Should you order a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc with your shrimp? Would your host prefer an intensely fruity Shiraz from Australia or an earthy Syrah from France's Rhône Valley? With Williams-Sonoma's The Wine Guide, deciphering restaurant wine lists and selecting a bottle for your next party will be simple and stress-free.
Covering the basics and beyond, this book describes the process of winemaking from grape to glass, helping you to deepen your enjoyment of wine. You'll discover the best ways to open a bottle of wine and how to interpret the label. Tips on serving and tasting wine will prove invaluable, whether you're hosting a wine-tasting party or sharing a bottle with friends for a casual supper.
A section on the world of wine, organized by country, takes you on a tour of the most important wine regions around the globe, and notable appellations in each country are discussed. Learn about the elegant Pinot Noirs of Oregon, the superb dry Rieslings of Australia's Clare Valley and the vintage ports of northern Portugal. Maps, labels and informative sidebars will help you connect specific wines to recognizable places.
Even with today's more relaxed approach to wine, there are some important principles to keep in mind when pairing wine with food. This primer suggests specific wines to accompany myriad dishes, be it boiled crab, barbecued pork, meat loaf or monkfish. Tips on matching wine with cheese and dessert will help you expand your knowledge and appreciation of fine wine. There's also a section on what to drink with full-flavored ethnic cuisines.
Useful charts and diagrams fill the pages of this comprehensive reference. A vintage guide rates the quality of wines produced in specific countries by the year, revealing which wines are worth aging and when they'll be at their peak. Detailed drawings illustrate how wine equipment works. The A-to-Z glossary contains over 2,600 informative entries, including wine regions, grape varietals, technical terms and profiles of key individuals who have shaped wine history.
In addition to providing fundamental information, this book offers hours of fascinating reading. What ten best vineyard areas comprise Cru Beaujolais? Why do Hungarian winemakers age late-harvest Tokay in old tunnels cut out of the hillsides? What does the British term "plonk" mean in reference to a bottle of wine?
Whether you are just beginning to explore the world of wine or are expanding your collection of fine vintages, you'll reach for The Wine Guide again and again. Like good wine, it is meant to be enjoyed and savored.
Covering the basics and beyond, this book describes the process of winemaking from grape to glass, helping you to deepen your enjoyment of wine. You'll discover the best ways to open a bottle of wine and how to interpret the label. Tips on serving and tasting wine will prove invaluable, whether you're hosting a wine-tasting party or sharing a bottle with friends for a casual supper.
A section on the world of wine, organized by country, takes you on a tour of the most important wine regions around the globe, and notable appellations in each country are discussed. Learn about the elegant Pinot Noirs of Oregon, the superb dry Rieslings of Australia's Clare Valley and the vintage ports of northern Portugal. Maps, labels and informative sidebars will help you connect specific wines to recognizable places.
Even with today's more relaxed approach to wine, there are some important principles to keep in mind when pairing wine with food. This primer suggests specific wines to accompany myriad dishes, be it boiled crab, barbecued pork, meat loaf or monkfish. Tips on matching wine with cheese and dessert will help you expand your knowledge and appreciation of fine wine. There's also a section on what to drink with full-flavored ethnic cuisines.
Useful charts and diagrams fill the pages of this comprehensive reference. A vintage guide rates the quality of wines produced in specific countries by the year, revealing which wines are worth aging and when they'll be at their peak. Detailed drawings illustrate how wine equipment works. The A-to-Z glossary contains over 2,600 informative entries, including wine regions, grape varietals, technical terms and profiles of key individuals who have shaped wine history.
In addition to providing fundamental information, this book offers hours of fascinating reading. What ten best vineyard areas comprise Cru Beaujolais? Why do Hungarian winemakers age late-harvest Tokay in old tunnels cut out of the hillsides? What does the British term "plonk" mean in reference to a bottle of wine?
Whether you are just beginning to explore the world of wine or are expanding your collection of fine vintages, you'll reach for The Wine Guide again and again. Like good wine, it is meant to be enjoyed and savored.
Adapted from
Williams-Sonoma Guides,
The Wine Guide,
by Larry Walker and Wink Lorch
(Time-Life Books, 1999).