Baby, it’s cold outside! And what better way to weather a storm than by curling up with a glass of wine and a good book. Heck, why not curl up with a glass of wine and five good books–about wine.
These tomes have something for everyone, from the wine newbie to the cheese lover and the history buff. There’s even one for vino geeks on branding and terroir. Check ’em out. And happy reading! [El Full Disclosure: I received review copies of these books from the publishers, however the views expressed here are entirely my own.]
Tasting Wine and Cheese: An Insider’s Guide to Mastering the Principles of Pairing by Adam Centamore (Quarry Books, 2015)
My name is Señorita Vino, and I am a cheese-a-holic. [Can I get an “Hola, Señorita Vino?”]. Kidding aside, a recent scientific study presented evidence that cheese is as addicting as crack. True story. To help you master your addiction, cheese guru extraordinaire Adam Centamore has put together this user-friendly wine and cheese pairing guide. Start with easy-to-grasp pointers on tasting wine and cheese separately, then explore how the characteristics of different cheeses work with particular wines. After that, it’s pairing time! Concise and engaging, this could become one of your favorite go-to party planning guides.
The History of Wine in 100 Bottles by Oz Clarke (Sterling Epicure, 2015)
Can I just say, I love Oz Clarke. His books have made my wine education a delicious journey filled with tantalizing tidbits that make me sound reeeeally interesting at dinner parties. Just ask my friends. Clarke’s latest work takes you on a time-travel adventure of the vino kind, starting in 6000 BC and ending in 2014. You’ll visit one of the first wine bars ever (Pompeii), learn about the highest vineyard in the world (Salta, Argentina), witness the end of Prohibition (yay!), explore how the Nazis absconded with prized French wine (boo!), and get a glimpse of a convincing fake bottle of 1947 Chateau Petrus, courtesy of fraudster Rudy Kurniawan (boo again!).
Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California by Frances Dinkelspiel (St. Martin’s Press, 2015)
Murder! Intrigue! Quirky characters! Wine! If this sounds like the makings of a juicy, wine-soaked fiction novel, guess again. Tangled Vines is the true story of Mark Anderson, a whack-job grifter with a palate for fine wine who intentionally set fire to a wine storage facility in Northern California. The blaze obliterated more than a quarter of a billion dollars’ worth of wine, including 175 bottles of Port Angelica, a wine made by the author’s great-great grandfather in 1870s Southern California. Dinkelspiel sets out to trace the history of the Rancho Cucamonga property where her ancestor’s vines once grew. Along the way, she paints an enthralling portrait of California’s early wine industry.
Wine and Identity: Branding, Heritage, Terrior edited by Matt Harvey, Leanne White and Warwick Frost (Routledge, 2014)
I’m not gonna lie–this exploration of wine branding and tourism is not exactly a beach read. Think of it as the difference between drinking a gossamer-light sparkling wine and a big, bold, badass Cabernet Sauvignon. And I mean that in a good way. If, like me, you dream of making wine your business (or if you’re a hardcore wine geek with an insatiable appetite for wine knowledge), Wine and Identity offers a deep-dive analysis of global wine markets and wine regions as destinations. The scope of the essays in the book comprises Old and New Worlds, established and emerging wine regions. Dive in. You’ll emerge enlightened and inspired.
Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine by Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack (Avery, 2015)
Cool wine diagrams – check. Fun, useful wine facts – check. A snob-free wine primer – check. This is the first book from the people who brought us winefolly.com, an award-winning website with easy-to-understand wine information, enticing visuals and a down-to-earth tone. The book is a helpful resource for people who are just learning about wine and for those who have some wine knowledge but want to have a quick reference guide on hand. My favorite part: the flavor profiles for more than 50 different grape varietals.
