French Wine For Dummies [Paperback]

Ed McCarthy (Author), Mary Ewing-Mulligan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 29, 2001

“Whether you are an avid collector or wine novice, this book offers an extensive resource in an accessible format.”
—Charlie Trotter, Acclaimed Chef and Award-Winning Author

“This book is an invitation to discover the bountiful wine regions, each different from one another, and is an homage to the beauty and uniqueness of the delicious wines they produced.”
—Georges Duboeuf, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf

“The diversity of French wine is one of its attractions, but it can seem perplexing...until you pick up this marvelous guide. The route is well -marked, easy-to-follow, and the destinations are delicious.”
—Kermit Lynch, Wine Merchant and author, Adventures on the Wine Route

“...Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan lead us by the hand down the road of adventure to discover the wines of France that they know so well.... In their relaxed, wise, and mischievous way, they show us the joy and pleasure of drinking French wine.”
—Prince Alain de Polignac, Winemaker, Champagne Pommery

You no longer need to be confused or intimidated by French wine. Authored by certified wine educators and authors Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan, French Wine For Dummies introduces you to the delicious world of fine French wine. Among other things, you’ll discover how to:

• Translate wine labels
• Identify great wine bargains
• Develop your own wine tastes
• Match French wines with foods

Here’s everything you need to know to sip and savor the best—and the best-value—Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Alsace, and other delicious wines. This lighthearted and informative guide covers:

• The story of French wine and how it came to dominate the wine world
• How the French name and label their wines and why
• France’s most important wine regions—including a region-by-region survey of the best vineyards and their products
• France’s other wine regions, including Champagne, Alsace, the Loire Valley, and others

So pour yourself a big glass of Beaujolais Nouveau, sit back, and enjoy the ride as Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan take you on an intoxicating journey through the wonderful world of French wine.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan co-authored the bestselling Wine For Dummies. Ed also wrote Champagne For Dummies. Mary, the only woman Master of Wine in the U.S., owns International Wine Center, a New York wine school.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (August 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764553542
• ISBN-13: 978-0764553547
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars French Wine, Class by Glass, October 15, 2001

By 

Bill Marsano (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Wine For Dummies (Paperback)

Ed McCarthy and his wife, Mary Ewing-Mulligan, began with "Wine for Dummies" in 1995, and they keep getting better at it as they work from big picture to small. After covering all of the wine world in one book they have narrowed their focus in subsequent "dummies" books on red wine, white wine and champagne. Now focusing geographically, they tackle French and Italian wines in two new books. The French book will tell the tale here because French is the most daunting wine for teacher and student alike.

That because almost all French wines are named for places (regions, towns, chateaus) instead of the grapes they're made from, which is the practice in most other countries. Thus your Bordeaux could be made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and most often is--but one of the most famous and most expensive Bordeaux, Petrus, is made almost entirely from Merlot. Not that you'd know from the label. You want Chardonnay? The French make it by the long ton but rarely label it as such, preferring instead something like Puligny-Montrachet. Then there is the collection of "cru" classifications for individual estates. This apparent perversity actually reflects the French belief that "where" means more than "what"; that the native heath marks wine and other foods just as a local accent marks you and me.

That's why this book is the test: Can the authors penetrate and even elucidate this maze? To their credit and my amazement they can and do. They are wine experts but primarily wine educators. They know this stuff cold but as <teachers> want you to learn and love this stuff as much as they do.

In fewer than 300 pages they achieve a great deal--they encourage, instruct, dispel myths, point toward good buys, discuss changing wine-making styles, celebrate new discoveries and pretty much everything else except feed the hungry and clothe the poor.

So if you're interested in French wine or know someone who is, you'll be better of buying this book than almost any other. The price is great and the authors are good company--they can <write> as well as teach.

-------------------------------------
Bill Marsano is a contributing editor of Hemispheres, United Airlines' in-flight magazine, for which he frequently writes on wine. In 1999 he won a James Beard medal for writing on wine and spirits.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It helped this dummy!, July 27, 2002

By 

therosen "therosen" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: French Wine For Dummies (Paperback)

This book helps one navigate the strange world of French wine - where the land is more important than the type of grape.

The books starts with several chapters on why French wine is considered such high quality, and what the history is behind it. Here's you'll learn about the history and categorizations of wine, as well as overview of the archaic & mind-numbing labelling system.

The second section covers France's high profile wine regions, including Bordeaux, Burgundy & Beautjolais. If all you know about Bordeaux and Burgundy is, "They ain't in Napa", you're in the same boat as me, and the book can give you some guidance.

The third part covers France's other wine regions, including a section on Champaigne. (Champaigne does count as wine - another lesson for me!) This is helpful if you're traveling in France and want to know what local wines to try.

The book closes with answers to commonly asked questions about French wine, as well as exposing one to the myths of French wine.

Overall, the book is a great primer and eduational tool for the novice at French wine. (Or wine in general!) It'll help you with the history and feel of the French wine industry. Perhaps it can guide you at the wine shop, though likely not as much as knowledgable individual.

It passes the, "Would I bring it with me to France?" test. (I did, and it helped me know what wine to try by region) It doesn't pass the, "Will I be any better ordering wine at a restaurant?" test. (I'm not)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource on French Wine, August 20, 2003

By 

John C. Case (Wilmington, DE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Wine For Dummies (Paperback)

This book hits it right on the head. An excellent, easy to read reference guide on French wine. The book is well-organized and provided good tips and pronunciation keys to help navigate through the French language. This book is a must for the professional or amateur alike and a good value for the money. Useful appendixes contain vintage charts and a handy guide to classes of wine under the rather complex French wine laws.