wine? The multi-variable approach of authenticity seems a priori naive and not really new in an European view. Innovation in wine making may be the simple return to just tradition and familiar habits in making wines? I just need yet to go further in the reading of this book to understand it.