Best Books for Wine Lovers
When it comes to learning about wine, everyone seems to have their own opinion.
Some people think the best way to learn about wine is in a class. Other people think the best way to learn about wine is with a book.
Bianca Bosker, author of Cork Dork, did just that.
Cork Dork : Best Books for Wine Lovers
Bianca Bosker is the author of Cork Dork: A Wine Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me To Live For Taste. It is one of the best wine books for wine lovers and sommeliers.
She was a technology reporter when by accident, she suddenly became curious about the best way to learn about wine.
It started when Bianca was enjoying lunch with her boyfriend in a high-end restaurant. With them was her boyfriend’s wealthy client, a wine geek. As Bianca tells the story, she became fascinated by the way this client ordered wine, and the formal way he tasted it.
Eager to learn more, she researched the best way to learn about wine and in the process wrote one of the best books for wine lovers.
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Her research soon revealed that the best way to study wine was to learn on the job.Her research soon revealed that the best way to study wine was to learn on the job.
In other words, for Bianca Bosker, the best way to learn about wine was to work as a sommelier.
Best Books for Wine Lovers : Finding a Mentor
In real life – and in the book – Bianca Bosker describes how she found a mentor in a man named Morgan, a “real life” sommelier at a top New York City restaurant.
Morgan assists Bosker in finding a coveted place in one of the highest profile tasting groups in Manhattan.
As a Certified Sommelier myself through the Court of Master Sommeliers, I’ve met many of the people she describes in Manhattan. Today many of them are Master Sommeliers. A few have their own restaurants, shops, and enterprises.
Best Books for Wine Lovers : Tasting Group Gossip
Bosker freely records the colorful scenes that often take place in a tasting group. As you can imagine – or have seen in the film Somm – the ambiance is rather formal.
The objective of these tasting groups is to get additional practice in order to pass the very challenging examinations given by the Court of Master Sommeliers. Quite a bit of effort is given to mimicking the conditions of the exam. Participants sit down to a place setting containing highly polished, expensive glasses (typically Riedel) and a carafe of water.
Because each group sets its own standards, the protocol of every tasting group is different.Because each group sets its own standards, the protocol of every tasting group is different.
Typically two participants sit across from one another at a table. The wines are served “blind.” This means no clues as to its identity.
So, for example, the student must first note and describe the color, then the aroma, then the flavor, and structure of the wine.
At the end of this description, the student must declare a logical grape variety, region, quality level, and vintage. All of this under strict time limits.
While one participant is deducing the wines, the partner watches the time and takes notes on what was said.
Then they reverse roles.Then they reverse roles.
Best Books for Wine Lovers : Access to the Court of Master Sommelier Document Tasting Grid
This formula is in printed form in the Court of Master Sommelier documents.. Still, it must be memorized and spoken aloud during a tasting group session.
These tastings are considered a very serious activity. Sommeliers work late hours, so their time – and money to purchase the expensive wines – are limited.
In her book Cork Dork, Bosker can somehow make these tense situations sound hilariously funny.In her book Cork Dork, Bosker can somehow make these tense situations sound hilariously funny.
She takes the stance of an ordinary person observing people who are unbelievably obsessed with wine.
What makes these scenes so funny is the vivid color of Bosker’s narrative voice.
You might even consider choosing the audio version for this reason. The way she snidely mimics the smirky tone of sommeliers she meets along the way is priceless. Share on X
Best Books for Wine Lovers : All About Certification
Though Bosker sometimes mocks the intensity of sommeliers, she also takes care to point out the motivation that sparks that intensity.
One of the other key characters in the book is Annie. Annie supports a family and has worked in Virginia Beach restaurants for decades.
For Annie, the time and money required to take the Certified Sommelier exam is a financial hardship. But the pay raise that would result from achieving it would be worth it for her.
In a poignant scene, Author Bosker describes taking the Certified Sommelier exam with Annie. Reading the book, tension is high as one is really rooting for the two of them.
Luckily, both pass the examination even though many others in the class fail.
Best Books for Wine Lovers
Cork Dork is one of the best books for wine lovers.Cork Dork is one of the best books for wine lovers.
It is written about the sommelier industry for sommeliers. As well as one of the best books for average wine lovers.
It vividly illustrates the meticulous course of study aspiring sommeliers must undertake.
Cork Dork is one of the best books for wine lovers because it also showcases the variety of personalities and motivations of people who are attracted to the profession. It is a highly entertaining book readers interested in both wine and human nature will enjoy.
You can see ALL the reviews of my favorite books with this Wine Book Resources Link
One of them would be a great and appropriate fit for one of the wine lovers in your circle … or even yourself! Please SHARE this article with the social share buttons.
If you like this article you will like:
— Dominus Estate
— Chappellet Family Winery
— Hess Collection
— Frog’s Leap
Curious to Learn More About Wine? Start Here
About Author Marisa D’Vari
D’Vari contributes to Forbes.com, Financial Times, World of Fine Wine, Quarterly Review of Wine, Decanter Robb Report, San Francisco Chronicle, South China Morning Post, and more.
She holds the (WSET) diploma, Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Wine Educator through the Society of Wine Educators … to see it all, please click on bio
