Rating: 
Summary: Exploring Wine
Review: One of the most clear and comprehensive wine books I've read. Jam packed with full color photos that teach about grape varities, wine making, appreciation & service. A must for the study of enology.
Rating: 
Summary: great for a gift
Review: So the book might be a bit too technical-tongued sometimes, or it may contain unbalanced chapters (the one about serving wine should have been either more accurate or none at all) but by all means it is a great book. Graphics and pictures are superb. I enjoyed reading it, although, as an Italian, I found the story about Italian produce a bit modest (forgive me, it's only that we have the best wines in all the world, it's a fact...). I just need to find a wine book that tells it like it is: THE BEST WINE IS THE ONE YOU LIKE, OR THE ONE YOU DRINK WITH YOUR GREAT FRIENDS.P.S. : my mom told me Mr. Mondavi, the prefator, is a relative of a relative. The world is small.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Book
Review: This book is successful on several different levels. First, it is just a great book to have lying around the house. Very relaxing to sit down for a few minutes, leaf through the pages and take a look at all of the beautiful and warm areas that produce wine (especially nice on a cold winter's day!) The layout is outstanding and the photography is excellent. However, this book is more than just pretty pictures. If you want to learn something about the process of making and developing great wines, this book delivers. I cannot pretend to understand all of the technical detail dealing with soil contents, acid levels, appellations, etc., but I am trying to learn. And I know I will have many interesting nights ahead as I settle in to learn about the various grapes and the various wine growing regions of the world. One slight annoyance--there are too many sidebars dealing with the personalities in the wine world. However, this is more than made up for by keeping the foofy wine jargon ("peach undertones" or "texture like cashmere") to a minimum. It is a very good value for the price.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Book
Review: This book is successful on several different levels. First, it is just a great book to have lying around the house. Very relaxing to sit down for a few minutes, leaf through the pages and take a look at all of the beautiful and warm areas that produce wine (especially nice on a cold winter's day!) The layout is outstanding and the photography is excellent. However, this book is more than just pretty pictures. If you want to learn something about the process of making and developing great wines, this book delivers. I cannot pretend to understand all of the technical detail dealing with soil contents, acid levels, appellations, etc., but I am trying to learn. And I know I will have many interesting nights ahead as I settle in to learn about the various grapes and the various wine growing regions of the world. One slight annoyance--there are too many sidebars dealing with the personalities in the wine world. However, this is more than made up for by keeping the foofy wine jargon ("peach undertones" or "texture like cashmere") to a minimum. It is a very good value for the price.
Rating: 
Summary: think twice
Review: This is a disapointing book. The writing style is verbose and akward. The information is poorly organized and too frequently incorrect. I advise others to buy the Oxford, Sotheby's, or the Atlas, before buying this book.
Rating:
Summary: think twice
Review: This is a disapointing book. The writing style is verbose and akward. The information is poorly organized and too frequently incorrect. I advise others to buy the Oxford, Sotheby's, or the Atlas, before buying this book.
Rating:
Summary: An Extraordinary Work
Review: This is a fabulous book that belongs in the libary of anyone even remotely serious about this broad and beautiful subject. The authors have surveyed the wines of the world, and include accurate information, maps, and engaging "insider" viewpoints. The chapters on wine and food, wine and health, and wine in restaurants are particularly helpful. A fabulous reference now used in the wine programs of dozens of colleges and professional wine societies, Exploring Wine is accessible to all with an interest in enjoying wine. Well done!
Rating:
Summary: One-Stop Shop for Wine Knowledge
Review: This is the book I've been looking for and I highly recommend it. One stop shop for the wealth of knowledge about the world's wine producing regions. Gives an excellent, and often moderately in-depth, overview of regions, appelations, producers, and key players. Also has call-out interview boxes with noted authorities. Well done. If you wanted any more detail, you would need to contact state/federal departments of agriculture. Very well done.
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