What's a Wine Lover to Do? [Paperback]

Wes Marshall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 7, 2010

Hundreds of easy-to-scan tips in everyday language let time-starved readers find quick answers.

Most people who enjoy wine would like to know more about it, to feel confident in what they like and why, to know the "lingo." Wine lover and writer Wes Marshall helps readers explore the world of wine, offering plainspoken explanations to wine questions that most people have but are hesitant to ask—no question is too simple, no answer too advanced.

Like earlier titles in the series, such as the best-selling What's a Cook to Do?, this book offers empowering information in question-and-answer format with pronunciation guides, charts, maps, and step-by-steps—plus the best-bang-for-your-buck wine recommendations from well-known experts. Is Barolo a grape or a place? What do wine scores mean? What about sniffing the cork and which glasses to use? In this newest book in the What’s a … to Do? series, Wes Marshall presents his years of wine experience and insider tips in everyday language that makes wine approachable and knowable.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wes Marshall's column is one of the best in the country and is a marvelous guide to wines from all over the world."--Robert Mondavi
(Robert Mondavi )

About the Author

The wine columnist for the Austin Chronicle, Wes Marshall also writes for Wine & Spirits, Wine Enthusiast, Appellation America, Imbibe, and Wines & Vines. In addition, he is a special contributor to the Dallas Morning News and the author of The Wine Roads of Texas; he served as executive producer for the three-part PBS documentary based on the book.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Artisan (June 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579653707
• ISBN-13: 978-1579653705
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Wine > Collecting

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little book February 10, 2011

By magellan HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

This book consists of several hundred brief essays on various wine topics. It's literally chock full of fun and interesting tidbits of info and trivia about wine. It's organized by overall subject such as winemaking, how to read a label, or wine growing regions, so it's not a haphazard collection of brief essays. Some of the descriptions of wines are a little fanciful at times, but the author's enthusiasm for the subject is contagious and the book is just fun to read, plus you'll learn quite a bit about wine. I think this book would be most appropriate for the beginning to intermediate reader. I found the chapters on types of grape varietals and wine growing regions the most interesting. It's fascinating to learn the different characteristics of each grape and how that is reflected in the wine, some of which I'd never heard of before. I read this book after reading Kevin Zrally's Wine Course book and it was perfect for that. Also I liked the quality binding and better than average paper quality, which, although a bit more expensive, makes the book easier to use and read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Try this then December 5, 2010

By Hande Z

Format:Paperback

The title of this book is a question. The answer lies in the book. It is a 359-page book filled with very useful information that a wine lover will need. It is organised and to the point. The chapters cover a range of the most generally needed information: Buying wine; reading the label; grapes; wine regions; grapes to wine; how to taste; how to serve wine; storing and aging;wine travel and learning; and a glossary.

It tells us what a pinotage is; what chenin blanc tastes like; how to find Australian bargains; what goes with sushi; and many more. It has some amusing notes too. The author described two major styles of pinot noir (a grape variety) wine as likened to "Cate Blanchett" and "Angelina Jolie" - I suppose the rest of us will have to taste just the wine and imagine what it's like to to taste the stars.

Some of the information may be a little exaggerated, for example, when he teaches us how to pair nebbiolo (a grape variety) wine he says that the nebbiolo by itself is so tannic it might remind us of "sucking yesterday's tea-bag", but there are many nebbiolo wine that aren't as tannic as we are led to expect. The Australian "Two Hands" nebbiolo is tannic but not overpowering and can even be drunk easily by itself. His description of the different producer terms for Bordeaux and Burgaundy wine as "chateau" and "negociant" respectively will need clarification because they are more complicated than just a name, but the book was intended to provide specific information in brief terms for easy recollection. This was not meant to be a comprehensive book on wine, but that does not mean that it is a book meant only for the novice. It is a handy book that even the advanced wine drinker will be happy to own.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wine Lover's Reference May 26, 2011

By Kechmocash

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great little guide with a lot of useful information, especially for the wine novice. It has a nice cardboard cover, and sturdy pages so will withstand a lot of wear and tear. It would be a cute hostess gift to go along with a bottle of wine. There is information about wine regions, how to pronounce the different types of grapes and wine types, how to pair wines with different foods, and many other tidbits of information. It is also an easy read. I leave it on the coffee table, and friends often pick it up and read several pages. It's a very good reference book that won't overwhelm you with TMI!