A Little Course In … Wine
Tasting David Williams
Dorling Kindersley
£9.99/$16
This is a colourful easy-reader for the new wine lover who just wants to know a
little more. It's split into three main sections. The first looks at the key areas
for tastes, the range of flavours and aromas, how to taste wine, and white, red
and rosé styles. Going a little further, the second section takes on white and
red grape varieties, classic European and New World whites and reds, and the
sparkling wines of the world. The last section covers the effect of oak,
climate, age and how to match wine and food, among other considerations.
Overall, this is easy-to-read and classic entry-level fare. The
World Encyclopaedia of Wine
A Definitive Tour Through the World of Wine Stuart Walton
Lorenz Books
£14.99/$25
Into the all-embracing encyclopaedia class, this is a glossy, colourful run
through some of the most popular grape varieties along with a whiz around the
vineyard regions of the world. With a short introduction, Walton, who has
written for Decanter and World of Fine Wine, writes briefly on
the changes in the wine trade in recent years and the imminent arrival of China
as a major player in the wine world, among other topics, while also asking such
questions as whether wine production has become 'over-technologised' or if
there is 'just too much science involved in what should be a simple product'.
After that, the narrative covers bite-sized sections such as the principles of
tasting, storing and serving and matching food and wine, before focusing on 12
of the most popular grape varieties along with connecting Chardonnay with
Burgundy, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the rest
of the world. From there Walton covers all the major regions with a heavy
emphasis on France. (France, for instance, is allocated 50-odd pages while
Spain gets 10.) The rest of Europe gets another 50-odd pages as does the New
World, making this a very interesting read for the novice particularly
interested in France. Overall, this is a well-written, colourful and short
reference book that’s also well-priced.
Wine for Dummies
Fifth Edition Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan MW
Wiley
£16.99/$22.99
Following a similar format to other For
Dummies books, this particular yellow compendium begins with sections on topics such as getting to know wine, buying wine to drink at home and serving wine, before going on to give an overview on the Old and New Worlds. Written enthusiastically
by two wine fanatics who married each other, it ticks all the boxes for someone
eager to learn more about wine and is a much better than you’d think, despite
the typically crude paper of the Dummies library.
know a
little more. It's split into three main sections. The first looks at the key areas
for tastes, the range of flavours and aromas, how to taste wine, and white, red
and rosé styles. Going a little further, the second section takes on white and
red grape varieties, classic European and New World whites and reds, and the
sparkling wines of the world. The last section covers the effect of oak,
climate, age and how to match wine and food, among other considerations.
Overall, this is easy-to-read and classic entry-level fare. 
Into the all-embracing encyclopaedia class, this is a glossy, colourful run
through some of the most popular grape varieties along with a whiz around the
vineyard regions of the world. With a short introduction, Walton, who has
written for Decanter and World of Fine Wine, writes briefly on
the changes in the wine trade in recent years and the imminent arrival of China
as a major player in the wine world, among other topics, while also asking such
questions as whether wine production has become 'over-technologised' or if
there is 'just too much science involved in what should be a simple product'.
yellow compendium begins with sections on topics such as getting to know wine, buying wine to drink at home and serving wine, before going on to give an overview on the Old and New Worlds. Written enthusiastically
by two wine fanatics who married each other, it ticks all the boxes for someone
eager to learn more about wine and is a much better than you’d think, despite
the typically crude paper of the Dummies library. 
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