Red Wine for Dummies [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Series: For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback) | Publication Date: September 30, 1996

If you're interested in expanding your wine horizons to include the reds, such as Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet, Red Wine For Dummies will help you through the maze of red wines. Wine connoisseurs Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan have tasted their way through the wine-growing regions of Northern California and France (as well as Oregon, Washington, New York, Australia, South America, and South Africa). The result of their ventures is a handy guide featuring more than 1,000 red wine recommendations, tips to help you pair red wine with food, a complete glossary of wine jargon, and a helpful wine vintage chart. You won't want to explore the world of red wine without this handy reference at your fingertips.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The authors of Wine for Dummies and White Wine for Dummies have produced a handy primer on the fundamentals of red wine. After a brief introduction to the varieties of grapes and the seven classic types of red wine, the reader (and taster!) is introduced to the world's greatest offerings, including less recognized wines from Chile and Australia. The familiar Dummies-style "Part of Tens" includes 10 wine-tasting exercises using affordable vintages.

From the Back Cover

"A fantastic book! Just what we need to navigate the maze of all the red wines in the world."
—Jess Jackson, Founder, Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates

Includes more than 1,000 red wine recommendations

The fun and easy way® to select, serve, and enjoy red wine

Can you ever serve red wine with fish? How does a Cabernet differ from a Chianti? Where do you look for red wine bargains? Stumped? Don’t worry! This friendly guide takes the mystery out of red wine – and shows you how to truly enjoy it.

Praise for Red Wine For Dummies

"Bravo! A complex subject taught clearly and comprehensively with a touch of humor."
– Yves Durand, The Sommelier Society of America, Inc.

"[The] relaxed, yet knowledgeable approach to a rather daunting topic will have novices and wine aficionados alike enjoying the book."
– Bruno Ceretto, co-owner, Ceretto Winery, Piedmont, Italy

Discover how to:

• Taste differences in wine styles
• Enjoy reds from around the world
• Decipher a wine label
• Find red wine values
• Pair red wine with food

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (September 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764550128
• ISBN-13: 978-0764550126
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #540,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to understand, complete in its coverage, December 13, 2004

By 

Jonathan Appleseed - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Red Wine for Dummies (Paperback)

As I wrote in a previous review of The Sommelier's Guide to Wine, I am just beginning my introduction to the fascinating world of wine. While the former book has been invaluable, so has this - Red Wine for Dummies.

As always, the language is very accessible and the subject material easy to understand, even when some of the more difficult or intimidating aspects of wine are discussed (such as when and why to decant, picking a wine, a guide to wine terms, etc.)

The descriptions of the grapes themselves are marvelous. For example, here is the description for a Zinfandel (yes, Zinfandel is a red grape - White Zinfandel [all apologies to those who like it] is a wine made by ruining the grape): "The Zinfandel grape gives good color to the red wines made from it, along with bramble-berry fruit flavors and aromas and a spicy character. The intensity of the wine varies according to where grapes grew and how old the vines are; some very old (80 to 100 years) vineyards make wines that are full bodied and dense with flavor. More typically, Zinfandel makes wines that are medium bodied, with succulent fruit and medium tannin." Sure there are descriptions in fancy wine magazines that are more complete, but chances are you wouldn't have the slightest idea what they're talking about.

This book also covers regions where wines are made, climates, soil, and everything that goes into producing a good red wine. It's a superb book for a beginner.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Writing you can use, September 19, 2001

By 

Alice M. Verberne "travelartist" (APO, AE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Wine for Dummies (Paperback)

What a joy. This quick, fun read is well worth your time.
Wine for Dummies is like having your own personal expert with a sense of humor.
I live in Europe and applied this book to my "studies" of wine by buying bottles and tasting. The lessons in the back are fun and fantastic.
Good reading and tasting!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Intro - but tune those olefactory senses, September 1, 1998

By 

Wot4 ([e-mail]) (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red Wine for Dummies (Paperback)

As a complete beginner to the subject of red wine this is a great yet simple introduction to the major red wine and grape types. There is no bias evident in the authors assessment and there is good guidance to the best value wines. The only downside is the somewhat superior references to the various scents found in the wines. Recommended.