Essential Reading & Viewing

See further below for my personal selection of 2007.

If I was only allowed one book about wines, which one would it be?

Now there's a question that's both easy to answer, but difficult to imagine. The answer would have to be Hugh Johnson's World Atlas of Wine. It is the most comprehensive, readable and enjoyable piece of wine writing I know. The maps are so detailed that they are great fun to use on a tour of your favourite wine region. On the recent visit to the Mosel region in Germany we could almost count the houses in each village and found ourselves off the map within five minutes, an indication of the level of detail on each map.

There is a great introduction to the world of wine, from the ancient history, through vine growing and wine making to glassware and tasting. Evocative descriptions of the various regions and its wine characters make up the bulk, together with the maps.

First published in 1971 it is now in its sixth edition (2007) co-written with Jancis Robinson, another wine writer I greatly admire. She looks set to take the batton I'm sure will continue the great work.

My personal selection for 2007.

For the quick reference:
Pocket Wine Book 2007 – Hugh Johnson
 

All the names you ever need to know are in this pocket size book. No hefty paragraphs but just enough information to whet the appetite. Don’t leave the house without it.
 

For those nuts about wine travel:
World Atlas of Wine – Hugh Johnson & Jancis Robinson
 

The ultimate wine book for me. Not only does it have a great general section, including one on wine’s history, it covers in great detail the important (and lesser) areas in today’s wine world. The latest (5th) edition is the first one co-written by Jancis Robinson, who is taking over the baton from now on. Its greatest feat however; the wonderfully detailed maps. This book is an imperative part of the luggage on any wine trip and takes you places even Tom-Tom hasn’t heard of.
 

For the Master of Wine:
Oxford Companion to Wine – Jancis Robinson
 

Impeccably researched, well written and probably the most comprehensive wine tome ever (well, until the next edition), this 3rd and very recent edition is an absolute must for budding Masters of Wine and WSET students. The only wine book to my knowledge that has an on-line version for subscribers to www.jancisrobinson.com. If Carlsberg made wine books….

 

For the historian:
Wine & War – Don & Petie Kladstrup
 

If, like me, you always read war stories as a kid and if, like me, you’re also into wine, this book is perfect for you. Full of touching personal accounts of many well-known names in today’s wine world, it tells an evocative story of the French vignerons taking on the might of the Third Reich.
Their other book ‘Champagne’ follows a similar line although it follows the champenois eternal struggle with war through the ages.

 

For fun:
A Hedonist in the Cellar; Adventures in Wine – Jay McInerney
 

A wonderfully entertaining surprise of a wine book. It doesn’t follow any particular formula but ends up a delightful collection of short stories. Hidden in each of these is a wealth of practical information and all the names to remember. I love Jay’s writing style. Very quick-witted, reminding me of Anthony Bourdain’s A Cook’s Tour. A Hedonist in the Cellar also managed praise from normally opposing corners, Robert Parker and Michael Broadbent both love it, not something they always agree upon when it comes to wine.

 

For prose:
Wine – A life uncorked – Hugh Johnson
 

Beautifully written in Hugh’s inimitable style. Knowledgeable, never patronising but very opinionated, Hugh is like your favourite uncle taking you on a wine trip of a lifetime. Some very memorable quotes around 100 point scores show he is never far from controversy.

 

For the wine nut:
Wine Report 2007 – Tom Stevenson
 

The latest edition of Wine Report is the fifth, but until now I was a wine report virgin. But what a find! If you’re serious about what’s happening and what’s not in the world of wine than this is the book for you. Full of opinions, hearsay, gossip, facts and figures. Every country of note gets its entry and there are separate entries for viticulture, vinification, wine & health and even wine on the web. A bit of a tardis; it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it is amazing how much information is crammed into this book. Wine Report is not a comprehensive mini-dictionary along the lines of Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book, but more of an ongoing update on current wine affairs. It assumes quite a bit of prior knowledge, so not a beginner’s book.