Best of
Wine

2004

Oldman's Guide to Outsmarting Wine: 108 Ingenious Shortcuts to Navigate the World of Wine with Confidence and Style


Mark Oldman - 2004
    This is a wine guide like no other and is sure to be savored by anyone who wants their wine without the attitude.

Coffee: Growing, Processing, Sustainable Production: A Guidebook for Growers, Processors, Traders, and Researchers


Jean Nicolas Wintgens - 2004
    Apart from being a beautiful tree with fragrant flowers, coffee is also a culture, practically a religion to a certain elite and certainly a source of income to millions of people, rich and poor alike.Coffee professionals around the world will find the specific information they need in this lavishly illustrated and practical work designed to answer all their questions about the coffee plant and how it is grown, harvested, processed and refined.Specialists and experienced professionals were consulted and some 40 renowned international experts have contributed their specific knowledge and expertise to this comprehensive handbook, covering such topics as: * Growing* Pests, diseases, and their control * Harvesting and processing* Storage, shipment, quality* The latest economical and technological aspects.In addition, special indexes demystify such confusing data as information sources, conversion tables and other technicalities. With its 40 chapters, over 1000 pages and 900 superb illustrations, this is a universally reliable manual, providing basic guidelines and recommendations applicable everywhere, and not geared to any specific country.

Phylloxera: How Wine Was Saved for the World


Christy Campbell - 2004
    Bordeaux, inexplicably began to wither and die. Panic seized France, and Jules-Emile Planchon, a botanist from Montpellier, was sent to investigate. Magnifying glass in hand, he discovered the roots of a dying vine covered in microscopic yellow insects. The tiny aphid would be named Phylloxera vastatrix -- 'the dry leaf devastator'. Where it had come from was utterly mysterious, but it advanced with the speed of an invading army. As the noblest vineyards of France came under biological siege, the world's greatest wine industry tottered on the brink of ruin. The grand owners fought the aphid with expensive insecticide, while peasant vignerons simply abandoned their ruined plots in despair. Within a few years the plague had spread across Europe, from Portugal to the Crimea. the parasite had accidentally been imported from America. He believed that only the introduction of American vines, which appeared to have developed a resistance to the aphid, could save France's vineyards. His opponents maintained that this would merely assist the spread of the disease. Meanwhile, encouraged by the French government's offer of a prize of 300,000 gold francs for a remedy, increasingly bizarre suggestions flooded in, and many wine-growing regions came close to revolution as whole local economies were obliterated. Eventually Planchon and his supporters won the day, and phylloxera-resistant American vines were grafted onto European root-stock. Despite some setbacks -- the first fruits of transplanted American vines were universally pronounced undrinkable -- by 1914 all vines cultivated in France were hybrid Americans. of one of the earliest and most successful applications of science to an ecological disaster.

Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion: Red, White, and Bubbly to Celebrate the Joy of Living


Dorothy J. Gaiter - 2004
    After all, one of the most important elements of enjoying wine is not so much the vintage or the vineyard but the occasion on which it is enjoyed.In their new book, Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion, Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, authors of the popular weekly "Tastings" column in the Wall Street Journal, give you the kind of honest, accessible wine information that is hard to find.In Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion, Dottie and John, as they are known to their fans, answer the most frequently asked questions about what wine to drink on specific occasions. They cover all the bases: What wine should I put away for my newborn's twenty-first birthday? What wine is best with Thanksgiving turkey? They also suggest ways in which wine can make every day a little bit more of an occasion -- how to throw a wine tasting, how to start a wine-tasting group, even how to add wine to your tailgating party. And they share scores of tips from people like you.Chapters include lists of specific wines and provide readers with suggestions for choosing Champagne to ring in the New Year and for chilled whites (and even reds) to drink in the summer. There is no stodginess about vintages and there are no numbered ratings. Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion gives you simple, straightforward advice to help you choose the best wines for life's best moments. As Dottie and John say, "The problem with most wine books is that they are about wine. Our book is about life."So raise your glass to Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion. And drink to life.

Sherry


Julian Jeffs - 2004
    It explores the fascinating, turbulent history of the sherry region and details its wine production—from the planting of vines in the south of Andalusia and the complex stages of fermentation, ageing, and blending, to the moment it leaves the bottle. Included are details of the traditional family names and new boutique bodegas.

4000 Champagnes


Richard Juhlin - 2004
    Rich in description and practical in its application, 4000 Champagnes is divided into two main sections. The first is a passionate and comprehensive account of the Champagne region and its wines. It includes chapters on champagne's history, winemaking methodology, growing conditions, food matches, labels, a tour of the towns and villages of the French region, and sparkling wines from across the globe. In the book's groundbreaking and expansive section of tasting notes, Richard Juhlin provides the reader with practical information culled from his personal experiences at over 4000 tastings. A detailed portrait of each champagne house precedes a rating and description of each of the wines tasted there. Such depth of insight from a single source has never before been available. Written in Juhlin's authoritative and often humorous voice, 4000 Champagnes is an indispensable buying and tasting tool and an entertaining account of the history of champagne. The book includes several 'best champagnes' lists, champagne statistics, telephone numbers and addresses of thousands of champagne producers, and a glossary. 4000 Champagnes is the supreme guide to a drink that has come to epitomize luxury and elegance.

The Winemaker’s Dance: Exploring Terroir in the Napa Valley


Jonathan Swinchatt - 2004
    Jonathan Swinchatt and David G. Howell weave a tale that begins millions of years ago with the clash of continental plates that created the Napa Valley and go on to show how this small region, with its myriad microclimates, complex geologic history, and dedicated winemakers, came to produce world-class wines. A fascinating look at the art and science of winemaking and the only comprehensive book that covers Napa's geology, history, and environment, The Winemaker's Dance will help wine enthusiasts better understand wine talk and wine writing and, most importantly, wine itself. The Winemaker's Dance is animated by the voices of Napa's winemakers talking about their craft. The book also contains two driving tours through the valley that highlight the landscapes and wineries discussed. An array of unique illustrations—including shaded relief maps overlaid with color aerial photographs—provide a new and illuminating look at the region: its bedrock, sediments, soils, sun, wind, and rain. The expansive narrative considers how these elements influence wines from particular vineyards and how specific winemaking practices can bring out or mask aspects of terroir. It concludes with a discussion of the state of the winemaking industry today. Unraveling the complex relationship between the people, the earth, and the vines of Napa Valley, The Winemaker's Dance brings the elusive concept of terroir to a broad audience, adding a vibrant dimension to the experience of the valley's wines. It also provides insights that enhance our understanding of wines and winegrowing regions the world over.

North American Pinot Noir


John Winthrop Haeger - 2004
    Credit talented winemakers, enthusiastic restaurateurs, and consumers in search of alternatives to cabernet and zinfandel. Considered perhaps the ultimate food wine, pinot noir has an allure based on its special combination of aromas, flavors, and mouthfeel; on its legendary capacity to reflect the terroir where it is grown; and on its reputation for being hard to grow and make. This is the definitive work on pinot noir in North America. A comprehensive reference for winemakers and aficionados as well as a sourcebook for casual enthusiasts, it includes extensive historical and viticultural background on pinot noir in the New World and profiles of six dozen prominent producers in California, Oregon, British Columbia, and New York. John Winthrop Haeger, known for his perceptive wine writing for more than fifteen years, gives contextual and comparative information about pinot noir in Burgundy and then tells the story of wine producers' early failures, frustrations, and breakthroughs in North America. He discusses plant genetics and clones, identifies the essential conditions for really good pinot, tells where the best wines are grown and made, and analyzes the factors that determine wine styles and signatures. In the second part of the book, he presents detailed producer profiles with accessibly written tasting notes on recent and mature vintages. A final section covers glassware, vintages, wine and food pairings, and other matters of interest to consumers. Maps prepared especially for this book cover all the major pinot-producing regions in North America.

Exploring the World of Wines and Spirits


Christopher Fielden - 2004
    

Wine Dogs Deluxe Edition


Craig McGill - 2004
    Wherever wine is made, you're likely to find a good dog stalking the cellar or the vineyard. The Deluxe Edition of Wine Dogs features over 150 wineries across Australia and New Zealand and over 210 stunning photos of their loyal woofers. Wine Dogs Deluxe Edition is an expanded re-print of the original Wine Dogs book first published in 2003. Along the way, the mutts and purebreeds are interspersed with short essays by Huon Hooke, Max Allen, Snoopy, Chester Osborn, Robert O'Callaghan, Lisa McGuigan and many more. Find out which dog tried to fly John Singleton's helicopter, who bit Len Evans and discover the identity of the legendary Mars Bar thief of McLaren Vale. Wine Dogs is a photographic journal of stunning photographs and great yarns created all for the love of dogs and wine.

Wine: A Global Business


Liz Thach - 2004
    Beginning with a global perspecive on the state of the wine industry, the book then provides step-by-step basics on establishing a wine business strategy, business considerations for establishing a vineyard and producing wine, and then explores all of the marketing and sales channels for wine. In addition, chapters on wine finance, accounting, supply chain management, human resources, wine tourism, and environmental and legal issues are included. Also contains extensive bibliography and index

The Wines of Bordeaux: Vintages and Tasting Notes 1952-2003


Clive Coates - 2004
    Sumptuously produced, with a wealth of color illustrations and stunning line drawings, this book covers all the vineyards of Bordeaux—from the largest and most famous châteaux to the smallest farmsteads.Bordeaux is known for the quality, quantity, and variety of its wine. It produces twenty-five percent of the appellation contrôlée harvest in France—a great deal more than the Beaujolais, Burgundy, Alsace, Loire, or Rhône regions. It also produces all of the three main types of wine: red, dry white, and sweet white. Updating and augmenting Clive Coates's classic Grands Vins, this book shows that many of Bordeaux's wines are not only superlative but also affordable. Thirty-five years of traveling around the French vineyards has given Coates an encyclopedic knowledge of France and its wines. His love and respect for French wines is apparent as he imparts detailed information on the best vintages, tasting notes of the top wines, and up-to-the-minute advice for selecting best value wines. With clear wine descriptions that are accessible to both the uninitiated and the connoisseur, The Wines of Bordeaux increases the pleasure of traveling to this remarkable region and of selecting and enjoying its splendid wines.

Vines for Wines: A Wine Lover's Guide to the Top Wine Grape Varieties


George Kerridge - 2004
    Vines for Wines will expand the wine lover s knowledge and appreciation of a great range of wines and help to explore their individual preferences for specific varieties, blends, flavours and styles. This book is based on the highly successful "Wine Grape Varieties," which is an aid to identifying grape vines. "Vines for Wines," however, focuses on wines from the average consumer s point-of-view, introducing the different wine grape varieties and the wines made from them, including blends. Each variety is represented by a colour photograph of the grape variety, its current world plantings, wine produced and notes describing the varietal characters for each wine grape variety. The tasting terms and wine notes for each variety provide a benchmark for the consumer to assess the quality of wines they drink, and to allow them to share and compare their experiences confidently with other wine lovers. Features* Easy to read and assumes no in-depth knowledge * Explains tasting terminology and wine styles * High quality colour photographs"

Bordeaux: The Complete Guide to its Chateaux and Wines (Mitchell Beazley Wine Library)


Stephen Brook - 2004
    It is an all-embracing, comprehensive volume by an award-winning wine writer. Brook, whose books have received such prestigious awards as the Prix du Champagne Lanson, Glenfiddich, and Veuve Clicquot prizes, provides insider information about how the great Médoc, Graves, and other world-famous Bordeaux wines are produced, from the red Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignons to the sweet Sauterne whites. Detailed maps and photos cover the most famous châteaux and communes, as well as smaller specialists and newcomers worth watching.