I can’t but help love a wine book that starts, ‘In the Swiss canton of Valais, melted cheese is serious business.’ The second paragraph describes Humagne Blanche as ‘strange and big and sexy, full of ripe exotic fruit surrounded by delicate floral aromas – sort of like mountain flowers picked by a Kardashian wearing a dirndl.’ I’ve tasted Humagne Blanc with raclette in the Valais. You’ve nailed it. You’ve got all my attention, Mr...
Godforsaken Grapes – book review
Godforsaken Grapes
A slightly tipsy journey through the world of strange, obscure and underappreciated wine
Jason Wilson
Published by Abrams Press
ISBN 9781419727580
$26, CA$31.95, £20
Become a member or log in to continue reading
Member
$135
/year
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
- Access 294,796 wine reviews & 16,082 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
Ideal for collectors
- Access 294,796 wine reviews & 16,082 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
- Access 294,796 wine reviews & 16,082 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade
- Access 294,796 wine reviews & 16,082 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
More Book reviews
Book reviews
A magnificent paean to an event that changed the wine world – just in time for its 50th anniversary on...
Book reviews
Deep – and enjoyable – dives into two of France’s most misunderstood regions. Reasons to love Beaujolais The Wines of...
Book reviews
Essential reading for anyone who’s ever confused tuff with tufa or wondered what the fuss is over Rutherford dust. Though...
Book reviews
A book that takes us back to Sicily in the throes of revolution, tumult and change. Palmento A Sicilian wine...
More from JancisRobinson.com
Nick on restaurants
An international institution in the southern Irish countryside. In 2011 I travelled to Ballymaloe House, a 40-minute drive from Cork...
Free for all
Pauline Vicard asks, can wine still justify its cultural relevance? The answer to this question, rather than economics, may become...
Free for all
Jancis is put in her place, by the hybrid grapes of the Emerald Isle. A shorter version of this article...
Wines of the week
A summer-ready, silky white wine that’s widely available from just $8.99, £20.90 . The sleeper hit of Napa winery Pine...
Tasting articles
Part 4 of an exploration of California’s westernmost vineyards. Above, the Split Rail vineyard in Corralitos (credit: John Benedetti)...
Tasting articles
A close look at three of Zaragoza’s most important projects. Above, Fernando Mora MW (left) and Mario López of Bodegas...
Free for all
4 June 2026 In advance of the 2026 Old Vine Conference on 8 June, we’re republishing this overview of our...
Tasting articles
To celebrate Aragón’s new map in the upcoming World Atlas of Wine , Ferran explores the wines of Zaragoza. Above...