Wine Buying Companion for Dummies [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 1997 | Series: For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)

The great thing about buying wine is that you have so many vintages and so many labels to choose from. However, this multitude of choices is also daunting -- and risky, too, when you consider the expense that is sometimes involved. Fortunately, Wine Buying Companion For Dummies comes to the rescue with concise evaluations you can trust.

Just as in their other wine guides, Red Wine For Dummies, White Wine For Dummies, and Wine For Dummies, authors and connoisseurs Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan talk about wine in terms that make sense and that really mean something. You'll find complete sentences -- not the poetic but abstract strings of adjectives you may find in many other wine guides.

Take this handy guide with you whether you're purchasing wine from a supermarket, wine shop, tasting room, or even over the Internet. You'll be able to try out new wines and more than likely be pleasantly surprised for a change.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"A thirst-inspiring guide to the pleasures of wine." — Kermit Lynch, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant "It is rare to find two people who are knowledgeable, passionate and objective enough to understand individual preferences with the ability to convey these perceptions with such style…take advantage of it!" —Burt Williams, Williams & Selyem Winery

Features Over 500 Reviews of Wine by Style, Origin, and Price!

Do you stand in the store for hours trying to find a great-tasting wine that doesn't cost a fortune? Does the thought of choosing a bottle of wine for your next dinner party make you break out in hives? Don't stress out! Let the Wine Buying Companion For Dummies^™ guide you in your search for fabulous wines for any occasion. Whether you're looking for a marvelous Merlot for under $15 or you want to celebrate with a fine Champagne, this guide has it all! Let These Icons Guide

• Highlights some of Ed's favorite wines
• Pinpoints wines that Mary favors
• Flags quality wines that cost less than you expect

Inside, you'll discover how to:

• Navigate any wine store with clear information about wine names, appellations, and producers of the wine you're looking for
• Buy sensational wine from around the world, including the U.S., France, Italy, Spain, Chile, South Africa, and others!
• Purchase the best wine within your budget, with recommendations for red and white wines over and under $15
• Serve fabulous Champagne and other sparkling wines that don't cost you a fortune
• Expand your palate by spring-boarding from wines you know to less-familiar wines of a similar style
• Recognize dependable producers that you can trust to deliver quality wine
• Choose the best wine to enhance meals ranging from hamburgers to filet mignon, and pizza to paella
• Develop your own ratings and tastes with expert tips and techniques

About the Author

About the Authors Ed McCarthy is a certified wine educator, writer, consultant, and collector who has been active in the wine trade for over 20 years. He contributes to Wine Enthusiast magazine and is the coauthor of Wine For Dummies^™, Red Wine For Dummies^™, and White Wine For Dummies^™. Mary Ewing-Mulligan, MW is co-owner and director of the International Wine Center in New York. She is the only American woman Master of Wine, a title signifying the highest level of knowledge in the wine trade, and is one of only 14 Masters of Wine in the United States. She is the co-author of Wine For Dummies^™, Red Wine For Dummies^™, and White Wine For Dummies^™.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 414 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (September 19, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764550438
• ISBN-13: 978-0764550430
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,203,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for Beginners, April 12, 2001

By 

"nov8iv" (Herndon, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wine Buying Companion for Dummies (Paperback)

This book is a good companion guide to "Wine for Dummies", with a more precise emphasis (as the title implies) on wine purchase. A wine-food chart is helpful for pairing wine varietals with meals. The book is smaller than "Wine for Dummies," so it can be thought of as a pocket guide that can be brought along on shopping trips. Overall, it is a precise, no-nonsense guide to wine basics. Wonderful for beginners, but probably nothing new to seasoned oenophiles.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but Dated, December 2, 2002

By 

Randy Given (Manchester, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wine Buying Companion for Dummies (Paperback)

This is a good book but it is dated. I also purchased "Wine for Dummies" (WfD) by the same authors. I recommend that, instead (not necessary to get both, at least at first). The WfD book has excellent coverages of different countries and that information provides a great deal of groundwork. Only if you know all of that information cold, then consider this book.

Much of the vintage information is dated. The authors mention in WfD that vintage is much less important, yet they refer to it often, as in this book. This is to be expected, but not quite consistent with their theories. That being said, much of the date related information is old -- 5 years is past prime for many wines that we buy for drinking with our dinners. Hence, I think it is dated and it is much better just to refer to WfD.

2 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uninformed Senior, July 3, 2000

By 

Jack Nicholson (Kirklin, Indiana USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wine Buying Companion for Dummies (Paperback)

I was not a dining out person. Never aquired a knowlege of wines. Or how to order them. Have read pamplets in liquor stores. But still can't pronounce many of the names of wines. I am hoping that Dummys will help me.