Montalcino
CONVENIENT
ACCESS RIGHT
FROM THE E-ZINE
Some of the books on this page have links that take you to the exact
spot on Amazon.com where information and pricing is offered on that item.
If no link is there, just click
above to search Amazon.com for
any book on this page!
The 
Basic Texts
No one interested in wine can afford to be
without some of these historical and educational tools.
The Basic Periodicals
Looking to buy wine? These publications focus on little else and try to cover the marketplace.
Some Personal Favorites
The items above are more in the nature of
basic tools. The ones below are more idiosyncratic. Call them personal favorites. They do
not purport to be basic references. Some are even fiction. They have a point of view, and
considerable charm.
The world's great works are online here, free as e-books. From Herman Melville to Tolstoy to Dickens to Arthur Conan Doyle. You can convert to PDBs or other formats from *.txt. You won't find new books or wine books, but if you support literacy and learning, check in here.
- Adams, Leon, The Wines of America
Outdated somewhat now, but the traditional work on American wine
Click to buy
- Coates, Cote d'Or: A celebration of the Great Wines of
Burgundy
Coates' passion seems to be for Burgundy, and these wines get his best efforts.
Click to buy
- Duijker/Broadbent, Bordeaux Atlas and Encyclopedia
Comprehensive Bordeaux guide Click to buy
- Feret, Edouard, Bordeaux and its Wines, updated by LeMay
Expensive, monumental tome ($250) that some consider the "Bible" of Bordeaux, leaving virtually nothing out. Published consistently since the 1860's. Too much for most, and usually findable in French and in France, a new edition just came out in 1998 in English. The ultimate wine geek gift. Click to buy
- Halliday, James, Classic Wines of Australia
New book by Australia's most famous wine writer Click to buy
- Johnson, Hugh; Duijker, Alsace:
Touring in Wine Country
There aren't enough books on Alsace. Here's one, from authoritative sources. Click to buy
- Johnson, Hugh, Vintage: The Story of Wine
One of many books from a British Master of Wine, and perhaps his most engaging Click to buy
- Johnson, & Brook;
Century of Wine The Story of a Wine Revolution
Click to buy
- Johnson, Hugh, Encyclopedia of Modern Wine, 4th Ed. Recently
revised.
Click to buy
- Lukacs, Paul, American Vintage
The best modern work on the rise of American wine, the true
successor to Leon Adams
Click to buy
- McGovern, Patrick, et al., The
Origins and Ancient History of Wine
Professors' fascinating new scholarly explorations of the ancient origins of wine. Click to buy
- Mc
Click to buy
Beginner's book that sometimes gets a bit too detailed, but is excellent nonetheless Click to buy
The famous series of books on various wine regions with extensive tasting notes and ratings of producers
Rhones: Click to buy
New Bordeaux guide.. Parker 2003 Consumer's Guide to
Bordeaux
Click to buy
One of the most influential wine classics. Peynaud went on to shape much of Bordeaux's practices. Hard to find outside of France.
Comprehensive, modern encyclopedia from British Master of Wine. When you need to know every last thing... My favorite source to start with. Perhaps the BEST source for a universal book, now just revised in Fall, 1999, 2d edition.
Click to buy
To my mind, the very best beginner's book. Not too detailed, common sense advice, but not too superficial either. Click to buy
NB: Out of print, but Amazon.com can often find such things for you
To my mind, the very best beginner's book. Not too detailed, common sense advice, but not too superficial either. Click to buy
NB: Out of print, but Amazon.com can often find such things for you
A superb encyclopedia. I like Robinson's better, though. New revision in 1998. Click to buy.
The Languedoc--a new book (2003) on the renaissance of its wines.
For the raw beginner. Clear, simple. Click to buy
BACK TO TOP- Coates, Clive, The Vine
British Master of Wine's newsletter with tasting notes
- Parker, Robert, The Wine Advocate
The newsletter---closer to being a small book in a periodical form--that serves as the centerpiece of Parker's output
- Parker, Robert, Wine Buying Guides
The most prolific wine critic in the world offers a series of best selling wine buying guides Click to buy
- Tanzer, Steven International Wine Cellar
A newsletter similar in nature to Robert Parker's - Wine Spectator
Glossy, glitzy magazine reporting on the wine world and its personalities. Includes many tasting notes.
Click to buy the Wine Spectator Buying Guide
- Barr, Wine Snobbery
- Bernstein, Leonard, The Official Guide to Wine Snobbery
Short, snappy, hilarious send-up of wine traditions.
Amusing but blunt "insider's" guide to wine; created considerable trade controversy
Fun story, part mystery, part soap opera, from this well known mystery writer (Brad Smith tennis series) about fictitious Napa Valley winemakers. Includes what seem to be thinly veiled allusions to Mondavi and Gallo, and lots of cool wine talk. Amusing page turner. Regrettably out of print, but amazon.com can order a used copy.
The Story of Zinfandel
Fisher is not a wine writer, but a food writer. Her books are often charming, and this is perhaps the most charming of the group, from her early days as a young romantic in Dijon learning about life and the finer things.
Click to buy
Great narrative, details of Bordeaux Click to buy
At last! Concentrating on food and wine matchups. Click to buy
Jefford,
The New France Explores issues and
personalities... Self-Explanatory. Fun read
- Liebling, Between Meals
Joie de vivre, as related by a famous journalist who lived in Paris way back when, slim, inexpensive, delightful volume
Click to buy
- Loftus, Simon, Puligny-Montrachet: Journal of a Village in
Burgundy
A charming, insider look at French wine culture in Burgundy.
- Lynch, Adventures on the Wine Route
Famous importer's personal anecdotes
Click to buy
- Markham, Dewey, 1855: A History of the
Bordeaux Classification
This pricey ($70 retail) but fascinating book tells you as much or more than you need to know. The story of how some of the wines we pay so much for got where they are.
Click to buy
- Mondavi, Robert,
Harvests of Joy
Autobiography of the man who arguably made California's wine industry what it is today
Click to buy
- Olney, Richard, Romanée-Conti
The story of France's most famous red wine
Click to buy
- Olney, Richard,
French Food & Wine
A cookbook written with the wine lover in mind.
Click to buy
All photos by me and full size copies are
in the photo
archive
Try AMAZON.COM first
when looking for these books!
They can often even get out of
print items. If there is no automatic link already set up next to the book entry,
click the Amazon logo above to get to the E-Zine's search engine and book display
rack
Mondavi Vineyards
Napa Valley icon
Sonoma Roadsign
Chianti
''
Pichon Lalande
Brunello 96
PAUILLAC HARBOR
CHAPOUTIER IN HERMITAGE
MONBAZILLAC
PICHON BARON