My favorite wine books
I gave a talk last night to the Sonoma County Wine Library on “what makes a wine book for the ages.” That’s a rather august topic, and it made me compose a list of the books in my own wine library (which is very substantial) that I have enjoyed a great deal. Here’s the list. As you can see, I prefer older books: newer ones seem more slapdash, and the writing certainly leaves something to be desired.
- Notes on a Cellar-Book, George Saintsbury, 1934.
- Wines, Julian Street, 1948
- The Complete Wine Book, Frank Schoonmaker and Tom Marvel, 1934
- Also their American Wines, 1941
- Hugh Jonhson’s Story of Wine, 1989
- The Romance of Wine, H. Warner Allen, 1932
- All of Harry Waugh’s Wine Diaries, 1960s-1970s-1980s
- The Wines of Bordeaux, Edmund Penning-Rowsell, 1969
- ABC of America’s Wines, Mary Frost Mabon, 1942
- Drink, Andre Simon, 1953
- Gerald Asher’s Gourmet articles, reprinted in soft cover
- I came up on Bob Thompson’s “Pocket Encyclopedia of California Wines” and Olken, Singer & Roby’s “Connoisseurs’ Handbook of California Wines”
- Alexis Lichine’s New Encyclopedia of Wines & Spirits, 1981
- The World Atlas of Wine, Hugh Johnson, 1977 edition
- Great Winemakers of California, Robert Benson, 1977
- Wine Winemakers Dance: Exploring Terroir in Napa Valley, Swinchatt & Howell, 2004
- The Wines of America, Leon Adams, 1973
These classics stand the test of time. Thanks for the great presentation last night.
Broadbent’s tasting collections, Anthony Hansen
s ans Matt Kramer’s Burgundy books , and Kermit Lynch’s Adventures are still good reading. And The Cask Of Amontillado.
Dear Julie, thank you. It was a pleasure to be among book lovers!
Most serious wine enthusiasts and almost all winemakers who matriculated through the California enology schools are familiar with Maynard Amerine and Edward Roessler’s reference book titled “Wines – Their Sensory Evaluation.”
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Wines-Evaluation-Maynard-A-Amerine/dp/0716714795
Likewise Émile Peynaud’s “The Taste of Wine: The Art and Science of Wine Appreciation.”
Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Taste-Wine-Science-Appreciation/dp/0932664644
Let me introduce one more that makes up the invaluable “how to critically evaluate” troika.
The late Canadian wine writer Andrew Sharp wrote a wonderful consumer guide titled “Winetaster’s Secrets.”
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Winetasters-Secrets-Andrew-Sharp/dp/1895629365
Backgrounder on author: http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20000411.OBSHAR/BDAStory/BDA/deaths
Quoting Robert Parker’s book review:
“An extremely well written book with the most informative and perceptive chapters on wine tasting I have read. This is the finest book for both beginners and serious wine collectors about the actual tasting process — lively, definitive and candid.”
Every time I open up my highly annotated and dog-eared copy, I learn (or recall) something new and important.
Highly, highly recommended.
For general reading text on the basics of wine, wine grape growing and winemaking (enhanced by excellent infographics), check out Hugh Johnson and James Hallidays’ guide titled “The Vintner’s Art: How Great Wines Are Made.”
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Vintners-Art-Great-Wines-Made/dp/0671728881
Let me add this observation: don’t overlook wine series on home video.
Some examples:
http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-History-Wine-Vols-1-4/dp/6302976693
http://www.amazon.com/Jancis-Robinsons-Wine-Course-Robinson/dp/B00015YV5O
(Many wonderful wine programs originally aired on U.S. public television stations in the 1990s. Few have made it into the DVD / Blu-ray era.
You may be compelled to acquire them today as videotapes.
The sad legacy of analogue media not always making its way into digital media, due to limited revenue-generation prospects.
Debunks the myth that “Everything is on the Web.”)