The Wine Bible
Imagine yourself at one of the popular new wine bars in your town.
You are sipping a glass of red wine perfumed with notes of violet and lavender – a departure from your typical request for a California Cabernet Sauvignon.
You take another sip and wonder what combination of soil and sunlight could produce such a succulent wine?
Your curiosity roused, you look at the label on the bottle and see it is from the Languedoc – a region in Southern France.
Suddenly, you are bursting with questions about the region.
What grape is the wine made from?
What is the typical climate of the area?
Who are the top winemakers in the region?
And if you serve wine at a dinner party, what foods would pair best with it?
“Karen MacNeil, director of the wine program at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley, has crafted an excellent book in the appropriately named book.”
This is a terrific 910 page resource for amateur and seasoned wine lovers alike.
This book starts out with the basics, with MacNeil explaining the elements, such as sun, water, and soil necessary for good wine, and goes on to the more complex issues of wine making and regional styles.
What I liked best about the book is that MacNeil takes you to vineyards all over the world. She describes the climate and terrain with such detail and color you will feel as if you are there.
In the Wine Bible, MacNeil even introduces you to winemakers. She takes you deep into their dank, dark cellars so you can taste the wine for yourself.Then she describes the local cuisine in such tantalizing detail you’ll want to rush out and create your own wine and food pairing based on the succulent flavors described in that chapter.
You will find many ways to use The Wine Bible. Instead of reading it from beginning to end, you might try to use it as a reference guide.
Did you have a great Chianti at a restaurant and want to find out more about the region?
Pick up this book and go to the appropriate chapter. Are you having friends over for drinks and want to show off your wine sophistication? Read up on the wines you’ll be serving and surprise your guests with some fun, colorful facts about the wine.
Do you love to cook and are you eager to find the perfect pairing for a recipe you just saw in Food & Wine magazine? You’ll find it in this incredible resource.
In The Wine Bible, here are some other things you will discover:
– how to taste and analyze wine like a professional
– how to read a wine label – how to write your own tasting notes
– how to store and serve wine – and much more.
With this book in hand, you can set up your own classes, or study sessions. One week you might study the wines of France, and buy wines from the region. The next week, you can do the same thing with Spain. What makes it even more fun is if you can get a partner or some friends together and make a party of it.
So the next time you find yourself in a wine bar, eager to learn more about what you are drinking, or in a wine store, wondering what to buy, sneak a peek in this book. Sooner than you think, friends and co-workers will see you as the go-to wine expert in your circle.
I must have three copies of this book in many places of my home and office.
I love thinking about a region and being able to grab the book and find the most important things about it instantly!
And you can even learn about the unique soil types of each region.
**Curious about Pinot Noir from Willamette?** Read the Forbes.com article here
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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