Wine Outlook

The fourth round-up post of the Wine Book Club will not be a long one, and for that, I can’t help feeling a little guilty. Since, I had to switch blogs midstream and was rather depressed over the circumstances at the time, I didn’t promote WBC 4 as much as I could/should have. It is what it is, though, and I will do my best to pass along the reviews of Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover by Jancis Robinson.

The blogger who created this project— Dr. Debs from Good Wine Under $20— seemed to enjoy the read as much as I did, having wanted to take it off the shelf for some time now. My choice gave her the impetus she needed. She found herself drawn to the writing style and “was quickly caught up in the story of how she developed from a wine novice to a wine expert.” Dr. Debs was struck, as I was, at how Jancis is very clear about the subjectivity of taste (whether it be our own palates, the time the bottle is consumed, or the food and company which tag along) and “her humility concerning what she still doesn’t know about wine.” That is why Jancis doesn’t beleive in assigning scores, which I think is refreshing to wine bloggers jaded by an onslaught of numbers.

Dr. Debs also appreciate the interesting and amusing glimpses we get into the wine world and says that by the finish, “it is almost impossible not to like her enormously and respect her deeply” for what she has accomplished as a woman in the business, and I’d say–in general. Though I think Deb hits the proverbial nail when she notes, “it is where Robinson talks about writing about wine that she is at her absolute best in what is a marvelous all-around book” and the very reason I chose it.

Kori from Wine Peeps could relate to Jancis’s belief in tasting blind as much as possible and also in the fact that wine should be enjoyed without costing an arm and possibly a leg. Kori points out that “Her philosophy dovetails nicely with our philosophy here at Wine Peeps: We believe that it is not good enough just to find good wine but to find good wine at a fair price.” She also points out one of my favorite lines, as well: I don’t want to manage my cellar. I want to drink it. A lovely sentiment indeed.
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Wine Book Club, Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover

Welcome to the 4th installment of the Wine Book Club, created by the prolific and profound Dr. Debs, as an extension of Wine Blogging Wednesday, itself an invention of Lenn Thompson— a pioneer in wine blogging.

The first time I read Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover, and the reason I chose it for WBC 4: I could not put it down. I lapped up the words of my favorite wine writer like drinking an icy beer on a hot day. It didn’t hurt that I read the book in the middle of last summer, by a lake, with a cooler of beers nearby. (Yes, there was wine, too.)

The fact that my biggest concerns during the camping trip were what to cook for dinner and how to get a real shower made Jancis Robinson’s adventures that much easier to get caught up in. I found her a kindred spirit in how she began her career into wine without much background. When she wrote of her first job that “The pay was no great shakes but, hey, who’s counting when a lifetime in wine trade beckons (as thousands of wine trade employees have reasoned before and since),” I had to write I feel that in the margin. The plonk she drank, I could also relate to. On the other hand, I loved reading about wines that she was lucky enough to taste, so that I could live vicariously through her, sniffing Thomas Jefferson’s famous bottle, or the parades of Bordeaux from the same vintage with the Penning-Roswells and Broadbents. Or the grand tastings, some blind, put on by the likes of Hardy Rodenstock or Madame Lalou. And of course, I felt especially chummy when she couldn’t read her own tasting notes or left them on a bus due to too much consumption, a problem I’ve had once or twice.

However, this re-read found me with many more concerns than the last time: (more…)

I’ve finally had a chance to peruse the copy of 1000 Best Wine Secrets that I was sent for review. It’s written by Carolyn Hammond and available at Amazon for $11. Apparently, this is one in a series of 1000 Best (other examples include tips for weddings and organization), which confirms my assessment that this would be a good tool for a beginner.

Strong points
The lay-out allows the reader to scan facts individually…picking up a bit here and there…although there are chapters, such as “Serving Wine Like a Pro” and “Swiss Wine.” The index is fairly comprehensive, and there is a comparatively thorough section on French wines. In addition to flavor generalizations, the author also includes random tasting notes of specific wines.

Weaker points
The numbered facts, while making it easy to scan, can cause a disjointed feeling when reading, as the ideas jump back and forth. My other major concern was that some of the break-down by country seemed to focus on information about the same producers over and over. I especially noticed this in the sections on Champagne and California. With CA, it was Rosenblum (of which I’m a big fan and can afford) and the unattainable Screaming Eagle (which I cannot).

Overall, an easy approach and good way to get some information under your belt quickly.

wine book, review, 1000 Best Wine Secrets

While Jancis Robinson holds the place closest to my heart, Andrea Immer is another legendary woman in wine. Her Great Wine Made Simple is one of those wine books gets on lists and shelves, most likely because it helps make the mystique less mysterious.

However, I’d like to recommend Andrea Immer’s Wine Buying Guide for Everyone.

Not only is it compact enough to fit in a purse or even a back pocket, but you will want to put it in one of those places. You’re going to want to take it with you, whether you’re going out to eat or to the store to pick out a bottle for dinner or a gift.

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A book that begins with a quote by Julia Child can’t be bad.

And though the title might make you think it’s all about food, wine terms definitely show up in the Food Lover’s Companion. Published by Barron’s, the compact book contains around 6,000 terms. Where else can you go to find the differences between chowder and bisque, salsa and chutney, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc?

It’s one of the best presents I was ever given: useful for resolving arguments, figuring out the best cut of meat, providing background information for poetry (I have one about garlic and another about salt), and more.

Get one today for the food and/or wine lover in your life. Or yourself.