The Official Guide to Wine Snobbery (A Cult Classic) (Hardcover)

~ Leonard S. Berstein (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Hailed as the most entertaining reference to wine culture, The Official Guide to Wine Snobbery arms readers with valuable knowledge of wine etiquette, while identifying those senseless acts of snobbery that often lead to embarrassing situations. Included in this book are tips for discreet palate cleansing, a list of "In" and "Out" wines, and the very surprising outcome of a blind tasting in which California vintages proved superior to some highly regarded French labels.

Wine books are generally interested in the soil content of the Napa Valley, endless vintage charts, and everything else that is boring about the making and drinking of wine. This book satirizes the pomposity of wine drinking. Leonard Bernstein separates the enthusiast from the snob in this humorous guide to high-brow wine etiquette. From the ritual of cork sniffing, to the act of sending back a bottle, the wine snob is exposed and explained with sharp wit and insight.

With 150,000 copies of its original printing sold internationally, this classic book is once again available to wine lovers around the world.

About the Author

Leonard S. Bernstein's work includes a collection of poetry, short stories and numerous articles for the New York Times, the Village Voice and several other publications. He currently resides in Westbury, New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Barricade Books (October 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569802610
• ISBN-13: 978-1569802618
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #492,145 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funniest Wine book ever, February 3, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Official Guide to Wine Snobbery (Paperback)

The book is written as an autobiographical story about Bernstein's quest to reach the upper ranks of wine snobbery. He covers what to order and when (and how to go from impressive to daringly impressive w/out spending too much) paring wine with food, what to do with the cork, how to taste wine without looking dumb, best names for wine ever, etc.

This book is great for beginners because it's a great way to learn, or for someone who already "knows it all" when it comes to wine because it's so funny. I've bought this book as a gift for several people and they always comment on it months later. While I suppose you could learn to become quite a wine snob, it's easier to laugh at them. I also noticed that my confidence around wine improved when I realized that the main thing a "real wine snob" did was ignore all "rules" about wine with confidence.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amiably and expertly written guide, December 8, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The Official Guide To Wine Snobbery by Leonard S. Bernstein is an amiably and expertly written guide to everything from how to properly hold a wine glass, to matching foods and wines, to popular controversies surrounding wines and their tasting, and a great deal more. Informed and informative, The Official Guide To Wine Snobbery is an enjoyable, accessible, 160-page instructional guide which is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the pastime and culture of wine tasting.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great reading, February 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Official Guide to Wine Snobbery (Paperback)

This book is out of print and I managed to get a used copy as a gift to a friend. I first read it a few months ago, also a few months after I first got interested in wine. This is great reading for anyone into wine tasting, even only remotely. It not only gives you quite some information about French wines (occasionally American ones), but also teaches you how to be snobbishly cool with the whole thing with scathing humor. You'll laugh as you read through and recognize as well as make fun of your own snobbery in the future.