KISS Guide to Wine

Rating:
Summary: A Good Place to Start with Wine
Review: As a person who appreciates drinking wine I keep looking for books that will help me appreciate it even more. As soon as I started thumbing through this book, I knew I had found a winner.

While the book doesn't go into any great depth on the many aspects of wine, it does give the reader a foundation in just about all the topics that make wine drinking enjoyable. In a very short period of time, the reader will know how to select, buy, store, and serve the right wine for the right occasion. It won't make you an expert, but, it will give many of you a way to make a wonderful hobby even more enjoyable.

I highly recommend this book to most people who enjoy drinking wine.

Rating:
Summary: Learning about Wines
Review: Firstly, I don't even indulge in drinking wine, but have been known to toss a bit here and there in my cooking. I'm interested in the variety of wines on the market I can use in cooking and enjoy reading about the history and tastes of various wines so I know what flavors they will add to dishes I am preparing. Will the hint of blackcurrant or bouquet of melon pair with the dish? Will a cheaper wine do or should I buy a more expensive wine?

"Some classic French dishes, such as coq au vin, rely on wine for their flavor, just as others rely on mushrooms or oranges or rosemary. Some require wine to be slowly simmered with beef...so that the flavors become absorbed and transformed; other dishes, and many sauces can be given a life if a dash of wine is added near the end of cooking. If you do the latter, don't overdo the quantity."

With that said, I have the experience of pouring vermouth on a baked chicken and then I closed the oven and I distinctly remember the oven door flying open all on its own as my right arm was completely hair free but not burned in about 1 second. Let's just say, I won't be doing that again. So, cooking with wine also has certain, shall we say...responsibilities.

The KISS books are my favorite "topic" books as they delve into the rich details of any topic they present. You also get the benefit of Trivia, definitions and internet links. This book presents the reasons why wine has been such an important drink throughout the history of human civilization.

After reading this book, you will also be able to tell one wine from another. Are you stocking your cellar or just choosing a wine for immediate use? And how does a grape become a Merlot? You will know why European vines are grafted into American rootstocks and why a great wine will always be a combination of science and art.

Essential Reading for Food Writers, Cookbook Authors and
anyone who wants to learn the language of wine.

Rating:
Summary: A great intro to the world of wine
Review: KISS puts out many "Keep it Simple Series" books that cover topics in an easy to understand manner. In this guide, a big-nosed dog helps you through the tasks of understanding and learning about wines. It does its job well!

The book begins with the basics - the history of wine, what wine is, and a brief overview of wine and health. Then it moves into section 2 - learning how to taste wine. It talks about the basic moves involved, and then gets into the flavors you will find. It goes into acidity and sweetness, with simple explanations of both. It even goes into what you should NOT taste in a wine, and describes what a 'corked' wine is like. It points out that cork bits floating in your wine do NOT cork it, and that this is perfectly harmless :)

Another area tries to explain styles of wine by comparing them to celebrities - from Shirley Temple to Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's an interesting exercise, although not all readers will have seen movies with all of the people mentioned!

The book goes in to how to buy wine in stores, how to store it, and how to serve it. It then goes into the main grape varieties, and how each differs from its relatives. And then it gets into the meaty last portion - the region by region reviews. It goes through each - France, Spain, Italy, the US and others - with interesting facts and history, plus recommendations for what to buy and try. It discusses how Chablis should come from France and Port from Portugal, and what to beware.

The end area has a glossary of terms, vintage charts and other handy references.

While it doesn't give you much information about any one topic, this is a great way for a newcomer to wine to gain a solid grounding!

Rating:
Summary: A great intro to the world of wine
Review: KISS puts out many "Keep it Simple Series" books that cover topics in an easy to understand manner. In this guide, a big-nosed dog helps you through the tasks of understanding and learning about wines. It does its job well!

The book begins with the basics - the history of wine, what wine is, and a brief overview of wine and health. Then it moves into section 2 - learning how to taste wine. It talks about the basic moves involved, and then gets into the flavors you will find. It goes into acidity and sweetness, with simple explanations of both. It even goes into what you should NOT taste in a wine, and describes what a 'corked' wine is like. It points out that cork bits floating in your wine do NOT cork it, and that this is perfectly harmless :)

Another area tries to explain styles of wine by comparing them to celebrities - from Shirley Temple to Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's an interesting exercise, although not all readers will have seen movies with all of the people mentioned!

The book goes in to how to buy wine in stores, how to store it, and how to serve it. It then goes into the main grape varieties, and how each differs from its relatives. And then it gets into the meaty last portion - the region by region reviews. It goes through each - France, Spain, Italy, the US and others - with interesting facts and history, plus recommendations for what to buy and try. It discusses how Chablis should come from France and Port from Portugal, and what to beware.

The end area has a glossary of terms, vintage charts and other handy references.

While it doesn't give you much information about any one topic, this is a great way for a newcomer to wine to gain a solid grounding!

Rating:
Summary: SKIP "WINE FOR DUMMIES" AND GET THIS ONE!
Review: MUCH MORE USEFUL THAN "DUMMIES" BOOK. HAS A HUGE LIST OF WINE AND FOOD PARING AS WELL AS COLOR PICURES (UNLIKE DUMMIES). OH. AND IT IS SNOB FREE! IF YOU ARE INSULTED BY A BOOK TEACHING YOU COMMON SENSE, HOWEVER, THEN MAYBE A MORE INTELLECTUAL BOOK WILL WORK FOR YOU.