Edited by award-winning wine writer Jancis Robinson, and featuring over 3000 alphabetically-listed entries, this reference covers all aspects of wine: historical, geographical, social, scientific, and cultural. As well as authoritative entries on wine-making, wine appreciation and the wine trade, the book offers both amateur and professional wine enthusiasts an enormous body of background information - from Dionysian revels in ancient Greece to Prohibition in 1920s America; from decanters, corkscrews and glasses to soil types, pruning and labelling.
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Amazon Review
Wine head girl Jancis Robinson publishes a new edition of her acclaimed Oxford Companion to Wine, coming as close as anybody is likely to in achieving the unachievable goal of a detailed, comprehensive, single-volume work of reference covering the whole world of wines. Just how daunting the task of keeping up with the now practically supersonic pace of development in many areas of the wine industry must be is indicated by the need, only five years after the first edition, to issue another with updated versions of about half the 3,000 entries. It is an awesome achievement. Wine is now a modern, global industry: Jancis Robinson and her team of contributors require--and deliver--expertise in a really astonishing range of disciplines.
Practically every field of human knowledge seems to have something to contribute. From geology and soil chemistry, through forestry and the nature of the different woods used for barrels and the harvesting of cork bark, to the cultivation of the vine, its training and pruning, and the techniques of fermentation; the list extends even into areas of cutting-edge science such as DNA fingerprinting (which finally in 1997 unravelled the mystery of the parentage of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape--no, wild horses wouldn't drag it from me, you'll have to buy the book). This is not to mention the thorough coverage of wine regions and grape varieties, the role of wine through history and its presence in art, the glossary entries. One could go on and on. This is a stupendous feat of organisation. More than that, it is throughout well written and lively, and in possession of a healthy quantity of attitude. --Robin Davidson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Acclaim for The Oxford Companion to Wine:
"Jancis Robinson has become the Julia Child of wine."--Newsday
"This giant tome is likely to become 'the' standard reference for wine for the whole wide world.... It really does cover it all and in depth. If you were going to have a one book wine library, this would have to be it."--The Wine Trader
"Easily the most complete compendium of wine knowledge assembled in modern times."--The New York Times
"A required reference for anyone who is serious about wine."--Frank J. Prial, The New York Times
"One of the definitive reference books on the subject."--Anthony Dias Blue
"I heartily recommend this book as the cornerstone of any wine library and guarantee it will engance your wine appreciation for many years to come."--W.I.N.E. Monitor
"This may be the most important book on wine to appear in the past 20 years....The very existence of this book stands as evidence of the significance of wine in our culture....This volum
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ABBOCCATO, Italian for medium sweet (less sweet than AMABILE) or, literally, 'palatable' from bocca or 'mouth'. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
ABBOCCATO, Italian for medium sweet (less sweet than AMABILE) or, literally, 'palatable' from bocca or 'mouth'. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 58 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Great 'Bible' for wine lovers. A comprehensive encyclopedia of wine ranging from types of grape and regions of wine production to detailed discriptions of the qualities of different grape varieties. This book is a must for the wine lover or the interested novice. One small criticism would be the over attention to detail in the history of each wine region and not enough comment on the actual flavours and qualities of each grape variety/growing region. Otherwise a top notch publication.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Timothy
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I first looked inside this book, I was annoyed. I expected the book to be in chapters on grapes/regions/maturation etc. But it is essentially a dictionary, in alphabetical order, of everything to do with wine - which I though would make me bored within a few pages of reading - oh how wrong I was.
The book seemlesly flows from page to page not like 1,2,3,4 but 3,1,2,4. As there is other text highlighted which makes you refer back to something else. You can find yourself reading for hours on many differnt topics and not have to think of what to look up next, as the book seems to branch smoothly with information.
I am now the smug connoisseur at dinner partys and it was all too easy from this single book.
The book seemlesly flows from page to page not like 1,2,3,4 but 3,1,2,4. As there is other text highlighted which makes you refer back to something else. You can find yourself reading for hours on many differnt topics and not have to think of what to look up next, as the book seems to branch smoothly with information.
I am now the smug connoisseur at dinner partys and it was all too easy from this single book.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
We bought the Oxford Companion to Wine for a friend preparing his Wine diploma thinking it could be usefull. It turned out he already bought it and reads it on a daily basis as it is so usefull. So we kept it for ourself and find it fascinating. It answers every query and it is so logical you find what you are looking for very quickly... A must have if you are a wine lover, it is also a very nice book to have on your shelves!
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent value for money!
Really brilliant! For beginners to experts- honestly it's great. You can read as much or as little as you like- and be as clever or dim about wine and still get the best out of it.
Published 6 days ago by Elizabeth Reece
4.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect wine-book
It is a very well-written almost complete wine-book in every aspect. The only thing I can complain about is very few photos and figures. In overall, I am must satisfied
Published 2 months ago by Wanje Jäger
3.0 out of 5 stars
Maybe too in depth for the average wine lover
I've read a little so far and had a quick glance at it, but its probably a little too technical for the person I bought it for.
Published 2 months ago by Robert James
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read and reference
Jancis Robinson writes so well, has such knowledge and insight in to wines, grapes, regions, in fact all that one needs to know and more, a great read and worth every penny!
Published 2 months ago by John Hutchings
5.0 out of 5 stars
First Class
A gift for my husband quoted as the must have book for wine lovers and he agrees with that.Arrived within 2 days of ordering fantastic service
Published 3 months ago by Lynnie B
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting for wine enthusiasts
This was a present, and the recipient was delighted. I haven't read it myself but they were extremely pleased when they looked at it.
Published 11 months ago by J. Cahill
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wine book
I bought this as a present for someone that is into wine. They seemed quite pleased with it but it did look a bit heavy in more ways than one, and rather like a wine dictionary... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2011 by Surya
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive wine guide for the enthusiast
This guide is invaluable and has just about every wine term, grape variety, vineyard profile covered. It is very well written and authoritative. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2010 by Mr. G. White
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Helpful
I bought this book because I needed to improve my knowledge on French and Australian wines. It not only helps the beginner but increases the former knowledge I had on some matters. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2009 by John De Andres Cao
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
This book has to be the most complete international reference on world wines. It was written for professionals and students who requires top informations and knowledge. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by Serge Pillot
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