Change is in the air and change is coming to the Wine Book Club. Dr. Debs, of Good Wine Under $20, is the creator of Wine Book Club and has recently anounced some significant changes to the event.
First, the event will now occur monthly rather than every other month. Second, Dr. Debs will select and announce the monthly title on the first Thursday of every month. She will then explain why she feels the title is a worthy one. If you want to participate that month, then you should post your book review any time that month. Dr. Debs will then post a roundup on the last Thursday of each month.
The selection for January is George Saintsbury's Notes on a Cellar-Book, a book first published in 1920. If you are participating this month, send Dr. Debs a link to your review by January 28 so she can write a round-up post on January 29.
Dr. Debs has also posted the titles for the next few months as well, including:
February: Champagne: How the World's Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War by Don Kladstrup
March: Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch
April: The Science of Wine by Jamie Goode
Let us hope participation in Wine Book Club increases in 2009!
Showing posts with label wine book club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine book club. Show all posts
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Wine Book Club #5: Roundup
"Discovering an enjoyable wine from another corner of the world may be exciting, but actually tasting it remains another challenge altogether--often a political one."
(Wine Politics, p.148)
Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 and who chose the selection for Wine Book Club #5, Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wine We Drink by Tyler Colman, has now posted a roundup of all the book reviews. Though only seven people participated, it was great to see some new people join in the reviews.
Overall, the reviews were positive with only minor criticisms, as well as some feeling the book could have been longer. Tyler definitely could expand upon numerous topics from his book and create his own series of wine & politics books. Dr. Debs made a good choice in this book and has done an excellent job of summarizing the reviews. Check out her roundup and then check out Wine Politics.
(Wine Politics, p.148)
Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 and who chose the selection for Wine Book Club #5, Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wine We Drink by Tyler Colman, has now posted a roundup of all the book reviews. Though only seven people participated, it was great to see some new people join in the reviews.
Overall, the reviews were positive with only minor criticisms, as well as some feeling the book could have been longer. Tyler definitely could expand upon numerous topics from his book and create his own series of wine & politics books. Dr. Debs made a good choice in this book and has done an excellent job of summarizing the reviews. Check out her roundup and then check out Wine Politics.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Wine Book Club #5: Wine Politics
The Presidential elections near and political issues have been at the top of the news for many months. Health care, taxes, the stock market, the price of oil, climate change and much more. Yet the politics behind the wine industry has received scant attention. Until now.
Today is the 5th edition of Wine Book Club, the Back to School/Politics edition. Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 chose the book for our review: Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wine We Drink by Tyler Colman (University of California Press, $27.50). You may better recognize Colman as Dr. Vino, a well known wine blogger, though he is also a wine writer and educator. If you are not reading his blog, you should definitely do so.
This is a short book, only 148 pages, not counting notes, bibliography and the index. The book concentrates on the interplay of business and government in the wine industry. Its primary focus is a comparison between the Bordeaux region of France and the Napa region of California, though it also covers issues of importance for wine regions all over the world. The genesis for this book originated in Colman's PhD dissertation and thus it presents more of an academic feel to it. As such, it may not be as accessible to the casual wine lover.
Yet those who are more passionate about wine, who enjoy learning about more than grape varieties and wine regions, will hopefully gravitate towards this book. This is a very well written and professional book, presenting an intriguing overview of wine politics. It covers many relevant topics of current interest, including globalization, wine critics, the three tier system, appellation reforms, natural wine making, and much more. In the more controversial areas, Colman provides a measured and neutral stance, presenting arguments for both sides.
Due to the book's short size, you receive more of an overview on the various topics, any of which could fill their own book. So, you don't receive as much information about some of the topics as you might like. You will at least understand the main points and can then do additional research for more details. After reading this book, you will realize the complexities of the wine industry, how obtaining the wine you would like is not as easy as you might prefer.
Though there are many new wine titles being published all the time, books like this are a rarity. Far too many wine buying guides and introductory wine texts are crowding the book store shelves. I hope to see far more of these types of books get published. If you love wine, if you want to learn more than the usual, then check out Wine Politics.
"Discovering an enjoyable wine from another corner of the world may be exciting, but actually tasting it remains another challenge altogether--often a political one." (Wine Politics, p.148)
Today is the 5th edition of Wine Book Club, the Back to School/Politics edition. Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 chose the book for our review: Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wine We Drink by Tyler Colman (University of California Press, $27.50). You may better recognize Colman as Dr. Vino, a well known wine blogger, though he is also a wine writer and educator. If you are not reading his blog, you should definitely do so.
This is a short book, only 148 pages, not counting notes, bibliography and the index. The book concentrates on the interplay of business and government in the wine industry. Its primary focus is a comparison between the Bordeaux region of France and the Napa region of California, though it also covers issues of importance for wine regions all over the world. The genesis for this book originated in Colman's PhD dissertation and thus it presents more of an academic feel to it. As such, it may not be as accessible to the casual wine lover.
Yet those who are more passionate about wine, who enjoy learning about more than grape varieties and wine regions, will hopefully gravitate towards this book. This is a very well written and professional book, presenting an intriguing overview of wine politics. It covers many relevant topics of current interest, including globalization, wine critics, the three tier system, appellation reforms, natural wine making, and much more. In the more controversial areas, Colman provides a measured and neutral stance, presenting arguments for both sides.
Due to the book's short size, you receive more of an overview on the various topics, any of which could fill their own book. So, you don't receive as much information about some of the topics as you might like. You will at least understand the main points and can then do additional research for more details. After reading this book, you will realize the complexities of the wine industry, how obtaining the wine you would like is not as easy as you might prefer.
Though there are many new wine titles being published all the time, books like this are a rarity. Far too many wine buying guides and introductory wine texts are crowding the book store shelves. I hope to see far more of these types of books get published. If you love wine, if you want to learn more than the usual, then check out Wine Politics.
"Discovering an enjoyable wine from another corner of the world may be exciting, but actually tasting it remains another challenge altogether--often a political one." (Wine Politics, p.148)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wine Book Club: Edition #5
The selection for the Fifth Edition of the Wine Book Club has now been announced!
In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club. This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Dr. Debs herself has chosen the fifth book, Wine and Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wines We Drink by Tyler Colman. Tyler Colman is also known as Dr. Vino, which is also the name of his very well known wine blog. Tyler has also written wine articles for various magazines including Food & Wine and Wine & Spirits. The title of Colman's book is fairly self-explanatory and it is actually a short book so it should not take long to read.
I actually have already read this book and have been waiting to review it for Wine Book Club. I will at least tell you that it is well worth reading so I do hope you will participate.
Post your review and thoughts on October 28, which gives you plenty of time to read the book. Just email Dr. Debs when you have posted your review. Hopefully we will have plenty of participation.
In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club. This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Dr. Debs herself has chosen the fifth book, Wine and Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wines We Drink by Tyler Colman. Tyler Colman is also known as Dr. Vino, which is also the name of his very well known wine blog. Tyler has also written wine articles for various magazines including Food & Wine and Wine & Spirits. The title of Colman's book is fairly self-explanatory and it is actually a short book so it should not take long to read.
I actually have already read this book and have been waiting to review it for Wine Book Club. I will at least tell you that it is well worth reading so I do hope you will participate.
Post your review and thoughts on October 28, which gives you plenty of time to read the book. Just email Dr. Debs when you have posted your review. Hopefully we will have plenty of participation.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Wine Book Club #4: Tasting Pleasure
"Food and my relationship to it, is the real basis of my love of wine." (p.18)
Ok, I am a bit late on this book review but at least I finished the book and I did want to post my thoughts about it.
Farley of Wine Outlook chose the fourth book for Wine Book Club. She selected Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover by Jancis Robinson. I have previously read several of Robinson's other books but not this one so I looked forward to reading it. As this book was published in 1999, I was also curious whether it was outdated or not.
"It dawned on me that for millions of people, those living in countries like Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Argentina where wine is made in huge quantites and sold at very low prices, wine was not something obfuscated by mystique and fraught with social symbolism but just an everyday, commonplace drink." (p.20-21)
The book is primarily a memoir of Robinson's experiences with wine and within the wine industry. She was there before wine really exploded in popularity and has met and dealt with many famous people within the wine world. The "denseness" of the book impressed me by which I mean that Robinson has packed every page of this book with plentiful information. She talks about so many different things and her passion for wine is evident on every page.
Though the book is not a difficult read, it also is not a light read. You do need to pay careful attention as you might miss something through a quick skim. But try reading maybe a chapter at a time, at a leisurely pace, and savor Robinson's prose.
"What I want most from a wine for drinking (as opposed to one for tasting) is that it is appetizing and goes well with food." (p.232)
It is interesting for those in the U.S. to read Robinson's more European outlook on wine, how food and wine are two halves of the same coin. As the initial quote I posted says, without food Robinson would not have had her passion for wine. I think Americans would benefit if we began more often to treat wine as an accompaniement for food.
Robinson also does an excellent job of separating her role as a wine writer and critic from her personal life with wine. She indicates the differences between how she treats wine in those different roles, which sometimes we may not always consider. As a blogger, do you treat a wine differently that you will review than if it is a wine you will just drink for pleasure?
As a wine writer, my favorite chapter of Robinson's book may be her "On Writing About Wine." This chapter also deals with Robert Parker and she has admiration for him. Robinson also compares and contrasts American from British wine writers. For one, British wine writers are less worried about fact checking their Americans. The audience may also differ, British audiences seemingly being less concerned reading about wine and more just seeking cheap recommendations.
"And much of the thrill of wine in general is discovering bottles that cost a fraction of the universally acclaimed greats but which give every bit as much pleasure." (p.276)
What makes this book most compelling is that Robinson has her own unique voice which draws in the reader into her world, immersing them in her passion for wine. You cannot help but be fascinated by her anecdotes of famous wine personalities. You feel as if you are receiving a history lesson of the modern wine industry, though it is not some dry recitation.
I do recommend you check out this book and thanks to Farley for choosing it.
(All quotes in this post are from Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover by Jancis Robinson.)
Addendum: Farley has now posted the round-up for Wine Book Club #4 over at Wine Outlook so please check out her post and see what some other bloggers felt about this book.
Ok, I am a bit late on this book review but at least I finished the book and I did want to post my thoughts about it.
Farley of Wine Outlook chose the fourth book for Wine Book Club. She selected Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover by Jancis Robinson. I have previously read several of Robinson's other books but not this one so I looked forward to reading it. As this book was published in 1999, I was also curious whether it was outdated or not.
"It dawned on me that for millions of people, those living in countries like Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Argentina where wine is made in huge quantites and sold at very low prices, wine was not something obfuscated by mystique and fraught with social symbolism but just an everyday, commonplace drink." (p.20-21)
The book is primarily a memoir of Robinson's experiences with wine and within the wine industry. She was there before wine really exploded in popularity and has met and dealt with many famous people within the wine world. The "denseness" of the book impressed me by which I mean that Robinson has packed every page of this book with plentiful information. She talks about so many different things and her passion for wine is evident on every page.
Though the book is not a difficult read, it also is not a light read. You do need to pay careful attention as you might miss something through a quick skim. But try reading maybe a chapter at a time, at a leisurely pace, and savor Robinson's prose.
"What I want most from a wine for drinking (as opposed to one for tasting) is that it is appetizing and goes well with food." (p.232)
It is interesting for those in the U.S. to read Robinson's more European outlook on wine, how food and wine are two halves of the same coin. As the initial quote I posted says, without food Robinson would not have had her passion for wine. I think Americans would benefit if we began more often to treat wine as an accompaniement for food.
Robinson also does an excellent job of separating her role as a wine writer and critic from her personal life with wine. She indicates the differences between how she treats wine in those different roles, which sometimes we may not always consider. As a blogger, do you treat a wine differently that you will review than if it is a wine you will just drink for pleasure?
As a wine writer, my favorite chapter of Robinson's book may be her "On Writing About Wine." This chapter also deals with Robert Parker and she has admiration for him. Robinson also compares and contrasts American from British wine writers. For one, British wine writers are less worried about fact checking their Americans. The audience may also differ, British audiences seemingly being less concerned reading about wine and more just seeking cheap recommendations.
"And much of the thrill of wine in general is discovering bottles that cost a fraction of the universally acclaimed greats but which give every bit as much pleasure." (p.276)
What makes this book most compelling is that Robinson has her own unique voice which draws in the reader into her world, immersing them in her passion for wine. You cannot help but be fascinated by her anecdotes of famous wine personalities. You feel as if you are receiving a history lesson of the modern wine industry, though it is not some dry recitation.
I do recommend you check out this book and thanks to Farley for choosing it.
(All quotes in this post are from Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover by Jancis Robinson.)
Addendum: Farley has now posted the round-up for Wine Book Club #4 over at Wine Outlook so please check out her post and see what some other bloggers felt about this book.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Wine Book Cub: Edition #4
Book #4 for the Wine Book Club has now been announced. Get ready for some summer reading.
In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club. This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Farley of Behind The Vines has chosen the fourth book for Wine Book Club. She has selected It is Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover by Jancis Robinson. I have read several of Robinson's other books but not this one so I look forward to checking it out. The book was published in 1999 so I am looking forward to see if any of it is dated, or whether Robinson made any accurate predictions about the future of wine.
Please join us, read this book and find out the answers to these questions. Post your review and thoughts on Tuesday, August 26. Hopefully we will have plenty of participation.
Please also stayed tuned as Michelle from My Wine Education will be our Spin the Bottle reviewer of Natalie MacLean’s Red, White, and Drunk All Over sometime late July/early August. That is a book I previously read and reviewed and thought was an excellent book. I look forward to reading Michelle's thoughts on it.
In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club. This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Farley of Behind The Vines has chosen the fourth book for Wine Book Club. She has selected It is Tasting Pleasure: Confessions of a Wine Lover by Jancis Robinson. I have read several of Robinson's other books but not this one so I look forward to checking it out. The book was published in 1999 so I am looking forward to see if any of it is dated, or whether Robinson made any accurate predictions about the future of wine.
Please join us, read this book and find out the answers to these questions. Post your review and thoughts on Tuesday, August 26. Hopefully we will have plenty of participation.
Please also stayed tuned as Michelle from My Wine Education will be our Spin the Bottle reviewer of Natalie MacLean’s Red, White, and Drunk All Over sometime late July/early August. That is a book I previously read and reviewed and thought was an excellent book. I look forward to reading Michelle's thoughts on it.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Spin the Bottle--Saké: A Modern Guide
Are you still stumped about Saké? Would you like more advice about which Saké you might like? Well I may have an answer for you.
It is time for the next edition of Spin the Bottle, a part of the Wine Book Club. Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 founded the Wine Book Club as a reason for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book is chosen by a wine blogger for review.
The book for Wine Book Club: Edition #3 was recently announced. Lenn of Lenndevours chose To Cork or Not to Cork: Tradition, Romance, Science, and the Battle for the Wine Bottle by George Taber. Reviews will be posted on June 24.
But until that date, we have something to help tide you over. In between each edition of Wine Book Club, there is a segment called Spin the Bottle where an individual blogger is chosen to post a review of a wine book of their choosing. It is my turn this time for Spin the Bottle and I have chosen a book on a topic that is near and dear to my palate, a book on Saké.
There are actually only a limited amount of books on Saké available in English. So my options were limited. Though the decision of which book to review was not that difficult. I selected Saké: A Modern Guide by Beau Timken and Sara Deseran.
Beau Timken is the owner of True Sake, the first all-Saké store in the United States. It is located in San Francisco and I was fortunate enough to visit it a few years ago when I was out there on vacation. It is an excellent store with over 150 different types of Saké, all imported from Japan. They hold free tastings and other special events. They have a good website and they even ship to much of the country. Beau holds two professional Saké-tasting licenses and also has a master Saké sommelier license.
Saké: A Modern Guide is an excellent primer to the world of Saké. It is a small hardcover with only 120 pages, though it is loaded with information. The first portion of the book gives you a brief history of Saké, describes how it is made and talks about some Saké rituals. It also discusses how to taste and serve Saké. All of this information is provided in an easily understandable format and is perfect for the newcomer to Saké though almost everyone is bound to learn something from it.
Then, Beau provides tasting notes for fifty Sakés that he personally recommends. He does not provide numerical ratings for the Saké. He simply describes how they taste and gives some notes on how they are made. The tasting notes also give a rough comparison of each Saké to a particular type of wine. So, if you like a dry Chardonnay, you can easily find a Saké which will be similar in style. Or if you prefer full-bodied red, there is a Saké to match to that as well. Such comparisons are an excellent way to help wine lovers find Saké that might appeal to them. It can be intimidating to see dozens of different Saké and not be sure which might appeal to you. This helps makes that process easier.
Next, the book presents some recipes for dishes that would pair well with Saké, including some recipes that require Saké as an ingredient. Maybe you would enjoy some Sweet Potato Fries with a Soy-Sugar Glaze or Sake-Steamed Clams with Ginger. Yet the recipes do not end there as the final section of the book provides recipes for Saké cocktails. Try a Persimmon Passion, Cucumber Zinger, or even some Saké Sangria. This also shows the versatility of Saké, how it can be used like wine in cooking or to make intriguing cocktails.
The book is also attractive, containing numerous photographs by Scott Peterson. The photos are very elegant and well composed. You can see pictures of various Saké bottles, Saké rice, the prepared recipes, Saké cocktails and much more. The photos definitely enhance the value of this book.
This is an excellent introductory book about Saké and it covers so much territory in a small space. Even those who are more familiar with Saké will find items of benefit. Anyone seeking to learn more about Saké should definitely check out this book.
It is time for the next edition of Spin the Bottle, a part of the Wine Book Club. Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 founded the Wine Book Club as a reason for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book is chosen by a wine blogger for review.
The book for Wine Book Club: Edition #3 was recently announced. Lenn of Lenndevours chose To Cork or Not to Cork: Tradition, Romance, Science, and the Battle for the Wine Bottle by George Taber. Reviews will be posted on June 24.
But until that date, we have something to help tide you over. In between each edition of Wine Book Club, there is a segment called Spin the Bottle where an individual blogger is chosen to post a review of a wine book of their choosing. It is my turn this time for Spin the Bottle and I have chosen a book on a topic that is near and dear to my palate, a book on Saké.
There are actually only a limited amount of books on Saké available in English. So my options were limited. Though the decision of which book to review was not that difficult. I selected Saké: A Modern Guide by Beau Timken and Sara Deseran.
Beau Timken is the owner of True Sake, the first all-Saké store in the United States. It is located in San Francisco and I was fortunate enough to visit it a few years ago when I was out there on vacation. It is an excellent store with over 150 different types of Saké, all imported from Japan. They hold free tastings and other special events. They have a good website and they even ship to much of the country. Beau holds two professional Saké-tasting licenses and also has a master Saké sommelier license.
Saké: A Modern Guide is an excellent primer to the world of Saké. It is a small hardcover with only 120 pages, though it is loaded with information. The first portion of the book gives you a brief history of Saké, describes how it is made and talks about some Saké rituals. It also discusses how to taste and serve Saké. All of this information is provided in an easily understandable format and is perfect for the newcomer to Saké though almost everyone is bound to learn something from it.
Then, Beau provides tasting notes for fifty Sakés that he personally recommends. He does not provide numerical ratings for the Saké. He simply describes how they taste and gives some notes on how they are made. The tasting notes also give a rough comparison of each Saké to a particular type of wine. So, if you like a dry Chardonnay, you can easily find a Saké which will be similar in style. Or if you prefer full-bodied red, there is a Saké to match to that as well. Such comparisons are an excellent way to help wine lovers find Saké that might appeal to them. It can be intimidating to see dozens of different Saké and not be sure which might appeal to you. This helps makes that process easier.
Next, the book presents some recipes for dishes that would pair well with Saké, including some recipes that require Saké as an ingredient. Maybe you would enjoy some Sweet Potato Fries with a Soy-Sugar Glaze or Sake-Steamed Clams with Ginger. Yet the recipes do not end there as the final section of the book provides recipes for Saké cocktails. Try a Persimmon Passion, Cucumber Zinger, or even some Saké Sangria. This also shows the versatility of Saké, how it can be used like wine in cooking or to make intriguing cocktails.
The book is also attractive, containing numerous photographs by Scott Peterson. The photos are very elegant and well composed. You can see pictures of various Saké bottles, Saké rice, the prepared recipes, Saké cocktails and much more. The photos definitely enhance the value of this book.
This is an excellent introductory book about Saké and it covers so much territory in a small space. Even those who are more familiar with Saké will find items of benefit. Anyone seeking to learn more about Saké should definitely check out this book.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Wine Book Club: Edition #3
Book #3 for the Wine Book Club has now been announced.
In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club. This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Lenn of Lenndevours has chosen the third book for Wine Book Club. It is To Cork or Not to Cork: Tradition, Romance, Science, and the Battle for the Wine Bottle by George Taber. Lenn stated: "The whole cork/Stelvin/Zork topic is one that I've found myself getting more and more interested in, so this is a good choice for me personally, and one that I hope you guys are interested in too."
Can a book about wine bottle closures actually be interesting? Will it be too technical and boring? Or will the author find ways to tell a fascinating story?
Please join us, read this book and find out the answers to these questions. Post your review and thoughts on June 24. Hopefully we will have more participation than the last this time and that this event continues to grow.
Please also stayed tuned later this month for Spin the Bottle when I will review a wine-related book of my own choosing, on a topic near and dear to me.
In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club. This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Lenn of Lenndevours has chosen the third book for Wine Book Club. It is To Cork or Not to Cork: Tradition, Romance, Science, and the Battle for the Wine Bottle by George Taber. Lenn stated: "The whole cork/Stelvin/Zork topic is one that I've found myself getting more and more interested in, so this is a good choice for me personally, and one that I hope you guys are interested in too."
Can a book about wine bottle closures actually be interesting? Will it be too technical and boring? Or will the author find ways to tell a fascinating story?
Please join us, read this book and find out the answers to these questions. Post your review and thoughts on June 24. Hopefully we will have more participation than the last this time and that this event continues to grow.
Please also stayed tuned later this month for Spin the Bottle when I will review a wine-related book of my own choosing, on a topic near and dear to me.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Wine Book Club: Edition 2 Round Up
Tim of Winecast has now posted the round up for the second edition of Wine Book Club. The book this edition was Noble Rot: A Bordeaux Wine Revolution by William Echikson. I previously posted my own review of this book.
Check out Tim's review as well as his summary of the other participants. For their complete reviews, just follow the links in Tim's round up. It is also interesting to see how different people view the same people. Unfortunately, participation in this edition was small, with only seven bloggers posting reviews. That surprised me as the book this edition was a much easier and smaller read than the previous Vino Italiano. I certainly think Wine Book Club is an excellent idea, one which can be both educational and fun.
I hope that many more bloggers join us for the next edition, which should be announced around May 6. Plus, sometime near the end of May, I will be posting a special book review on a topic dear to my palate.
Check out Tim's review as well as his summary of the other participants. For their complete reviews, just follow the links in Tim's round up. It is also interesting to see how different people view the same people. Unfortunately, participation in this edition was small, with only seven bloggers posting reviews. That surprised me as the book this edition was a much easier and smaller read than the previous Vino Italiano. I certainly think Wine Book Club is an excellent idea, one which can be both educational and fun.
I hope that many more bloggers join us for the next edition, which should be announced around May 6. Plus, sometime near the end of May, I will be posting a special book review on a topic dear to my palate.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Wine Book Club #2: Noble Rot
Today is the second edition of Wine Book Club. In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club.
This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Tim of Winecast chose the second book for Wine Book Club. This is Noble Rot: A Bordeaux Wine Revolution by William Echikson. Noble Rot, which is now in paperback for $14.95, is 300 pages long and was a much easier read than the previous Vino Italiano. Not only is it a shorter book, but it is an easier read as well.
Noble Rot is a history book, centering on the Bordeaux region of France. Though the history extends back to the nineteenth century, most of the book centers on the last twenty-five years. Its main theme are the sweeping changes that have affected this wine region. I read a lot of history and found this book to be very engaging. It is an easy and interesting read which anyone might enjoy.
Robert Parker is a central focus of the book as his opinions on Bordeaux wines have had a major impact during the last twenty-five years. A generally balanced view of Parker is depicted, though it may lean a bit more on the positive side. Chateau d'Yquem, and its legendary Sauternes, are also a prime focus of the book.
I think one of the most important issues raised in this book is how change is inevitable in the world of wine, and that wineries often need to adapt to those changes, or be left behind. Tradition is good, but not to the point where the quality of the wine suffers. Adaptation is crucial. It may be marketing forces that lead to that change, or simply a better technique. This is also what those warning of the dangers of climate change have been saying, adapt or face negative consequences.
And it is not only wine makers who must adapt. Everyone in the wine industry, including us bloggers, must be willing to adapt when necessary. In fact, wine bloggers can be seen as a new technique that has led to a need for others in the wine industry to make changes. And those changes have been slow in some sectors of the wine industry who have been unsure how to handle the phenomenon of wine blogging.
Noble Rot is a good book and one I would recommend to anyone seeking out a history of Bordeaux, as well as a look at some of the changes that have affected the modern wine industry. Thanks to Tim for choosing an interesting and engaging book.
This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Tim of Winecast chose the second book for Wine Book Club. This is Noble Rot: A Bordeaux Wine Revolution by William Echikson. Noble Rot, which is now in paperback for $14.95, is 300 pages long and was a much easier read than the previous Vino Italiano. Not only is it a shorter book, but it is an easier read as well.
Noble Rot is a history book, centering on the Bordeaux region of France. Though the history extends back to the nineteenth century, most of the book centers on the last twenty-five years. Its main theme are the sweeping changes that have affected this wine region. I read a lot of history and found this book to be very engaging. It is an easy and interesting read which anyone might enjoy.
Robert Parker is a central focus of the book as his opinions on Bordeaux wines have had a major impact during the last twenty-five years. A generally balanced view of Parker is depicted, though it may lean a bit more on the positive side. Chateau d'Yquem, and its legendary Sauternes, are also a prime focus of the book.
I think one of the most important issues raised in this book is how change is inevitable in the world of wine, and that wineries often need to adapt to those changes, or be left behind. Tradition is good, but not to the point where the quality of the wine suffers. Adaptation is crucial. It may be marketing forces that lead to that change, or simply a better technique. This is also what those warning of the dangers of climate change have been saying, adapt or face negative consequences.
And it is not only wine makers who must adapt. Everyone in the wine industry, including us bloggers, must be willing to adapt when necessary. In fact, wine bloggers can be seen as a new technique that has led to a need for others in the wine industry to make changes. And those changes have been slow in some sectors of the wine industry who have been unsure how to handle the phenomenon of wine blogging.
Noble Rot is a good book and one I would recommend to anyone seeking out a history of Bordeaux, as well as a look at some of the changes that have affected the modern wine industry. Thanks to Tim for choosing an interesting and engaging book.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Wine Book Club: Edition #2
Book #2 for the Wine Book Club has now been announced.
In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club. This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Tim of Winecast has chosen the second book for Wine Book Club. This is Noble Rot: A Bordeaux Wine Revolution by William Echikson. Tim chose this book because it gives the backstory of what is wrong and right in Bordeaux in an engaging and very readable style. It is certainly a smaller book than the previous Vino Italiano so you should be able to finish this book quicker.
So read the book and then post your review and thoughts on April 29th. Hopefully we will have even more participation this time and that this event continues to grow.
In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club. This is a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read. Every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
Tim of Winecast has chosen the second book for Wine Book Club. This is Noble Rot: A Bordeaux Wine Revolution by William Echikson. Tim chose this book because it gives the backstory of what is wrong and right in Bordeaux in an engaging and very readable style. It is certainly a smaller book than the previous Vino Italiano so you should be able to finish this book quicker.
So read the book and then post your review and thoughts on April 29th. Hopefully we will have even more participation this time and that this event continues to grow.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Wine Book Club #1: Wrap Up
A extensive summary of the first edition of Wine Book Club has now been posted by by David McDuff of McDuff's Food and Wine Trail. The book was Vino Italiano! by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch. 24 bloggers participated, an admirable amount for this first wine book club event. You can see some of the commonalities of the reviews, as well as the differences too. Not everyone finished reading the weighty tome, over 500 pages, but they did make the effort.
I am certainly glad to see so much participation for this initial event and think it bodes well for even greater participation in future ones.
Tomorrow, Tim over at Winecast will be announcing the book for the second event. We have been promised it will be a smaller book this time.
Thanks to both Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20, who founded the Wine Book Club, and David McDuff of McDuff's Food and Wine Trail who chose the first book.
I am certainly glad to see so much participation for this initial event and think it bodes well for even greater participation in future ones.
Tomorrow, Tim over at Winecast will be announcing the book for the second event. We have been promised it will be a smaller book this time.
Thanks to both Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20, who founded the Wine Book Club, and David McDuff of McDuff's Food and Wine Trail who chose the first book.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Wine Book Club: Vino Italiano
The first edition of Wine Book Club launches today!
Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 founded the Wine Book Club to give wine bloggers reason to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the wine books they have read. For our first review, we read Vino Italiano! by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch. This book was chosen by David McDuff of McDuff's Food and Wine Trail. Reviews will be posted today on numerous wine blogs as well as Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari and Facebook.
Vino Italiano is a large and comprehensive reference book about Italian wines. At over 500 pages, I am sure that some had difficulty finishing it before today's deadline. Being the voracious reader that I am, I did finish the entire book. Overall, I was very pleased with what I read, though I have a couple reservations about it.
The book is broken down into three main sections. The First section, The Basics, begins with a short history of Italian wine making. It then goes on to explain Italian wine laws as well as how to read an Italian wine label. There is also a map and chart describing the principal grapes of Italy. Finally, there is a brief explanation of why an Italian wine costs more outside of the country.
The Second section, The Regions, is the vastly largest section of the book. It is broken down into chapters on nineteen geographical regions. For each region, there is a basic description of the area, both geographic and cultural. Then there is a description of their different wines, red, white, sparkling and sweet. Next, there is a selection of "fast facts" on the region as well as food and wine pairing suggestions. Finally, a representative recipe is provided.
The Third section, The Data, is a series of Appendices including a glossary of Italian wine terminology, descriptions of Italian grapes, DOC and DOCG zones, wine producers and more.
The book is easy to understand and there are some numerous, interesting anecdotes spread throughout the book. But, it still feels more like a textbook with all of the detailed information it provides. And I don't really think I could retain a fraction of the voluminous information in a single reading. This is a book that works best as a reference tool, something to turn to when you want to know more about a certain Italian wine region, varietal or producer. You probably won't find a more comprehensive reference work on Italian wines.
There is a small issue as well that some of the items in the book may be slightly outdated as it only covers up to 2004. Some of the wines mentioned in the book may not be available now, and some newer producers may not be mentioned in the book. For most of the other general information on Italian wines provided in the book, there should not be a problem. This book would make a great accompaniement to a yearly Italian wine guide.
I have long been a fan of Italian wines and have found some true gems through Adonna Imports, which imports numerous Italian wines from small producers. I will be attending an Italian wine tasting this Friday which has been set up by Adonna Imports at Salem Wine Imports. Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Northern Piedmont, will be there to showcase his wines. Christoph's vineyard is located in the Novara region of Piedmont in the Boca DOC. Christoph Künzli will also be present at two upcoming wine dinners. They will held on February 28th at The Blue Room in Cambridge and March 3rd at Il Capriccio in Waltham. I will be attending the dinner at Il Capriccio.
A couple weeks ago, I tasted his 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina ($12.99), from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC from Boca. The wine is made from three unusual Italian grapes and one common one, including Croatina, Vepsolina, Uva Rara and Nebbiolo. Vino Italiano helped to provide some more information about those grapes as well as the DOC. I really knew little about either so Vino Italiano helped educate me on those matters.
I loved the lush berry flavors of the wine as it just burst with bright fruit. There was some acidity and it did pucker my mouth a little bit. It would be a great food wine, from pizza to veal parmigiana. And at the price, it is an excellent value for an everyday wine. Now I look forward to trying more Le Piane wines.
I will also return to Vino Italiano to read more about the Piedmont section in preparation for meeting Christoph. Maybe I can then devise some interesting questions for him at the upcoming tasting or wine dinner. I am sure I will return time and time again to Vino Italiano when I find a new Italian wine.
Now I look forward to reading the next book for Wine Book Club!
Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 founded the Wine Book Club to give wine bloggers reason to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the wine books they have read. For our first review, we read Vino Italiano! by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch. This book was chosen by David McDuff of McDuff's Food and Wine Trail. Reviews will be posted today on numerous wine blogs as well as Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari and Facebook.
Vino Italiano is a large and comprehensive reference book about Italian wines. At over 500 pages, I am sure that some had difficulty finishing it before today's deadline. Being the voracious reader that I am, I did finish the entire book. Overall, I was very pleased with what I read, though I have a couple reservations about it.
The book is broken down into three main sections. The First section, The Basics, begins with a short history of Italian wine making. It then goes on to explain Italian wine laws as well as how to read an Italian wine label. There is also a map and chart describing the principal grapes of Italy. Finally, there is a brief explanation of why an Italian wine costs more outside of the country.
The Second section, The Regions, is the vastly largest section of the book. It is broken down into chapters on nineteen geographical regions. For each region, there is a basic description of the area, both geographic and cultural. Then there is a description of their different wines, red, white, sparkling and sweet. Next, there is a selection of "fast facts" on the region as well as food and wine pairing suggestions. Finally, a representative recipe is provided.
The Third section, The Data, is a series of Appendices including a glossary of Italian wine terminology, descriptions of Italian grapes, DOC and DOCG zones, wine producers and more.
The book is easy to understand and there are some numerous, interesting anecdotes spread throughout the book. But, it still feels more like a textbook with all of the detailed information it provides. And I don't really think I could retain a fraction of the voluminous information in a single reading. This is a book that works best as a reference tool, something to turn to when you want to know more about a certain Italian wine region, varietal or producer. You probably won't find a more comprehensive reference work on Italian wines.
There is a small issue as well that some of the items in the book may be slightly outdated as it only covers up to 2004. Some of the wines mentioned in the book may not be available now, and some newer producers may not be mentioned in the book. For most of the other general information on Italian wines provided in the book, there should not be a problem. This book would make a great accompaniement to a yearly Italian wine guide.
I have long been a fan of Italian wines and have found some true gems through Adonna Imports, which imports numerous Italian wines from small producers. I will be attending an Italian wine tasting this Friday which has been set up by Adonna Imports at Salem Wine Imports. Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Northern Piedmont, will be there to showcase his wines. Christoph's vineyard is located in the Novara region of Piedmont in the Boca DOC. Christoph Künzli will also be present at two upcoming wine dinners. They will held on February 28th at The Blue Room in Cambridge and March 3rd at Il Capriccio in Waltham. I will be attending the dinner at Il Capriccio.
A couple weeks ago, I tasted his 2004 Le Piane La Maggiorina ($12.99), from the Colline Novaresi Rosso DOC from Boca. The wine is made from three unusual Italian grapes and one common one, including Croatina, Vepsolina, Uva Rara and Nebbiolo. Vino Italiano helped to provide some more information about those grapes as well as the DOC. I really knew little about either so Vino Italiano helped educate me on those matters.
I loved the lush berry flavors of the wine as it just burst with bright fruit. There was some acidity and it did pucker my mouth a little bit. It would be a great food wine, from pizza to veal parmigiana. And at the price, it is an excellent value for an everyday wine. Now I look forward to trying more Le Piane wines.
I will also return to Vino Italiano to read more about the Piedmont section in preparation for meeting Christoph. Maybe I can then devise some interesting questions for him at the upcoming tasting or wine dinner. I am sure I will return time and time again to Vino Italiano when I find a new Italian wine.
Now I look forward to reading the next book for Wine Book Club!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Wine Book Club: Next Week!
I want to remind everyone that next Tuesday is the first review time for Wine Book Club. As mentioned before, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 founded the Wine Book Club to give wine bloggers to reason to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the wine books they have read.
Our first book is Vino Italiano! by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch. This book was chosen by David McDuff of McDuff's Food and Wine Trail. This Tuesday, everyone who has read the book is supposed to post a review and reactions to the book, either on their own blog, as a comment on David's blog, or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
If you are stumped about what to write, you can ponder some questions that David put forth concerning the book. These should provide a starting ground for anyone to think about the book.
I will be participating in this event and hope that many others will get involved as well. I am looking forward to reading all of the other reviews and reactions.
Our first book is Vino Italiano! by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch. This book was chosen by David McDuff of McDuff's Food and Wine Trail. This Tuesday, everyone who has read the book is supposed to post a review and reactions to the book, either on their own blog, as a comment on David's blog, or on the Wine Book Club sites on Shelfari or Facebook.
If you are stumped about what to write, you can ponder some questions that David put forth concerning the book. These should provide a starting ground for anyone to think about the book.
I will be participating in this event and hope that many others will get involved as well. I am looking forward to reading all of the other reviews and reactions.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Wine Book Club
In the spirit of Lenndevours' Wine Blogging Wednesday, Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 has founded the Wine Book Club. This will be a chance for wine bloggers to catch up on their reading and to share their insights on the books they have read.
What will happen, is that every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger.
There will eventually be a central website for summaries, announcements, themes, and more. The new book selection will be announced on the first Tuesday of March, May, July, September, and November. Review postings will be done on the last Tuesday of the following month.
The first book has been chosen and reviews will be posted on February 26. The host for the first book selection is David McDuff of McDuff's Food & Wine Trail. Check out his site to see the title.
In addition to the bimonthly book selections, the Wine Book Club will also have "Spin the Bottle" where wine bloggers will write book reviews other books, usually those with a more narrow focus.
I am a voracious reader so I think this will be an enjoyable and educational activity. I look forward to participating and it seems many other wine bloggers have an avid interest as well. Why don't you participate too?
Please though check out Dr. Debs post on the Wine Book Club for many more details.
What will happen, is that every other month a book will be chosen by a wine blogger for review. All participating bloggers will read the book and post a review of their thoughts on their blogs. Those who do not have a blog can write a review and send it to the hosting wine blogger.
There will eventually be a central website for summaries, announcements, themes, and more. The new book selection will be announced on the first Tuesday of March, May, July, September, and November. Review postings will be done on the last Tuesday of the following month.
The first book has been chosen and reviews will be posted on February 26. The host for the first book selection is David McDuff of McDuff's Food & Wine Trail. Check out his site to see the title.
In addition to the bimonthly book selections, the Wine Book Club will also have "Spin the Bottle" where wine bloggers will write book reviews other books, usually those with a more narrow focus.
I am a voracious reader so I think this will be an enjoyable and educational activity. I look forward to participating and it seems many other wine bloggers have an avid interest as well. Why don't you participate too?
Please though check out Dr. Debs post on the Wine Book Club for many more details.
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