The Wines of France: The Essential Guide for Savvy Shoppers (Paperback)

by Jacqueline Friedrich (Author) "Bordered by the Vosges mountains to the west and the Rhine River to the east, the region of Alsace snakes its way in a long,..." (more)
Key Phrases: promising domaine, young domaine, family domaine, Côtes du Rhône, Coteaux du Languedoc, Premier Crus (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
It manages to make comprehensible a mass of information that is incomprehensibly dense and varied. . . Friedrich gives serious as well as casual wine students entr?©e to some of the world'¬?s most interesting wines. And for that we should all be grateful.-Wine News"[Friedrich] embraces France region by region, offering opinionated reviews of producers and concise demystifications of the French nomenclature that bedevils American consumers."-New York Times"[An] ambitious and idiosyncratic compendium. There's plenty of good information on some of the cutting-edge regions of the country."-Wine Spectator"Fans of French wines will appreciate The Wines of France. . . This is a guide that won'¬?t be obsolete by next year."-San Jose Mercury News"A lively read, like spending time with a connoisseur who would rather share than preach."-Bloomberg.com and Bloomberg Radio"An incredibly useful, comprehensive, and informative guide. The French still make more great wine than any other nation in the world, but they don'¬?t make it easy to understand. Friedrich does. Novices need this book; wine geeks will want it."-Jay McInerney"Remarkable in its depth and breadth of coverage, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in exploring the diverse wines of France. It has become the favorite reference of my entire staff."-Thomas Keller, chef and owner, The French Laundry"Much needed, fabulously realized. I especially like the author'¬?s unsnobby approach and compulsively readable style. This book is full of great wines at low prices, and Friedrich understands that wine is, above all, about pleasure."-Kermit Lynch, owner, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant"I love this book! Truly one of the most comprehensive and informative books of its kind, it is an invaluable tool for the wine professional and consumer alike. Definitely the perfect companion for your next trip to the wine shop."-Caroline Styne, wine director and owner, Lucques and AOC"Most Americans have an irrational fear of French wines-the nomenclature, vintages, edgier tannins, and go?ã?°t de terroir in place of obvious fruitiness. Friedrich has done a tremendous service in demystifying what makes the wines of France as special as they are, as well as helping to preserve a diversity of wine choices in a world that is rapidly becoming more homogeneous."-Randall Grahm, owner, Bonny Doon Vineyard"Straightforward, clear, and concise, Friedrich'¬?s book teaches all about the revolution in French winemaking and how French wines have never been better tasting or as well-priced as they are now."-Jacques P?©pin

Product Description
An unintimidating guide to France¹s best and best-value wines, hot new winemakers, and up-and-coming wine regions, from one of the world¹s premiere authorities on the subject.

Comprehensive yet accessible listings of the top producers within each of France¹s 10 wine regions, including star ratings, price ranges, vintage information, producer contact details, and crib sheets, plus a glossary, index, and one-page crash course on ordering wine in French. Compact size makes this book your ideal personal shopper, whether browsing wine shops, perusing restaurant wine lists, or traveling the wine routes of France.

Friedrich¹s "A Wine and Food Guide to the Loire" won Veuve Clicquot, James Beard, and Julia Child awards.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580086888
• ISBN-13: 978-1580086882
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #289,047 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The guide-hater's guide to wine, December 19, 2006

By	A reader (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Normally I don't even pay attention to the wine guide genre--they're outdated almost immediately and are characterized by "points" which are almost always awarded in the highest quantity to the usual suspects. Luckily I happened to open a copy of this one, probably because the author's book on Loire Valley wines is so invaluable. This is the guide I've always wanted. The focus is on winemakers, not vintages, and Ms. Friedrich has definite tastes and preferences which (importantly) coincide with mine. She happens to know a lot more than I do, however, and has a knack for ferreting out the unusual and succinctly characterizing a winemaker and his wines in a few pithy sentences. Her emphasis on terroir-driven and naturally made wines has major appeal for me. Many of these wines, while not household names, are available in the U.S. (alas, not all) so you don't have to be planning a trip to France to benefit from this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One to get and another to give, November 25, 2006

By	M. McKinley - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Whether you are a debutante at choosing wines or a serious collector, this book is just what you've been wishing someone would write! Jacqueline Friedrich is already well-known in the food and wine writing world but her latest book is not only a handy "pocket tool" of a wine guide, it makes you feel like you've been given the keys to the cellar. Wow, just leafing through it as I walked back from the mailbox, I was grinning at many of the cleverly described entries and the way it works, with crib sheets at the end of each region and the useful how-to-order-wine-in-a-restaurant appendix.

Get one for yourself and one for each of your friends even if they may not be going to France any time soon - they'll be dreaming they were while opening a bottle of one of Jackie's recommended vintages.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wines of France: Guide for Savvy Shoppers, February 18, 2008

By	Doris L. Thompson (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Since I love French wines it's great to have a source that reviews the wines I have bought and want to buy. It also makes it easier to take information to my favorite wine store to show them what I want.