Read, say, love WINE: wine books for beginners
Part 1: introductory books on wine
Are you interested in learning about wine? Or are you a happy enthusiast? In a series of articles starting with this one, I share my lists of favourite resources – books on wine, instructional videos, wine education courses, and much more to help you along your journey
There are several ways in which to learn about wine, whether you are an enthusiast who wants usable information for your next visit to the wine bar, or a wine professional who wants to study further.
I was recently DM-ed on social media by a follower who wanted to learn about wine. “I want to learn but I do not know where to start,” he bemoaned.
He is not alone. The internet is flooded with resources, but the bounty of choices makes knowing where to start even more difficult.
In this blog, I start with that all-important resource: books on wine that inform. For those starting or early in their wine journey.
My first question usually is: how much do you learn and how much do you want to learn? Taking that question forward, I have compiled a list of fundamental reading – books on wine at both the enthusiast and the student level that I have personally found ticks the boxes.
Jancis Robinson’s 24-hour Wine Expert addresses all the main points any enthusiast wants to know – from serving temperature, to storage, to a selection of wines to buy.
Reading for wine enthusiasts
There is no doubt wine can be an intimidating subject. This is why books that strip away the gobbledygook and present just the basic facts in an easy, readable format go to the top of the heap for me.
Here are some of my picks:
The 24-hour Wine Expert by Jancis Robinson
Pocket-sized and perfect, this makes interesting reading for beginners and not-so-beginners, offering a succinct introduction to all things wine in just 100 pages by the ‘world’s most respected wine critic’, as she is known. This is a book that makes easy travel reading, and I personally like Jancis’ style – to the point and without any unnecessary flourishes. I am not sure you will be an ‘expert’ at the end of the book, but you will know a whole lot of useful stuff. For instance, why the serving temperature of the wine matters, when to decant, if at all, and what to do with wine leftovers.
For those who like such information, she has listed wines under titles like ‘Friendly Reds’, ‘Bottles to Gift’, and ‘Heart-stopping & bank-breaking wines.’
Paperback Rs 400, Kindle Rs 185 (Amazon India)
Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, now in its 35th reprint, is arguably on of the most thorough books on wine for beginners.
Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Complete Wine Course
An evergreen favourite, now in its 35th edition (an indicator of its popularity and sustaining power), Zraly was wine director of the famous World Trade Center icon restaurant (now gone forever) after which he named his book. Dotted with infographics, photos, maps, and wine labels deconstructed for easy understanding. One of my favourites to recommend to beginners.
Hardcover Rs 4231/Paperback Rs2009 (Amazon India)
The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil
An exhaustive book in its 3rd edition by prolific writer and wine educator Karen MacNeil, this 730-page strong reference guide effectively covers the extensive geography, climate and wine regulations in the world of wine, and the latest edition even covers newer entrants into the wine lexicon, Israel and England. Many top journalists have said this is the one book that is a must-have for your wine library. Though some of MacNeil’s wine descriptors can be a tad ornate – she describes a good vintage of Petrus as “Ingrid Bergman in red satin.”
Paperback Rs 4444, Kindle Rs 1108 (Amazon India)
Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm
This is also one of my favourite books on wine for beginners. Not only does this renowned sommelier not talk down to the reader, but the book is simple and colourfully illustrated. There are easy-to-comprehend infographics and Sohm, a Master Sommelier who juggles running his famous eponymous wine bar in New York with his job as wine director at the three-star restaurant Le Bernardin, explains everything simply, without the use of long words and jargon. The infographics are simple and amazing.
For instance, he notes, “True, wine has lots of snobby associations and tons of words and details to memorise. But it doesn’t have to be intimidating.” That is what makes his approach a winner.
Hard cover Rs 1297, Kindle Rs 993 (Amazon India)
Wine Folly’s Essential Guide to Wine
Truly engaging infographics pepper this 240-page introductory book on wine by the biggest wine influencer on the internet. Madeline Puckett, aka Wine Folly, is also known for her maps of wine regions – they are used everywhere by every school and student of wine in the world. Her descriptors are also very simple and drawn out in ways to make it easy for a layperson to understand. She also has her own website, YouTube channel and is prolific on social media – making it very easy to engage and understand her teachings.
Paperback Rs 1424
Noted sommelier Aldo Sohm’s book is cheerful, easy and peppered with colourful illustrations and infographics
The World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson
Another legendary tome, worth keeping on your bookshelf, by two of the world’s most renowned authorities on wine – UK’s Johnson and Robinson. Not for the absolute beginner, perhaps, this book made publishing history with its first publication in 1971, at a time when such in-depth information was rare to find in books on wine. Now in its 8th edition, it continues to be on the top of every wine professional’s library list, even as it attracts some criticism for not giving adequate focus to the burgeoning New World and its regions. On Old World countries, it is brilliantly detailed with its cartography. For the earnest wine student or professional or serious beginner.
Hard cover Rs 2825 (Amazon India)
Wine, A Beginner’s Guide by Ken Fredrickson
American Master Sommelier Fredrickson has attempted to gently introduce the subject of wine. If there is a criticism to offer here it’s that the information is skewed to the American POV. But his 4-step guide to tasting and other easy-to-follow tips makes this book on wine worth keeping on your list.
Fredrickson calls wine “deliciously interdisciplinary”, and explains the wine-making process from the harvest of the grapes to the final bottling, in easy terms, and additional attraction for those curious about it.
Paperback Rs 4460, Kindle Free with Kindle Unlimited (Amazon India)
Part 2 will explore internet resources, wine courses, and social media help
It is advised to pick the latest editions of the books for up-to-date information.
Images: Pexels: Cottonbro/Nati
