French Wines: The Essential Guide to the Wines and Wine Growing Regions of France [Paperback]

Robert F. Joseph (Author), Robert Joseph (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

Profiling hundreds of wines from every region, major vineyard, and appellation of France, French Wines is equally useful to the cultured connoisseur as well as the beginner who doesn't know Pouilly Fume from Pouilly Fuisse. Combining beautiful color photographs with an informative text by eminent wine export and author Robert Joseph, this guide offers an abundance of detailed information on each wine. Special features include a glossary of wine terminology; an extensive introductory section with information on viticulture, buying, tasting, storing, serving, and matching foods with wines. A tour itinerary and food specialty for each wine-producing region makes this a perfect accessory on a trip to France or to preparing a meal that makes you feel like you're there.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A Wine Guild award-winning writer, Robert Joseph is the wine correspondent for London's Sunday Telegraph newspaper and the author of DK's Good Wine Guide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789446251
• ISBN-13: 978-0789446251
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal handbook, June 11, 2000

By 

Gerald Jennings (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Wines: The Essential Guide to the Wines and Wine Growing Regions of France (Paperback)

As someone who enjoys French wines but finds the whole subject very confusing, I've been looking for a book like this for years. I initially picked it up because I liked the format (it is published by Dorling Kindersley and follows much the same colorful, accessible format as their travel books) and thought it would provide useful basic information. Having used it and traveled in Europe with it for a couple of months, I've found it invaluable in restaurants and wine shops. Joseph, the author is quite opionated, which I like, but he doesn't get into the business of ranking wines out of 100. Instead, there are descriptions of the ways different wines taste and suggestions of good producers, vintages and food matches. There are also some suggested tours (I'd have liked more of these) and background information on all the major regions. I pack it in my case whenever I travel

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hone Your Knowledge of French Wine, January 11, 2003

By 

Diana F. Von Behren "reneofc" (Kenner, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: French Wines: The Essential Guide to the Wines and Wine Growing Regions of France (Paperback)

While attempting to purchase a number of interesting and fine wines for my brother for Christmas and finding my knowledge of the subject lacking in almost every way, I purchased this book as it seemed to possess everything I was looking for in a fine presentation with plenty of much needed photographs. For me, visting a wine shop is a dangerous endeavor; I am dually susceptible to selecting and suspicious of the wine merchant's recommendations. After researching some fantastically priced wines on the FinestWine.com website, I took my list to my local store and was sorely disappointed. Since none of the wines I had researched were available, I needed to start at square one and did not have a square one to jump on. This book provided one. It tutored me regarding label so that I could get more grape and taste for my buck. By depicting in full color the actual labels produced by the various chateaus along with a succinct description of the producer's quality, yield, climate, soil, grape varieties, styles, longevities, etc, I was able to make some great selections.

The book is divided into the different varieties of wine based on region: Alsace & Lorraine, Bordeaux, Burgundy, etc and is further exemplified by the various appellations and recommendations regarding producers and good vintages. Each of the ten regions begins with pages about the region with a drivng tour and ends with a discussion of the region's food partnerships and tasting tips. I would imagine that this would serve well on one of the popular wine tours of France.

The book begins with some rudimentary information regarding the process of winemaking, label reading, red and white wine differences, starting a cellar, wine and food . . . it is extremely comprehensive and yet fits well into the 240+ page format --- every page filled with glossy photographs and interesting sidebars.

If you enjoy the popular DK city/region/country travel books, you will equally enjoy this. I recommend this highly for anyone who wants to indulge in a small book with a huge amount of information.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An admirably straightforward guide, August 4, 2000

By 

William Jackson (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Wines: The Essential Guide to the Wines and Wine Growing Regions of France (Paperback)

This is precisely the book I'd been looking for. I have grown to enjoy French wines and am lucky to live near New York stores with great selections to choose from, but the subject is horribly confusing. Joseph deals with just about every wine I've come across and provides enough information to give a clear idea of how it's likely to taste and the food to have it with. I travel overseas for my work and have found it a great companion (its format is ideal for a briefcase) in restaurants with daunting lists.