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The Oxford Companion to Wine [Hardcover]

Jancis Robinson
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Hardcover, 14 Oct 1999 --  
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The Oxford Companion to Wine (Oxford Companions) The Oxford Companion to Wine (Oxford Companions) 4.4 out of 5 stars (17)
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Book Description

14 Oct 1999
Hailed by Frank J. Prial in The New York Times as "a required reference for anyone who is serious about wine," and by Anthony Dias Blue as "one of the definitive reference books on the subject," The Oxford Companion to Wine won every major wine book award, including the Julia Child and the James Beard awards. Now, Jancis Robinson has completely revised this masterpiece, adding over 500 new entries and thoroughly updating most of the rest.
Lavishly illustrated, with over 200 black and white pictures, 31 full color plates, and 31 maps of every wine region in the world, the Companion is the only wine volume to combine science, history, geography, wine varieties, social and cultural information, and much more. Ranging from Abruzzi and armagnac to Zimbabwe and Zinfandel, from Dionysian revels in ancient Greece to today's leading wine research centers, its 3,400 alphabetically arranged entries explore all aspects of wine, including the latest advances in viticulture and enology. There are in-depth discussions of the climates and grape varieties of great wine regions of the world, and numerous biographies ranging from Dom Perignon to Robert Parker. The book discusses vintner's terms, business and legal aspects, and related topics such as distilled and fortified wines. All technical terms are fully explained, and the hundreds of useful drawings and photographs illustrate key processes. New features include a complete guide to geographical names, a vintage chart, an overview of recent wine prices and investment, and a navigation chart to the Companion.
The ultimate reference on wine and wine-making, The Oxford Companion to Wine is the perfect volume to enhance a lifetime's enjoyment of this intoxicating topic.


Product details

  • Hardcover: 848 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press; 2nd Revised edition edition (14 Oct 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 019866236X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0198662365
  • Product Dimensions: 28.2 x 22.7 x 4.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 530,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

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Product Description

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

Review


"This is an invaluable resource for serious wine drinkers who never quench their thirst for learning about varietals, appellations, wine history, and vineyards."--Business Week
"The greatest wine book ever published.... A worthy purchase even for those who already own its predecessor."--Michael Franz, The Washington Post
"An encyclopedic reference.... If it's not here, it has nothing to do with wine."--Wine and Spirits
"A wine lover's best friend."--La Cucina Italiana
"The preeminent basic resource for wine lovers.... It is hard to believe that editor Jancis Robinson could improve upon a work whose first edition was so universally lauded, but indeed she has."--Wine Enthusiast
Reviews of the first edition:
"A required reference for anyone who is serious about wine."--Frank J. Prial, The New York Times
"Jancis Robinson has become the Julia Child of wine."--Newsday
"One of the definitive reference books on the subject."--Anthony Dias Blue
"Easily the most c

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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.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Extensively brilliant 13 Nov 2009
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.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars So good he already bought it.... 4 Feb 2009
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 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful 22 Dec 2009
Format:Hardcover
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. It is also written in such an easy way that even difficult issues are made easier to understand.I really enjoy reading it.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing 13 Sep 2009
Format:Hardcover
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. Just amazing ! thanks to Jancis for a tremendous work.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive wine guide for the enthusiast 30 Aug 2010
By Mr. G. White TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This guide is invaluable and has just about every wine term, grape variety, vineyard profile covered. It is very well written and authoritative. I bought a secondhand one (2000 edition), so some of the producer profiles are a bit out of date but worthwhile nonetheless. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough....
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60 of 78 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars FROM VINE TO WINE ------ A MINE OF INFORMATION 18 Oct 2002
Format:Hardcover
.

Thirty years ago this book could not have been written. With the increasing ascendancy of the New World wine makers and in particular the influence of the Davis campus of the University of California, viticulture and oenology are now rigorous, scientific and commercially oriented professions. This is reflected in the "Oxford Companion to Wine" which has to be the most comprehensive, authoritative and accessible resource dealing with all aspects of the world of wine.

Jancis Robinson who edited this encyclopedia of wine is a highly respected wine writer and educator. She is also very well credentialled, holding the prestigious title of "Master of Wine".

The real power of this book as an information source is the very effective use of cross-references. Its great fun to see how far one reference will take you on subjects of particular interest to the reader. It would be good to see this book published as a CD-ROM. Hyper-linking all the cross-references would make it even more powerful.

The changes in the wine business over the past generation have seen the previously exclusive, "clubbiness", almost snobby world of fine wine appreciation opened up to everyone. It is books like this that have provided the sources of knowledge which give people the confidence and curiosity to pursue their interest and enjoyment of wine.

France is the traditional home of fine wine. The French approach to wine making is still dominated by practices and methodologies that go back centuries. It is interesting to see in the "Oxford Companion" the strong contrast between the empirically rigorous New World (particularly USA and Australian) methods and the mystery (or mystique) that even today, shrouds much of the French industry....

One of the best illustrations of this dichotomy in the Companion is the entry on "Terroir". This French term encapsulates the mystique that defines a particular vine growing area. It goes well beyond the issue of soil and microclimate but instead embraces everything that makes a particular wine unique.

In the "Companion" the terroir debate seems to come down on the side which believes the term is used to cover vagueness and explain characteristics that are otherwise difficult to explain. This allows sometimes ordinary wine to be passed off as something special.

Compare this to the innovative, scientifically supported approaches used in the New World. A good example is the development of "Canopy Management" the varying techniques used to optimize the yield and ripening characteristics of a grapevine.

Similarly we have see the arrival of "flying winemakers" from Australia into regions like the Languedoc-Roussillon area of France. They have introduced stainless steel fermentation vessels, temperature control and meticulous cleanliness, to what was previously a very rough and ready local business. They are now producing some of the some best Merlots, acknowledged by even the French.

This book will no doubt become the definitive reference book on all matters to do with the world of wine. It will be of the highest value to both the wine professional and the enthusiastic wine lover. Read more ›

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5.0 out of 5 stars Very good! 31 May 2013
By Viola
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
the book has a coverpicture in yellow, not the one with hands holding grapes. It is a very heavy book! haha,i was shocked when i first got the package because it was so heavy, when i opened it, i got the idea, it's a very thick book with good quailited paper, the prints are very nice as well. thanks a lot.
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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 1 month 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 3 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 3 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 4 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 4 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 12 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 The Complete Wine Reference
This book is an 'easy-to-use' reference book which covers everything you will ever need to know about wine. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2009 by Mr. Anthony R. Hunnybun
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