The Best Wine Books
“What are the best books about wine and sommeliers?” We looked at 27 sources and came away with 154 of the best books about wine, so we could answer that very question.
Part 2 in our 7 part series of Alcohol Articles.
Today we aggregated the best books about Wine and Sommeliers to find out what the top books on the subject are. The top 36 books that appeared on multiple lists are ranked below with pictures, links, and summaries. The remaining 116 books and the sources we used are also listed at the bottom of the article.
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Happy Scrolling!
The Top 36 Wine Books Books
36 .) A Year of Wine by Tyler Coleman
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Napa Valley
Is there a perfect wine to serve with chips and salsa on Super Bowl Sunday? Which bottles will help you drown away your tax- day blues without blowing your new budget? Colman answers these questions and much more as he pairs wines with each season, occasion, and moment. Recommending thoughtful and affordable wines for special celebrations and everyday enjoyment, offering tips on beginning a wine collection or spring cleaning the one you have, exploring how to drink with the smallest possible carbon footprint, and explaining how to maximize your wine experience when you dine out, Colman makes wine easy to understand and, most important, to savor.
Colman also shares the secret gems of his favorite wine tourism destinations — where to find the best wine shops in Paris, which Portuguese vintners still crush grapes with their bare feet, and how you can take a ten-tasting-room tour with one stop in a tiny Oregon town — and turns to some of the country’s top sommeliers for their take on wine appreciation as well.
Perfect for both seasoned wine enthusiasts and oenophobes, “A Year of Wine” is an innovative approach that will encourage readers to drink outside the bottle.
35 .) From Vines to Wines: The Complete Guide to Growing Grapes and Making Your Own Wine by Jeff Cox
Lists It Appears On:
- Grape Seek
- Wine Bible
Cox takes the home winemaker through the entire process, from evaluating the site and choosing the best grape species, to vineyard care, bottling, supplies, and troubleshooting.
34 .) Great Wine Made Simple by Andrea Robinson
Lists It Appears On:
- Marnie Old
- Wine Bible
With emphasis on her “Big Six” varietals–Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon–this “Immer-sion” class of tastings lets amateur sippers differentiate the typical qualities of each, while illustrating wine terms such as dry, crisp, oaky, and tannic. Practical advice abounds; one chapter devotes itself to finding useful info on a wine label while avoiding “Stupid Label Tricks,” those bits of puffery or unfamiliar flavors (how many have actually tasted lychee or red currant?) that can be confusing the average buyer. And her “Flavor Map” concept–dividing the wine world into three climate zones–eschews memorization in favor of some rudimentary geography. Throughout, her pronunciation guides are accurate and personable (“If you’re pronouncing ‘Riesling’ right you have to smile.”); and she provides a great postgraduate curriculum of buying strategies, including the pros and cons of wine shops versus your nearest Costco; and a consumer advisory about restaurant’s “award-winning wine lists.” –Tony Mason
33 .) Liquid Memory: Why Wine Matters by Jonathan Nossiter
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Napa Valley
In Liquid Memory, the American expatriate investigates the infinite mysteries of terroir, the historical sense of place that makes wine a living, thrilling expression of cultural identity that can stretch back centuries. The book is a deliriously joyful master class in locating the soul of a wine, and in learning to trust your own palate and desires. Nossiter, who has already created an uproar in the world of wine with his film Mondovino, arms us against the tyranny of snobs, critics, and charlatans who would prevent us from taking part in what should be a gloriously democratic bacchanalia.
From the sacred wine shops and three-star restaurants of Paris to the biodynamic vineyards of Burgundy, from the hipster bistros of New York to film locations in Rio de Janeiro and Athens, this singular journey invites us to consider how power, misused, can sometimes mask an absence of taste””and how our own personal taste can combat power in any sphere. A controversial bestseller in Europe, Liquid Memory is sure to rile the establishment, enlighten the thirsty, and reveal the inner life of the world’s most mysterious, contradictory, and jubilatory drink.
32 .) Napa: The Story of an American Eden by James Conaway
Lists It Appears On:
- Appellation
- Montemaggiore
James Conaway’s remarkable bestseller delves into the heart of California’s lush and verdant Napa Valley, also known as America’s Eden. Long the source of succulent grapes and singular wines, this region is also the setting for the remarkable true saga of the personalities behind the winemaking empires. This is the story of Gallos and Mondavis, of fortunes made and lost, of dynasties and destinies. In this delightful, full-bodied social history, James Conaway charts the rise of a new aristocracy and, in so doing, chronicles the collective ripening of the American dream. More than a wine book, Napa is a must-read for anyone interested in our country’s obsession with money, land, power, and prestige.
31 .) Natural Wine: An Introduction to Organic and Biodynamic Wines Made Naturally by
Lists It Appears On:
- Napa Valley
- Wine Turtle
Wine-making has become ever-more unnatural, from the use of blanket crop-spraying in vineyards, to the over-use of sulfites, but finally someone is doing something about it. Isabelle Legeron MW is leading the campaign for natural wine wine made as nature intended. There is no official description of natural wine, but a rough definition is that it is made from grapes that are farmed organically or biodynamically and harvested manually, and that the wine should ideally be made without adding or removing anything during the vinification process. It is basically good old-fashioned grape juice fermented into wine, just as nature intended. Isabelle is a crusader for the natural wine movement: she has her own show on the Travel Channel, organizes a hugely successful annual natural wine festival (RAW), and acts as adviser to several leading restaurants. Just as the craft beer movement has taken off across the globe, the demand for natural wine is growing and will continue to do so.
30 .) Red, white and drunk all over: a wine-soaked journey from grape to glass by Natalie MacLean
Lists It Appears On:
- Wine Bible
- Bookstr
After three years of sipping, spitting, and slogging her way through bushy vine leaves and cellar cobwebs, award-winning writer Natalie MacLean takes readers behind the scenes of the international wine world, exploring its history, visiting its most evocative places, and meeting some of its most charismatic personalities.
In Red, White, and Drunk All Over, Natalie travels to the ancient vineyards of Burgundy to uncover the secrets of the pinot noir, the “heartbreak grape” from which some of the most coveted and expensive wines in the world are made. She visits the labyrinthine cellars of Champagne to examine the myths and the mystique of luxury bubbly and the grandes dames who made it the drink of celebration the world over. She pulls on sturdy boots to help with the harvest at the vineyards of iconoclastic Californian winemaker Randall Grahm and goes undercover as sommelier for a night in a five-star restaurant with a wine list the thickness of a phone book. She looks at the influence of powerful critics, notably Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson, invites readers into her dining room for an informal wine tasting, and compares collecting notes at a bacchanalian dinner with novelist Jay McInerney.
As funny and engaging as she is knowledgeable, Natalie has an unconventional wit, curiosity, and obsession with all things related to wine that make for a tour both amusing and informative, from grape to bottle to glass.
29 .) Secrets of the Sommeliers: How to Think and Drink Like the World’s Top Wine Professionals by Anne Dowling
Lists It Appears On:
- The Street
- Belle Annee
A fascinating exploration of the inside world of sommeliers, sharing their unique perspectives, extensive expertise, and best stories.
Rajat Parr’s profound knowledge of wines, deep relationships with producers, and renowned tasting abilities have made him a legend in the business. As wine director for the Mina Group, Parr presides over the lists at some of the country’s top restaurants. In Secrets of the Sommeliers, Parr and journalist Jordan Mackay present a fascinating portrait of the world’s top wine professionals and their trade. The authors interviewed the elite of the sommelier community, and their colleagues’ insights, recommendations, and entertaining stories are woven throughout, along with Parr’s own takes on his profession and favorite winemakers and wines. Along the way, the authors give an immersion course in tasting and serving wine; share strategies for securing hard-to-find bottles at a good price and identifying value sweetspots among the many regions; and teach readers how to make inspired food pairings.
Winner – 2011 James Beard Cookbook Award – Beverage Category
28 .) Swallow This, The Progressive Approach to Wine by Mark Phillips
Lists It Appears On:
- Wine Turtle
- Napa Valley
A new, practical, every-day method to wine appreciation. The book looks at when to microwave wine, when to freeze wine, why it’s silly to buy highly rated wine, how to blend wine at home to make it taste better, the benefit of adding ice cubes to wine, and much more.
27 .) The Great Domaines of Burgundy by Remington Norman, Charles Taylor
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Ebay
With full details of the makers and winemaking styles of over 140 domaines, this is the fullest, most authoritative and truly penetrating analysis available of this complex wine region. Fully revised Third Edition.
26 .) The New California Wine: A Guide to the Producers and Wines Behind a Revolution in Taste by Jon Bonne
Lists It Appears On:
- Wine Country Getaways
- The Street
A comprehensive guide to the must-know wines and producers of California’s “new generation,” and the story of the iconoclastic young winemakers who have changed the face of California viniculture in recent years. The New California Wine is the untold story of the California wine industry: the young, innovative producers who are rewriting the rules of contemporary winemaking; their quest to express the uniqueness of California terroir; and the continuing battle to move the state away from the overly-technocratic, reactionary practices of its recent past. Jon Bonné writes from the front lines of the California wine revolution, where he has access to the fascinating stories, philosophies, and techniques of top producers. Part narrative, part authoritative purchasing reference, The New California Wine is a necessary addition to any wine lover’s bookshelf.
25 .) The Story of Wine by Hugh Johnson
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Napa Valley
24 .) What to Drink With What You Eat by
Lists It Appears On:
- Napa Valley
- Nicki Germaine Naylor
Winner of the 2007 IACP Cookbook of the Year Award Winner of the 2007 IACP Cookbook Award for Best Book on Wine, Beer or Spirits Winner of the 2006 Georges Duboeuf Wine Book of the Year Award Winner of the 2006 Gourmand World Cookbook Award – U.S. for Best Book on Matching Food and Wine. Prepared by a James Beard Award-winning author team, “What to Drink with What You Eat” provides the most comprehensive guide to matching food and drink ever compiled–complete with practical advice from the best wine stewards and chefs in America. 70 full-color photos.
23 .) Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine by Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack
Lists It Appears On:
- Seattle Times
- Wall Street Journal
An essential, hip guide to wine for the new generation of wine drinkers, from the creators of the award-wining site WineFolly.com Red or white? Cabernet or merlot? Light or bold? What to pair with food? Drinking great wine isn’t hard, but finding great wine does require a deeper understanding of the fundamentals. Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine will help you make sense of it all in a unique infographic wine book. Designed by the creators of WineFolly.com, which has won Wine Blogger of the Year from the International Wine & Spirits Competition, this book combines sleek, modern information design with data visualization and gives readers pragmatic answers to all their wine questions, including: ” Detailed taste profiles of popular and under-the-radar wines. ” A guide to pairing food and wine. ” A wine-region section with detailed maps. ” Practical tips and tricks for serving wine. ” Methods for tasting wine and identifying flavors. Packed with information and encouragement, Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine will empower your decision-making with practical knowledge and give you confidence at the table.
22 .) Wine: An Introduction by Joanna Simon
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Napa Valley
This stylish and contemporary guide is ideal for anyone looking for information on how to taste, serve, buy, or store wine.
21 .) Ancient Wine: The Search for the Origins of Viniculture by Patrick McGovern
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Napa Valley
- Into Wine
The history of civilization is, in many ways, the history of wine. This book is the first comprehensive and up-to-date account of the earliest stages of vinicultural history and prehistory, which extends back into the Neolithic period and beyond. Elegantly written and richly illustrated, “Ancient Wine” opens up whole new chapters in the fascinating story of wine and the vine by drawing upon recent archaeological discoveries, molecular and DNA sleuthing, and the texts and art of long-forgotten peoples. Patrick McGovern takes us on a personal odyssey back to the beginnings of this consequential beverage when early hominids probably enjoyed a wild grape wine. We follow the course of human ingenuity in domesticating the Eurasian vine and learning how to make and preserve wine some 7,000 years ago. Early winemakers must have marveled at the seemingly miraculous process of fermentation. From success to success, viniculture stretched out its tentacles and entwined itself with one culture after another (whether Egyptian, Iranian, Israelite, or Greek) and laid the foundation for civilization itself. As medicine, social lubricant, mind-altering substance, and highly valued commodity, wine became the focus of religious cults, pharmacopoeias, cuisines, economies, and society. As an evocative symbol of blood, it was used in temple ceremonies and occupies the heart of the Eucharist. Kings celebrated their victories with wine and made certain that they had plenty for the afterlife. (Among the colorful examples in the book is McGovern’s famous chemical reconstruction of the funerary feast–and mixed beverage–of “King Midas.”) Some peoples truly became “wine cultures.” When we sip a glass of wine today, we recapitulate this dynamic history in which a single grape species was harnessed to yield an almost infinite range of tastes and bouquets. “Ancient Wine” is a book that wine lovers and archaeological sleuths alike will raise their glasses to.
20 .) Drink This: Wine Made Simple by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl
Lists It Appears On:
- Wine Bible
- The Drinks Business
- The Street
Ever been baffled by a wine list, stood perplexed before endless racks of bottles at the liquor store, or ordered an overpriced bottle out of fear of the scathing judgment of a restaurant sommelier? Before she became a James Beard Award””winning food and wine writer, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl experienced all these things. Now she presents a handy guide that will show you how to stop being overwhelmed and intimidated, how to discover, respect, and enjoy your own personal taste, and how to be whatever kind of wine person you want to be, from budding connoisseur to someone who simply gets wine you like every time you buy a bottle. Refreshingly simple, irreverent, and witty, Drink This explains all the insider stuff that wine critics assume you know. It will teach you how to taste and savor wine, alone, with a friend, or with a group. And perhaps most important, this book gives you the tools to learn the only thing that really matters about wine: namely, figuring out what you like.Grumdahl draws on her own experience and savvy and interviews some of the world’s most renowned critics, winemakers, and chefs, including Robert M. Parker, Jr., Paul Draper, and Thomas Keller, who share their wisdom about everything from pairing food and wine to the inside scoop on what wine scores and reviews really mean. Readers will learn how to master tasting techniques and understand the winemaking process from soil to cellar. Drink This also reveals how to get your money’s worth out of wine without spending all you’ve got.
At last there’s a reason for wary wine lovers to raise a glass in celebration. Savor the insider’s viewpoint and straight talk of Drink This, and watch your intimidation of wine transform into well-grounded, unshakeable confidence.
19 .) Kevin Zraly’s Complete Wine Course by Kevin Zraly
Lists It Appears On:
- Ebay
- Wine Folly
- Napa Valley
Let’s pop a cork and toast America’s very best, most popular wine course–now in a revised edition with new material that wine lovers will savor. This is Kevin’s 40th year in the wine business, and to celebrate, he has updated all the material on vineyards in Austria, Hungary, Greece, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. Plus, he completely refreshed the tasting section with flavor profiles that also discuss winemaking; created a new Best of the Best chapter; and included more than 20 smart phone tags throughout the book that link to videos of Kevin talking about wine. As always, the book offers Wine Basics, Tasting Wine, Matching Wine and Food, Frequently Asked Questions About Wine, and a Selected Glossary. Zraly goes region-by-region, with the wines organized from simple to complex–allowing readers who follow Kevin’s order to experience the finest wines and a wide diversity of tastes, styles, regions, and countries. More than ever, this is clearly the wine guide against which all others are judged.
18 .) Palmento: A Sicilian Wine Odyssey by Robert Camuto
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Wine Folly
- Montemaggiore
Inspired by a deep passion for wine, an Italian heritage, and a desire for a land somewhat wilder than his home in southern France, Robert V. Camuto set out to explore Sicily’s emerging wine scene. What he discovered during more than a year of traveling the region, however, was far more than a fascinating wine frontier. Chronicling his journey through Palermo to Marsala, and across the rugged interior of Sicily to the heights of Mount Etna, Camuto captures the personalities and flavors and the traditions and natural riches that have made Italy’s largest and oldest wine region the world traveler’s newest discovery. In the island’s vastly different wines he finds an expression of humanity and nature””and the space where the two merge into something more. Here, amid the wild landscapes, lavish markets, dramatic religious rituals, deliciously contrasting flavors, and astonishing natural warmth of its people, Camuto portrays Sicily at a shining moment in history. He takes readers into the anti-Mafia movement growing in the former mob vineyards around infamous Corleone; tells the stories of some of the island’s most prominent landowning families; and introduces us to film and music celebrities and other foreigners drawn to Sicily’s vineyards. His book takes wine as a powerful metaphor for the independent identity of this mythic land, which has thrown off its legacies of violence, corruption, and poverty to emerge, finally free, with its great soul intact.Watch the Palmento book trailer on YouTube.
17 .) Reading Between the Wines by Terry Theise
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Serious Eats
- Napa Valley
Acclaimed importer and wine guru Terry Theise, long known for his top-notch portfolio and his illustrious writing, now offers this opinionated, idiosyncratic, and beautifully written testament to wine. What constitutes beauty in wine, and how do we appreciate it? What role does wine play in a soulful, sensual life? Can wines of place survive in a world of globalized styles and 100-point scoring systems? In his highly approachable style, Theise describes how wine can be a portal to aesthetic, emotional, even mystical experience””and he frankly asserts that these experiences are most likely to be inspired by wines from artisan producers. Along the way, Theise tells us a little about how he got where he is today, explores the meaning of wine in the lives of vintners he has known, and praises particular grape varieties. Reading between the Wines is a passionate tribute to wine””and to what it can say to us once we learn to listen.
16 .) The Science of Wine: from Vine to Glass by Jamie Goode
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Appellation
- Montemaggiore
This essential and groundbreaking reference gives a comprehensive overview of one of the most fascinating, important, and controversial trends in the world of wine: the scientific and technological innovations that are now influencing how grapes are grown and how wine is made. Jamie Goode, a widely respected authority on wine science, details the key scientific developments relating to viticulture and enology, explains the practical application of science to techniques that are used around the world, and explores how these issues are affecting the quality, flavor, and perception of wine. The only complete resource available on the subject, The Science of Wine: From Vine to Glass engagingly discusses a wide range of topics including terroir, biodynamics, the production of “natural” or manipulation-free wines, the potential effect of climate change on grape growing, the health benefits of wine, and much more.* Covers some of the most hotly debated issues including genetically modified grape vines, sulphur dioxide, the future of cork, and wine flavor chemistry* More than 100 illustrations and photographs make even the most complex topics clear, straightforward, and easy to understand
* Engagingly written for a wide audience of students, winemakers, wine professionals, and general readers interested in the science of wine
15 .) The Taste of Wine: The Art and Science of Wine Appreciation by Emile Peynaud
Lists It Appears On:
- Napa Valley
- Wine Turtle
- The Street
The Taste of Wine is Peynaud’s complete examination of the science and practice of winetasting, with detailed treatment of the senses and how they function, tasting techniques and problems, wine balance and quality, winetasting vocabulary, training, and the art of drinking. A brilliant synthesis of the Bordeaux and Burgundy/Beaujolais schools of tasting, Peynaud’s unique method combines the subjective description of wine with well-established scientific principles””forming an approach which is definitive, comprehensive, and free of esoteric jargon.
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14 .) Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Best Italian Wine
- Made In Italy
At one time, Italian wines conjured images of cheap Chianti in straw-wrapped bottles. More recently, expensive “Super Tuscans” have been the rage. But between these extremes lay a bounty of delicious, moderately priced wines that belong in every wine drinker’s repertoire.
Vino Italiano is the only comprehensive and authoritative American guide to the wines of Italy. It surveys the country’s wine-producing regions; identifies key wine styles, producers, and vintages; and offers delicious regional recipes. Extensive reference materials””on Italy’s 300 growing zones, 361 authorized grape varieties, and 200 of the top producers”” provide essential information for restaurateurs and wine merchants, as well as for wine enthusiasts.
Beautifully illustrated as well as informative, Vino Italiano is the perfect invitation to the Italian wine experience.
13 .) How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine by Jancis Robinson
Lists It Appears On:
- Napa Valley
- The Ragens
- Wine Country Getaways
- Wine Turtle
What better way to learn about wine than to taste it?Written in Robinson’s trademark accessible style, the new How to Taste features thoroughly updated vintages and producers as well as up-and-coming wine regions and styles. Incorporating wines that are both easily obtainable and reasonably priced, Robinson’s lessons are separated into complementary portions of theory and practice to help you both learn and taste your way to wine expertise.
One of the world’s best-loved authorities on wine, Robinson explains first how to get the most out of the flavor of your wine and food, and then about specific grapes and the wines themselves. By the time you finish the book, you will have learned how to recognize the most popular grape varieties from Chardonnay and Riesling to Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, and why a good sparkling wine is always better than cheap champagne. You will discover how to judge sweetness, acidity, and fruitiness as well as the difference between the length and the weight of a wine. You will also be given practical advice for dealing with wine in the real world: how to choose from a wine list, organize your own wine tastings, and pair wines with specific foods.
From the armchair to the wine shop and back to the table, How to Taste will transform anyone on any level into a confident connoisseur who can leave faltering sips behind and have fun along the way.
12 .) The Billionaire’s Vinegar: The Mystery of the World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Wine by Benjamin Wallace
Lists It Appears On:
- Bookstr
- Montemaggiore
- Wine Folly
- Napa Valley
It was the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold.In 1985, at a heated auction by Christie’s of London, a 1787 bottle of Château Lafite Bordeaux””one of a cache of bottles unearthed in a bricked-up Paris cellar and supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson””went for $156,000 to a member of the Forbes family. The discoverer of the bottle was pop-band manager turned wine collector Hardy Rodenstock, who had a knack for finding extremely old and exquisite wines. But rumors about the bottle soon arose. Why wouldn’t Rodenstock reveal the exact location where it had been found? Was it part of a smuggled Nazi hoard? Or did his reticence conceal an even darker secret?It would take more than two decades for those questions to be answered and involve a gallery of intriguing players””among them Michael Broadbent, the bicycle-riding British auctioneer who speaks of wines as if they are women and staked his reputation on the record-setting sale; Serena Sutcliffe, Broadbent’s elegant archrival, whose palate is covered by a hefty insurance policy; and Bill Koch, the extravagant Florida tycoon bent on exposing the truth about Rodenstock. Pursuing the story from Monticello to London to Zurich to Munich and beyond, Benjamin Wallace also offers a mesmerizing history of wine, complete with vivid accounts of subterranean European laboratories where old vintages are dated and of Jefferson’s colorful, wine-soaked days in France, where he literally drank up the culture.
Suspenseful, witty, and thrillingly strange, The Billionaire’s Vinegar is the vintage tale of what could be the most elaborate con since the Hitler diaries. It is also the debut of an exceptionally powerful new voice in narrative non-fiction.
11 .) The Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia by Tom Stevenson
Lists It Appears On:
- The Ragens
- Serious Eats
- Ebay
- Marnie Old
The essential insider’s guide to every major wine-growing region in the world, this book offers dozens of helpful Top 10 lists covering a broad range of topics, including Best-Value Producers, Greatest-Quality Wines, and Most Exciting or Unusual Finds. The book is a must for every wine serious enthusiast who wants to keep up with the constantly changing and ever-expanding world of wine.
10 .) Wine for Dummies by Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Wall Street Journal
Wine enthusiasts and novices, raise your glasses! The #1 wine book has been extensively updated! If you’re a connoisseur, Wine For Dummies, Fourth Edition will get you up to speed on what’s in and show you how to take your hobby to the next level. If you’re new to the world of wine, it will clue you in on what you’ve been missing and show you how to get started. It begins with the basic types of wine, how wines are made, and more. Then it gets down to specifics:How to handle snooty wine clerks, navigate restaurant wine lists, decipher cryptic wine labels, and dislodge stubborn corks How to sniff and taste wine How to store and pour wine and pair it with food Four white wine styles: fresh, unoaked; earthy; aromatic; rich, oaky Four red wine styles: soft, fruity, and relatively light-bodied; mild-mannered, medium-bodied; spicy; powerful, full-bodied, and tannic What’s happening in the “Old World” of wine, including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, and Greece What’s how (and what’s not) in the New World of Wine, including Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa U.S. wines from California, Oregon, Washington, and New York Bubbling beauties and medieval sweets: champagne, sparkling wines, sherry, port, and other exotic dessert wines Authors Ed McCarthy, CWE, who is a regular contributor to Wine Enthusiast and The Wine Journal and Mary Ewing-Mulligan, MW, who owns the International Wine Center in New York, have co-authored six wine books in the For Dummies series.
In an easy-to-understand, unpretentious style that’s as refreshing as a glass of Chardonnay on a summer day, they provide practical information to help you enjoy wine, including:Real Deal symbols that alert you to good wines that are low in price compared to other wines of similar type, style, or quality A Vintage Wine Chart with specifics on numerous wines Info on ordering wine from out of state, collecting wine, and more Wine For Dummies, Fourth Edition is not just a great resource and reference, it’s a good read. It’s full-bodied, yet light…rich, yet crisp…robust, yet refreshing….
9 .) Understanding Wine Technology: The Science of Wine Explained by David Bird
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- The Drinks Business
- Wine Turtle
- Napa Valley
- The Street
Understanding Wine Technology was originally written for students of the diploma examination of the Wines & Spirits Education Trust in the United Kingdom, and the Master of Wine examination as set by the Institute of Masters of Wine. However, this is the only book to explain the complexities of the science and technology of wine in simple terms, and therefore fills a gap in the large market of wine information by making wines technical mysteries accessible to those with no scientific education. This new edition brings the literature up-to-date, relaying in its plainspoken tradition the recent advances in wine science and technology. The topics covered range from the secrets of the vineyard, the processing of grapes to produce juice, the intricacies of fermentation, stabilization of the resulting wine, treatments, quality control and quality assurance, and bottling.
8 .) Judgment of Paris by George Tabor
Lists It Appears On:
- Napa Valley
- Wine Folly
- Montemaggiore
- Nicki Germaine Naylor
- Bookstr
- Into Wine
The Paris Tasting of 1976 will forever be remembered as the landmark event that transformed the wine industry. At this legendary contest — a blind tasting — a panel of top French wine experts shocked the industry by choosing unknown California wines over France’s best.George M. Taber, the only reporter present, recounts this seminal contest and its far-reaching effects, focusing on three gifted unknowns behind the winning wines: a college lecturer, a real estate lawyer, and a Yugoslavian immigrant. With unique access to the main players and a contagious passion for his subject, Taber renders this historic event and its tremendous aftershocks — repositioning the industry and sparking a golden age for viticulture across the globe. With an eclectic cast of characters and magnificent settings, Judgment of Paris is an illuminating tale and a story of the entrepreneurial spirit of the new world conquering the old.
7 .) Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Wine Folly
- Napa Valley
- Ebay
- Belle Annee
- The Street
An indispensable book for every wine lover, from some of the world’s leading wine experts.Where do wine grapes come from and how are grape varieties related to one another? What is the historical background of each one? Where are they grown? What sort of wines do they make?Using cutting-edge DNA analysis and detailing almost 1,400 distinct grape varieties, as well as myriad correct (and incorrect) synonyms, this book examines grapes and wine as never before. Here is a complete, alphabetically presented profile of all grape varieties of relevance to the wine lover, charting the relationships between them and including unique and astounding family trees, their characteristics in the vineyard, and””most important””what the wines made from them taste like.
Presented in a stunning design with eight-page gatefolds that reveal the family trees, and a rich variety of full-color illustrations from Viala and Vermorel’s century-old classic ampelography, the text will deepen readers’ understanding of grapes and wine with every page. Combining Jancis Robinson’s worldview and nose for good writing and good wines with Julia Harding’s research, expertise, and attention to detail plus Dr. Vouillamoz’s unique level of scholarship, Wine Grapes offers essential and original information in greater depth and breadth than has ever been available before. This is a book for wine students, wine experts, and wine lovers everywhere.
6 .) Adventures on the Wine Route: A Wine Buyer’s Tour of France by Kermit Lynch
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Wine Folly
- Napa Valley
- Wine Spectator
- The Ragens
- The Street
- Montemaggiore
When Adventures on the Wine Route was first published, Victor Hazan said, “In Kermit Lynch’s small, true, delightful book there is more understanding about what wine really is than in everything else I have read.” A quarter century later, this remarkable journey of wine, travel, and taste remains an essential volume for wine lovers. In 2007, Eric Asimov, in The New York Times, called it “one of the finest American books on wine,” and in 2012, The Wall Street Journal pro-claimed that it “may be the best book on the wine business.” In celebration of its twenty-fifth anniversary, Adventures on the Wine Route has been thoroughly redesigned and updated with an epilogue and a list of the great wine connoisseur’s twenty-five most memorable bottles. In this singular tour along the French wine route, Lynch ventures forth to find the very essence of the wine world. In doing so, he never shies away from the attitudes, opinions, and beliefs that have made him one of our most respected and outspoken authorities on wine. Yet his guiding philosophy is exquisitely simple. As he writes in the introduction, “Wine is, above all, about pleasure. Those who make it ponderous make it dull . . . If you keep an open mind and take each wine on its own terms, there is a world of magic to discover.” Adventures on the Wine Route is the ultimate quest for this magic via France’s most distinguished vineyards and wine cellars.
Lynch draws vivid portraits of vintners””from inebriated négociants to a man who oversees a vineyard that has been in his family for five hundred years””and memorably evokes the countryside at every turn. “The French,” Lynch writes, “with their aristocratic heritage, their experience and tradition, approach wine from another point of view . . . and one cannot appreciate French wine with any depth of understanding without knowing how the French themselves look at their wines, by going to the source, descending into their cold, humid cellars, tasting with them, and listening to the language they employ to describe their wines.” Here, Kermit Lynch assures a whole new generation of readers””as well as his loyal fans””that discussions about wine need not focus so stringently on “the pH, the oak, the body, the finish,” but rather on the “gaiety” of the way “the tart fruit perfume[s] the palate and the brain.”
5 .) Wine and War: The French, The Nazis and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure by Donald Kladstrup and Petie Kladstrup
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Wine Folly
- Bookstr
- The Ragens
- Into Wine
- Napa Valley
- Montemaggiore
The remarkable untold story of France’s courageous, clever vinters who protected and rescued the country’s most treasured commodity from German plunder during World War II.”To be a Frenchman means to fight for your country and its wine.” Claude Terrail, owner, Restaurant La Tour d’ArgentIn 1940, France fell to the Nazis and almost immediately the German army began a campaign of pillaging one of the assets the French hold most dear: their wine. Like others in the French Resistance, winemakers mobilized to oppose their occupiers, but the tale of their extraordinary efforts has remained largely unknownuntil now. This is the thrilling and harrowing story of the French wine producers who undertook ingenious, daring measures to save their cherished crops and bottles as the Germans closed in on them. Wine and War illuminates a compelling, little-known chapter of history, and stands as a tribute to extraordinary individuals who waged a battle that, in a very real way, saved the spirit of France.
4 .) Windows on the World Complete Wine Course by Kevin Zraly
Lists It Appears On:
- Serious Eats
- Marnie Old
- Wall Street Journal
- Wine Bible
- Wine Country Getaways
- Belle Annee
- The Drinks Business
The Windows on the World Complete Wine Course is simply the bestselling wine book in the United States””it’s a classic. And this new edition contains an additional 16 wonderful pages, including a featured supplement about the olfactory system and how it deepens our enjoyment of wine. Written in a question-and-answer format, the section is coauthored with Wendy Dubit, an expert on the subject. Plus, this unequaled volume retains all the invaluable information, fabulous illustrations, and gorgeous styling of the 20th anniversary edition. Wine lovers will still thrill to Zraly’s inimitable, irreverent style. As always, he answers every question about wine; offers the most up-to-date recommendations; provides advice on buying wine in stores and on the Internet; takes you on a country-by-country, region-by-region ratings tour of the latest vintages; and starts you on your way to becoming a wine connoisseur. Abundant full-color labels and maps complete the enticing picture. More current, more informative, more concise and precise than ever, this remains the wine guide against which all others are judged.
3 .) The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil
Lists It Appears On:
- Appellation
- Ebay
- Marnie Old
- Montemaggiore
- Napa Valley
- Nicki Germaine Naylor
- Serious Eats
- Serious Eats
- Wall Street Journal
- Wine Bible
- Wine Country Getaways
Announcing the completely revised and updated edition of The Wine Bible, the perennial bestselling wine book praised as “The most informative and entertaining book I’ve ever seen on the subject” (Danny Meyer), “A guide that has all the answers” (Bobby Flay), “Astounding” (Thomas Keller), and “A magnificent masterpiece of wine writing” (Kevin Zraly). Like a lively course from an expert teacher, The Wine Bible grounds the reader deeply in the fundamentals while layering on informative asides, tips, amusing anecdotes, definitions, glossaries, photos (all new for this edition), maps, labels, and recommended bottles.
2 .) The Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson
Lists It Appears On:
- Appellation
- Belle Annee
- Marnie Old
- Montemaggiore
- Napa Valley
- Nicki Germaine Naylor
- The Drinks Business
- The Ragens
- The Street
- Wine Bible
- Wine Country Getaways
- Wine Spectator
- Wine Turtle
Hailed by Frank J. Prial in The New York Times as “a required reference for anyone who is serious about wine,” and by Anthony Dias Blue as “one of the definitive reference books on the subject,” The Oxford Companion to Wine won every major wine book award, including the Julia Child and the James Beard awards. Now, Jancis Robinson has completely revised this masterpiece, adding over 500 new entries and thoroughly updating most of the rest. Lavishly illustrated, with over 200 black and white pictures, 31 full color plates, and 31 maps of every wine region in the world, the Companion is the only wine volume to combine science, history, geography, wine varieties, social and cultural information, and much more. Ranging from Abruzzi and armagnac to Zimbabwe and Zinfandel, from Dionysian revels in ancient Greece to today’s leading wine research centers, its 3,400 alphabetically arranged entries explore all aspects of wine, including the latest advances in viticulture and enology. There are in-depth discussions of the climates and grape varieties of great wine regions of the world, and numerous biographies ranging from Dom Perignon to Robert Parker. The book discusses vintner’s terms, business and legal aspects, and related topics such as distilled and fortified wines. All technical terms are fully explained, and the hundreds of useful drawings and photographs illustrate key processes. New features include a complete guide to geographical names, a vintage chart, an overview of recent wine prices and investment, and a navigation chart to the Companion.
The ultimate reference on wine and wine-making, The Oxford Companion to Wine is the perfect volume to enhance a lifetime’s enjoyment of this intoxicating topic.
1 .) The World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson
Lists It Appears On:
- Appellation
- Belle Annee
- Five Books
- Marnie Old
- Montemaggiore
- Napa Valley
- Nicki Germaine Naylor
- Serious Eats
- Serious Eats
- The Drinks Business
- Wine Bible
- Wine Country Getaways
- Wine Folly
There are few books that have had such a monumental impact in their field as The World Atlas of Wine; sales of the first four editions exceed 3.5 million copies. Now, world-renowned authors Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson have teamed up to combine their unrivalled talents. Together they have created the fifth edition of this masterpiece, making it the most thorough and expansive revision ever of the work. In keeping with the Atlas’s reputation for cartographic excellence, all 148 maps from the fourth edition have been completely revised and modernised, with an additional 30 new maps. Hailed by Decanter as Wine Book of the Millennium, The World Atlas of Wine has been described by critics worldwide as ‘extraordinary’ and ‘irreplaceable’.
In this, its fifth edition in 30 years, it remains an essential addition to every wine-lovers or professional’s library.
116 Additional Wine And Sommelier Books
| Books | Authors | Sources |
| 101 Beautiful Towns in Italy: Food and Wine | Best Italian Wine | |
| 4000 Champagnes | Napa Valley | |
| A Hedonist in the Cellar | Jay McInerney | Bookstr |
| A Life Uncorked | Hugh Johnson | Appellation |
| A Perfect Score: The Art, Soul, and Business of a 21st-Century Winery | Wine Country Getaways | |
| A Short History of Wine | Rod Phillips | Into Wine |
| A Wine Atlas of the Langhe: The Greatest Barolo and Barbaresco Vineyards | Victtorio Mangnelli | Montemaggiore |
| A Wine Growers Guide | Grape Seek | |
| American Vintage: From Isolation to International Renown – The Rise of American Wine | Paul Lukacs | Into Wine |
| American Wine: A Coming-of-Age Story | Tom Acitelli | Seattle Times |
| American Wine: The Ultimate Companion to the Wines and Wineries of the United States | Wine Country Getaways | |
| Arvid, Redefining the Modern Still Life | Thomas Arvid | Appellation |
| Bacchus and Me | Jay McInerney | Bookstr |
| Burgundy | Anthony Hanson | Appellation |
| California Wine for Dummies | Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan | Appellation |
| Champagne | Don Kladstrup | Bookstr |
| Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine | Tom Stevenson | Ebay |
| Comic Novel: The Drops of God | Wine Folly | |
| Compendium of Grape Diseases | Grape Seek | |
| Complete Wine Selector | Katherine Cole | Bookstr |
| Connoisseurs’ Handbook of the Wines of California and the Pacific Northwest | Norman S. Roby, Charles E. Olken. | The Ragens |
| DeLong’s Wine Grape Varietal Table | Steve DeLong | Montemaggiore |
| Drops of God, Volume ’01 | Tadashi Agi | Bookstr |
| Essential wine tasting | Michael Schuster | The Drinks Business |
| General Viticulture | Grape Seek | |
| GRAPE GROWING | Grape Seek | |
| Grapes and Wines | Wine Turtle | |
| GRAPES INTO WINE | Grape Seek | |
| Great Domaines of Burgundy | Wine Folly | |
| Great Wine History Books | Into Wine | |
| History in a Glass: Sixty Years of Wine Writing | Into Wine | |
| How to Fake Your Way Through a Wine List | Katherine Cole | Wall Street Journal |
| How to Test and Improve Your Wine Judging Ability | Wine Country Getaways | |
| In Search of Bacchus: Wanderings in the Wonderful World of Wine Tourism | Wine Country Getaways | |
| Italian Wines 2004: A Guide to the World of Italian Wine for Experts and Wine Lovers | Gambero Rosso | The Ragens |
| Italian Wines 2011 | Gambero Rosso | Made In Italy |
| Jancis Robinson’s Guide to Wine Grapes | Jancis Robinson | The Ragens |
| Joy of Home Winemaking Book | Home Brew It | |
| Karen MacNeil’s Wine Bible | Karen MacNeil’s | Belle Annee |
| Kit Winemaking – Daniel Pambianchi | Home Brew It | |
| Madeira, The Island Vineyard | Wine Folly | |
| Making Homemade Wine Book | Home Brew It | |
| Making Sense of Italian Wine | Matt Kramer | Made In Italy |
| Making Sense of Wine | Matt Kramer | Wine Spectator |
| Making Wild Wines and Meads Book | Home Brew It | |
| Mary’s Recipes – Wine Making Recipes | Home Brew It | |
| NORTHERN WINEWORK | Grape Seek | |
| Notes on a California Cellarbook: Reflections on Memorable Wines | Bob Thompson | Appellation |
| One Hundred and One Beautiful Towns in Italy: Food and Wine | Paulo Lazzarin | Made In Italy |
| Opus Vino | Jim Gordon | Serious Eats |
| Oz Clarke’s New Wine Atlas | Oz Clarke | Appellation |
| Oz Clarke’s Pocket Wine Guide 2005 | Oz Clarke | The Ragens |
| Parkers Wine Buyers Guide | The Street | |
| Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier’s Practical Advice | Wine Country Getaways | |
| Perfumes: the A to Z Guide | Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez | Wine Spectator |
| Pocket Wine Book | Hugh Johnson | Five Books |
| Real Wine: The Rediscovery of Natural Winemaking | Patrick Matthews | The Ragens |
| Sherry | Manuel Gonzalez Gordon | Serious Eats |
| Sherry, Manzanilla & Montilla | Peter Liem and Jesus Barquin | Serious Eats |
| Sideways | Napa Valley | |
| Sunlight Into Wine | Grape Seek | |
| Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California | Wine Country Getaways | |
| Taste Buds & Molecules | Francois Chartier | Serious Eats |
| Terroir | James Wilson | Serious Eats |
| The Accidental Connoisseur: An Irreverent Journey Through the Wine World | Lawrence Osborne | Into Wine |
| The Book of Wine | Jackson Meyer | Seattle Times |
| The Complete Bordeaux | Stephen Brook | Five Books |
| The Drops of God | Napa Valley | |
| The Essentials of Wine with Food Pairing Techniques | John Laloganes | Appellation |
| The Finest Wines of Rioja and Northwest Spain: A Regional Guide to the Best Producers and Their Wines | Spanish Wine Country | |
| The Finest Wines of Tuscany and Central Italy | Best Italian Wine | |
| The Grapes of Ralph | Ralph Steadman | Montemaggiore |
| The Heartbreak Grape: A California Winemaker’s Search for the Perfect Pinot Noir | Marq de Villiers | Montemaggiore |
| The History of Wine in 100 Bottles | Oz Clarke | Seattle Times |
| The Home Winemakers Companion Book | Home Brew It | |
| The Juice: Vinous Veritas | Jay McInerney | Five Books |
| The Making of a Great Wine: Gaja and Sori San Lorenzo | Edward Steinberg | Montemaggiore |
| The New Essential Wine Book | Oz Clarke | Wine Bible |
| The New France: A Complete Guide to Contemporary French Wine | Wine Country Getaways | |
| The New Spain: A Complete Guide to Contemporary Spanish Wine | Spanish Wine Country | |
| The New Yorker Book of Wine Cartoons | Jack Ziegler, James Thurbur | Montemaggiore |
| The Oxford Encyclopedia of Wine | Jancis Robinson | Appellation |
| The Pearl of the Cote | Allen Meadows | Serious Eats |
| The University of California/Sotheby Book of California Wine | Doris Muscatine, Maynard A. Amerine, and Bob Thompson | Appellation |
| The Wall Street Journal Guide to Wine: New and Improved | John Brecher, Dorothy J. Gaiter | The Ragens |
| The Widow Clicquot | Tilar J. Mazzeo | Bookstr |
| The Wine Region of Rioja | Spanish Wine Country | |
| The Wine-Tasting Class Notebook: Expertise in 12 Tastings | Judy Ridgway | The Ragens |
| The Winemaker Answer Book – Winemaker Magazine | Alison Crowe | Home Brew It |
| The Winemasters of Bordeaux | Nicholas Faith | Appellation |
| The Wines of Bordeaux | Edmund Penning-Rowsell | Appellation |
| The Wines of Burgundy | Wine Country Getaways | |
| The Wines of the Northern Rhône | John Livingston-Learmouth | Montemaggiore |
| The World’s Greatest Wine Estates: A Modern Perspective | Robert M. Parker | Into Wine |
| The Wrath of Grapes: The Coming Wine Industry Shakeout and How to Take Advantage of It | Lewis Perdue | Into Wine |
| Thirsty Dragon: China’s Lust for Bordeaux and the Threat to the World’s Best Wines | Suzanne Mustacich | Five Books |
| VINEYARD SIMPLE | Grape Seek | |
| Vineyard Tales: Reflections on Wine | Gerald Asher | Montemaggiore |
| Vintage | David Baker | Seattle Times |
| Vintage Wine | Michael Broadbent | Serious Eats |
| Viticulture – An introduction to commercial grape growing for wine production | Stephen Skelton | The Drinks Business |
| When the Rivers Ran Red: An Amazing Story of Courage and Triumph in America’s Wine Country | Vivienne Sosnowski | Montemaggiore |
| Williams-Sonoma Wine & Food: A New Look at Flavor | Joshua Wesson | Appellation |
| Wine & War The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure | Wine Turtle | |
| Wine and Philosophy: A Symposium on Thinking and Drinking | Fritz Allhoff | Ebay |
| Wine Atlas | Wine Turtle | |
| Wine Behind the Label | Wine Turtle | |
| Wine Myths and Reality | Benjamin Lewin | The Street |
| Wine Report 2009 | Tom Stevenson | The Drinks Business |
| Wine Spectator’s California Wine | James Laube | The Ragens |
| Wine Tasting, Second Edition: A Professional Handbook | Ronald S. Jackson | Appellation |
| Wine-Oh! Guide to California’s Sierra Foothills: From the Ordinary to the Extraordinary | Wine Country Getaways | |
| Wines of Burgundy | Clive Coates | Serious Eats |
| Wines of Italy | Patricia Guy | Made In Italy |
| WineWise | Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith, and Michael Weiss | The Drinks Business |
| WSET Coursebook | The Drinks Business |
26 Best Books About Wine Sources
