Wine for Women: A Guide to Buying, Pairing, and Sharing Wine [Hardcover]

Leslie Sbrocco (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 14, 2003

"Wine is not to fear or revere, but to enjoy," says Leslie Sbrocco, wine expert. And that's exactly what she shows you how to do in Wine for Women, the first wine book written exclusively for women -- the majority of wine consumers.

In Wine for Women, Leslie Sbrocco scraps the stuffy wine-speak and deals with what women really want to know about wine. The book includes shopping guides with hundreds of recommended wines, quick ideas for wine-friendly meals, and creative tips for sharing wine with family and friends.

Organized into easy-to-manage sections, Wine for Women appeals to all levels of wine lovers. From Sauvignon Blanc to Chenin Blanc, Merlot to Malbec, and pink wines to dessert wines, Leslie Sbrocco makes her enormous knowledge of wine entertaining enough for the serious wine lover and accessible enough so any novice can feel like an expert.

Each chapter focuses on a different variety of wine, and covers what Leslie calls the big three -- how to buy, pair, and share wine. You'll learn how to make smart buying decisions in stores and restaurants. Leslie also gives you practical advice for pairing wine and food and offers insights on entertaining with wine, whether you're having an informal picnic or planning the most formal of weddings.

Confused between Chardonnay and Champagne? Think little black dress versus sequins. And Pinot Gris? Think your wine wardrobe's basic jeans. With her relaxed, friendly approach, Leslie makes it easy to understand the differences between wines and encourages women to explore and enjoy wine in their everyday lives.

Keep Wine for Women in your kitchen. Bring it into your living room. Refer to it before you hit the wine shop, or when you just want an excuse to read, relax, and have a sip of something that's really you.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Some readers, men in particular, will bridle at the title of this introductory guide by first-time author Sbrocco. What follows, however, is an informed yet accessible approach that places wine back in its traditional place at the center of the family dinner table and at the heart of everyday celebrations. Writing for women who have to rush home from demanding jobs to prepare the family meal, Sbrocco caps off chapters on different grapes and all styles of wine with a section called "Design-a-Dinner" that offers easy-to-prepare recipes and pantry staples matched to wines-creamed spinach and grilled steak or pasta with gorgonzola walnut sauce for Cabernet Sauvignon, for example. Basing her choice to speak specifically to women on industry research that confirms that women buy more wine than men (including high-end bottles), Sbrocco compares different grape varieties and styles to wardrobe essentials-Chardonnay is basic black while Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp white shirt, and peppery, intense Syrah is that "must-have" red accessory. A gimmick? No doubt about it, but the analogy works very well. Anyone who has ever tasted a good Pinot Noir knows that it truly is like "seductive satin." Come to think of it, big, powerful, indigenous American Zinfandel really does have the swaggering sex appeal of black leather pants. Sbrocco includes knowledgeable yet democratic shopping guides in every price range and peppers her narrative with myriad facts about wine, tips for entertaining and trips to wine country, as well as colorful descriptions of her travels to great wine-growing regions around the world. In the end, this is a breezy yet memorable and everyday practical resource that should appeal to all women with an interest in wine.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Leslie Sbrocco is the award-winning author of Wine for Women and a regular wine columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Her work has appeared in publications such as O, The Oprah Magazine; Family Circle; Redbook; and Working Mother. She is the host of the Emmy-nominated show Check Please! on PBS and appears regularly on national radio and television including the Today show and CNN. In addition to her writing and television work, Sbrocco is a nationally recognized speaker and wine consultant for the Kimpton Hotel Group. She lives with her family in Sonoma County, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks; 1 edition (October 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060523328
• ISBN-13: 978-0060523329
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #484,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Men, Do NOT Let the Title Fool You! October 14, 2003

By Bill Marsano

Format:Hardcover

By Bill Marsano. The only thing I don't like about this book is the title. Yes, women buy most of the wine in this country. Yes, women are better tasters than men. But why take the risk of losing a whole sex as your audience? So let me say right away: This book is for men, too. It would be a mistake to miss it.

It's almost unkind to say this is a book for beginners because there are so many of those around and they are so often failures. Not this one. Sbrocco starts off fresh and plain and simple--and stays that way. She doesn't, as do so many others, suddenly fall to prattling about "degrees Brix" and "clonal selection." Instead of jargon and intimidation she concentrates on the real values of wine: fun, pleasure, charm, cheer, warmth, and delight. She's got her own way of expressing things, and it works. When she tells you that Pinot Grigio is the denim of wines; when she tells you that the effect of acid in wine is like that of a push-up bra--it lifts and separates--you know what she's talking about, laugh out loud, and want to hear more.

Sbrocco knows that wine's foremost place in life is beside food--it is the grace of the civilized table. And so if you know of any wine, look it up and see what she suggests you eat with it. Do that; then look up a dish (or one of her recipes), and see what she suggests you drink with it. Do that, too. Rinse and repeat. Pretty soon you'll understand why I'm so over the moon about this delightful, happy, funny book.--Bill Marsano has won a James Beard medal for writing on wines and spirits; he is also the Wine Editor of Hemispheres Magazine, the in-flight monthly of United Airlines.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! Finally A Wine Book I Can Relate Too October 23, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Knowing a little about wine and food, I was naturally interested in this book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but after reading it I can say, this is the BEST wine appreciation book I've seen out there.
It has helped me a great deal not only learn more about wine, but the food ideas and recipes are great too!
The author's style is light and fun to read, but most importantly I learned a ton about wine and food and am ready to share my new found knowledge with family and friends.
Now when I go to the supermarket, I will be able to find more wines I like.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in knowing more about wine, food as you will learn alot.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I'll Meet You In The Wine Aisle! October 14, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I USE to be intimidated by the wine aisle but no more! This book is easy to read, easy to understand and best of all - it makes selecting wine less confusing, less of a challenge and alot more fun.

I appreciated the varied price ranges for wines and the recipes with wine suggestions. And while I can't claim after reading this book to be a wine expert, I can say I now feel more confident and knowledgeable when selecting a wine at a restaurant or purchasing wine for my family or as a gift.

I would highly recommend this book - it was an enjoyable read and will be a great reference guide for years to come.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Wonderful Book! February 2, 2004

By MestaySS VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wow! What a great, well-written book! This book will teach you everything you want to know about the varieties of wine, how each type of wine is made, what regions have what tastes, and even meals you can prepare to match wine to! This book is a perfect gift for any wine lover, and it is also great to have if anyone wants to learn more about wine. It tells you great low priced wine, and exactly how it tastes, so you can decide whether or not you'd like to purchase it. Wonderful book! Very highly recommended!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, easy to read February 9, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great for a beginner wanting to learn more about wine. This clears up what the different types of wine are, what to serve with and other everyday questions.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible, well written, and fun to read! December 23, 2003

By Jennifer Sanborn

Format:Hardcover

I'm pleased to say that I've learned A LOT in just the two days I spent reading this in my spare time. If I'd had the time, I'd have read this in one sitting. The wine wardrobe metaphor is very well thought out, and thinking of food as bottoms (proteins, mostly), tops (veggies, sauces), and accessories (herbs, spices, etc) is a great extension. I can't wait to try some of the sauce recipes with my favorite foods and bottles. I plan to make some maps of California, Australia, France, Italy, Washington, Oregon, etc, etc, to start mapping out the wines I have that I like, and continue to build on what I've already learned from this book. I've recommended it to two male friends as well, and am giving it as a gift this holiday. This book was obviously well researched, and I was pleased to find two or three of the recommended wines in my local supermarket in rural Wisconsin, without looking hard. Plenty of good humor and playfulness along with excellent information.. Brava, Leslie, brava... Lei e' molto gentile, intelligente. Io so Lei conosce bene e piacciono i vini!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wine Book for both Genders February 21, 2004

By "bbovyn"

Format:Hardcover

Leslie Sbrocco's Book titled: "Wine for Women: A guide to buying, Pairing and Sharing Wine", is primarily written for women. However, it's very good book for guys too, in that the information is useful, and will greatly enhance anyone's wine appreciation and knowledge. Guy's I strongly encourage you to consider buying this book for your wives or girlfriend's if they appreciate wine and would like to learn more about wine.You'll be a real hit with your favorite lady, for sure. Leslie tailor's this book to women, comparing different wines to women's wardrobes, and with a great balance of humor and useful information.

I had the pleasure of sitting in one of Leslie's seminar's at this year's Boston Wine Expo, and Leslie truly is very knowledgeable and really knows how to reach an audience of all wine comprehension levels.

Buy the book you, or that special lady in your life will love it!