Customer Reviews

The Winemaker's Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem; Answers to Every Question (Answer Book (Storey))

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was expecting more of a "how to deal with this type of problem" book and was surprised and dissapointed at the format and small size.
This is a compilation of Q's and answers from the "Wine Wizard" of the Winemakers magazine.
This is not new or original material and I don't think I would have purchased this book had I been aware of the the format.
But... having read it through, it is absolutely filled chock full of good stuff. Lots of commonsensical advice and insights. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it offers a real refreshing way of approaching winemaking.
I highly recommend it as the 3rd or 4th book on winemaking on your shelf.
My only request to the author- please write a real book on the subject ! Your style and substance is much appreciated and a new book will be much anticipated by the wine making public !

I enjoyed reading through this book when I was just making kit wines, and when I got my hands on some real grapes it was invaluable! Definitely a book every home winemaker should have in their library. Very nicely organized, easy to find your answers when you're covered in grape juice and need them fast!

Alison Crowe dedicates this book to her two grandmothers and all those who "taught her that a woman's place is doing whatever she sets her mind to". This reviewer found that sentiment to be typically Californian, conjuring up many images of what one might call the golden state's "social terroir". Regional mentalities notwithstanding, WAB is just a great book about wine, and packed full of useful information that will appeal to anyone interested in making great wine. Particularly appealing is the format and page layout which begs to be picked up, flipped through, and read anywhere and at anytime. A durable cover is also appreciated, as is the size of the book and the font's ease on the eyes.

In the first part of the book one finds a simple, straightforward timeline of winemaking (for both red and white wines) that serves as an excellent "skeleton" of knowledge that, when assimilated, makes absorbing further information in the book easier- brilliant! Why aren't more books like this? She goes on to answer hundreds of questions from there!

Alison's talent as a writer comes through in clear and concise language, giving explanations that even a layman can understand with a little study. She does not overwhelm the reader with needless inundations of chemical jargon, but writes masterfully about the chemistry in simple terms.

All in all, a fantastic book!

Great book for amateurs wine makers. This book will answers many questions and problems you may have with making fine wines. I entered a international wine competition in 2007, I entered 4 different types of wine and won one gold medal. After buying this book and reading it from cover to cover, I entered 3 different types of wine and walked away with 3 medals in the 2008 comptition (one gold and 2 silvers).
This book is well worth the money,and I want to thank Alison Crowe for writeing this great book.

I am a commercial wine maker. She has collected a ton of information that we take for granted every day and written it all down. Good Job!

I was a long-time fan of Alison Crowe when she was the anonymous "Wine Wizard" in Winemaker Magazine. Well, this book "outed" her, but gave to the home winemaking world one of the best and most concise troubleshooting aids on the market. Ms. Crowe is talented, personable and always maintains her sense of humor in solving the amateur winemaker's problems. She's a Fermentation Science graduate from UC Davis and knows her stuff. This is a terrific book for amateurs of all levels -- you will never regret your purchase.

This is a nice book that will answer questions for those interested in home winemaking as well small scale wineries.

please, note i am from ukraine and i love the book so much that i start thinking about to translate it into russian for our wine professionals or amateurs can use the information as well. and it is pocket size so you can have it at hand any time you are at the vineyard or cellar. highly recommend!!!

This book is just what i wanted. It has answered all my questions about my wine. I would reccomend this to any beginner in the wine making.

I wish I had read this first before I bought my wine-making kit, because it has advice that begins with such basics. I also liked "Vines to Wines" but it doesn't have the same information for newbies as does "Wine Maker's Answer Book". Alison Crowe is thorough without being long-winded and stays on point. The 384 page guide is published as a small soft cover, but has a stitched binding and stiff cover that will hold up well over time. I highly recommend this book even for those who might not actually ferment wine but simply want to learn more about the process.