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The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Edition
 
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The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Edition (Hardcover)

by Jancis Robinson (Editor)
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
With more than 3,000 entries on every aspect of wine from vine pests to specific grapes, this hefty tome has something for both the seasoned connoisseur and novice alike. Edited by one of today's premier wine columnists, the work covers all aspects of wine, travelling back in time to early Greece to examine wine's role in Dionysian revels, then returning to today's wine centers to explore all aspects of wine appreciation. A full third of the book is dedicated to specific wines and wine-producing regions. All those technical terms you've heard and puzzled over at tastings are clearly explained, making this the perfect reference for newcomers to the world of oenology.

For the true connoisseur, The Oxford Companion offers detailed information on the history of the vintner's art, as well as a plethora of details on everything from climate effects on vine disease to the function of the second malolactic fermentation. If you buy only one wine book, this should be it. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
This essential addition to reference collections breaks new ground. Unlike the excellent works by Alexis Lichine (e.g., Alexis Lichine's Guide to the Wines and Vineyards of France, Knopf, 1989. 4th ed.) or Hugh Johnson (e.g., Vintage, S. & S., 1992), which are standard sources on the growing, buying, drinking, tasting, and enjoying of wine, this work broadens the discussion to "less obvious topics, such as animals (their function as vine pests), auctions, the specific influence of the British, and Australians, on the world of wine, fashion, fraud, global overproduction, wine in literature and art, and the role of water throughout wine production." About 3000 alphabetically arranged entries range from the most familiar topics, such as "California," to the quite obscure (e.g., "Xynisteri," a white grape grown on Cyprus). Yet those less interested in the esoterica of wine will surely find the information they seek, as about 70 percent of the book is concerned with specific wines and areas of wine production. There is also practical guidance on such matters as serving wine and matching the right wine with the right food. Editor Robinson, who writes regularly for the Wine Spectator, is widely respected for her taste and abilities. Here she assembles an international cast of over 70 experts. Since only a small number are from the United States and since many may be unfamiliar to the average American reader, this work is also valuable as a kind of directory of authorities on wine-related subjects. While erudite, this book is not dry; historical anecdotes abound. The text is complemented by over 250 fascinating illustrations, which include an aroma wheel, maps, a red wine-making chart, labels, a varietal geneaology, a wine-tasting sheet used by judges, and more. This book, which offers something for everyone, is highly recommended.
Wendy Miller, Lexington P.L., Ky.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 840 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 3rd edition (October 1, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0198609906
  • ISBN-13: 978-0198609902
  • Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9 x 1.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 6.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,323 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #2 in  Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Wine > Collecting
    #9 in  Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Wine > Wine & Winemaking
    #17 in  Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Spirits


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The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Edition
66% buy the item featured on this page:
The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Edition 4.8 out of 5 stars (56)
$40.95
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Customer Reviews

56 Reviews
5 star:
 (46)
4 star:
 (9)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (56 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
104 of 107 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars *The* reference for anyone who enjoys wine, October 26, 2000
Some reference books sit on the shelf, forgotten, hoping to be used someday in the future when someone has a desperate need to know how to calculate the third log value of an arctangent.

This book is as far removed from that fate as a Petrus is from a White Zinfandel!

At least once a week I have opened up this gorgeous wine tome and looked up the answer to a question, or read more about a particular wine I was enjoying. With over 3,000 entries to choose from, you can explore the ancient roots of wine in Iraq and Egypt, or learn about new vine-growing techniques winemakers are using in Washington State. The information is clearly written, well illustrated, and not overly technical.

Jancis Robinson, the editor of the tome, is well known in the industry for her knowledge and fluency in wines of all types. Combine her amazing knowledge with fantastic photographs of each wine region, and even reviews of various personalities in wine, and you have a book that you'll keep on the coffee table and actually read often! Be warned - you can lose guests in its pages for hours.

The book is great for a beginner. Confused about Beaujolais Nouveau? Want to know how a White Zinfandel differs from a Red Zinfandel? The Oxford Companion to Wine has clear, concise descriptions of all wine types, explaining their histories, their characteristics, and where they're found now.

The Companion is also a boon for experienced drinkers. It goes into the fine details of how wines are grown, and how various winemakers use different techniques to bring out the best in their particular grapes. There are maps of wine regions, and insights into what makes certain wines unique.

Great as a gift for your favorite wine drinker, but buy one for yourself, too! The book is a wonderful reference tool to have around the house. With its lovely photos of France, Italy, and Spain, it serves as a wine-lovers guide to places to visit or dream about, and wines to drink while doing so. Highly recommended as the only wine book you should ever need.

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66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An Exhaustive (but not exhausting) Wine Reference, December 16, 1999
By Frederic Woodbridge (Boca Raton, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
The sheer breadth of what this astounding book offers is almost too good to be true. I just started out learning about wine and I wish this had been the first book I cracked open. Jancis Robinson shows her immense talent as an editor and should be commended. If you're learning about wine, this is the book to get. If you already know about wine, get it anyway. You won't reget the purchase.
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32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best wine reference book in existence, July 14, 2000
By Peter Meyaart (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
As a wine industry professional and card-carrying wine geek I can say that this is the single best wine reference book out there. If you're a beginner look elsewhere, but if you're someone who needs to know the grape parentage of Huxelrebe or the history of Chateauneuf du Pape then this is the book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars a little too much book
I wanted a book that would give me a starting point of the fundamentals in wine, the basics. However, this book goes over the top in detail. Read more
Published 23 days ago by E. Gonzalez

5.0 out of 5 stars Great tool!
Great tool to clarify any doubts you might have about wine regions, types of wine, grape varieties, etc.
Published 5 months ago by Joana Mesquita

5.0 out of 5 stars Oxford Companion to Wine
Excellent book, contains just about anything anyone would want to know about wine from growing the grapes to describing the different varieties of wines.
Published 6 months ago by John W. Stitt

5.0 out of 5 stars Efficient service as usual.
Cheaper than anywhere else. The book came in 4 days with the free super saver shipping. Amazon rules.
Published 6 months ago by Benjamin Lemoine

5.0 out of 5 stars best wine resource bar none
This is a must have reference book for all wine enthusiasts, wine professionals, students of wine, and sommeliers.
Published 8 months ago by Adam Dial

5.0 out of 5 stars It's all there
I would recommend this for anyone interested in wine from the novice to Robert Parker (I'm betting he has a copy). Four friends have purchased this book after looking at mine.
Published 11 months ago by Emery E. Nelson

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Encyclopedia
The Oxford Companion to Wine is a great encyclopedia for wine lovers. It covers a great breadth of topics, deeply enough to be informative, but in a short enough fashion to keep... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Robert L. Milton

5.0 out of 5 stars It must be great
Along with most of the reviewers here, my wine-knowledgeable friends, to whom I gave this book as a wedding anniversary present, were extraordinarily pleased. Read more
Published 14 months ago by RD_C_4_life

5.0 out of 5 stars Value for Money
I have been working in the wine industry for many years and I have never come across a more complete reference book. It is worth every cent. Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. Mitchell

5.0 out of 5 stars Wine books
The Oxford Companion to Wine is one of the best books about wine that I have seen.
Published 18 months ago by Fred D. Brown

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