The Wine Snob's Dictionary: An Essential Lexicon of Oenological Knowledge (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: food snob, tasting term, wine writer, Napa Valley, Wine Snob, Old World (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A nicely structured, lightly acidic addition to the handy Snob’s Dictionary series, decoding the baffling world of winespeak from A to Z.

Wine Snob. The very phrase seems redundant, doesn't it? When faced with this snobbiest of snobberies, the civilian wine enthusiast needs the help of savvy translators like David Kamp and David Lynch. Their Wine Snob’s Dictionary delivers witty explication of both old-school oeno-obsessions (What's claret? Who's Michael Broadbent?) and such new-wave terms as "malolactic fermentation" and "fruit bomb." Among the other things Kamp and Lynch demystify:

Finish: the Snob code-term for "aftertaste." (Robert Parker includes the stopwatch-measured length of a wine's finish in his ratings.)

Meritage: an American wine classification that rhymes with "heritage," and should NEVER be pronounced "meri-TAHJ."

Terroir: that elusive quality of vineyard soil that has sommeliers talking of "gunflint," "leather," and "candied fruits"

Featuring ripe, luscious, full-bodied illustrations by Snob's Dictionary stalwart Ross MacDonald, The Wine Snob’s Dictionary is as heady and sparkling as a vintage Taittinger, only much less expensive... and much more giggle-inducing. Cheers!

About the Author

DAVID KAMP is a writer and editor for Vanity Fair and the author of The United States of Arugula, The Food Snob’s Dictionary, The Film Snob’s Dictionary, and The Rock Snob’s Dictionary. DAVID LYNCH is a James Beard Award—winning writer, sommelier, and restaurant manager, having served as wine director of Babbo Ristorante for seven years. Both authors live in New York City. ROSS MACDONALD’s illustrations have appeared in many publications, from The New Yorker to The Wall Street Journal.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (October 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767926927
• ISBN-13: 978-0767926928
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #69,699 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Funny, and Useful wine guide, October 25, 2008

By	Joan Phillips (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews

No surprise: David Kamp has produced the perfect pairing for his Food Snob's Dictionary, which was the much-appreciated holiday gift to all my fancy foodie friends last season. This oenological guide from an author whose specialties include food, pop culture, and humor writing, perfectly satisfies my thirst for wine knowledge and did-you-know factoids, and my desire to giggle at the cork-sniffers. It's really fun and funny and yes, quite informative as well. The book's size and design are charming, too.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wine Snob's Dictionary, February 12, 2009

By	Kimberly Matthews - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is definitely a fun but accurate book. It provides quick and easy education regarding wine. It is by no accident that the author presents a "snobby" tone, but this is part of the fun. Witty and worthwhile.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Food Snobs who need wine help, November 2, 2008

By	Lina Plath "Lina Plath" (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We are food snobs but do not know enough about wine. This book elevates us to the perfect wine/food snob duo. It is the go to book for all dinner parties.