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Amazon.co.uk 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
...the most useful book on wine ever written; it is also one of the most enjoyable. (Kathleen Burk, The Week )
Those readers interested enough in the subject to buy the first edition are pretty much compelled to buy all subsequent ones, for the knowledge encompassed in them changes not only rapidly, but also radically. (Paul Levy, Times Literary Supplement )
No wine-lover's bookshelves should be without (Jonathan Ray, Daily Telegraph )
The essential reference book (David Baker, Financial Times )
Wine anoraks will want Jancis Robinson's revised, encyclopaedic The Oxford Companion to Wine. (The Times, )
Impressive Scholarship (The Times )
Essential reference guide (Daily Express )
Those readers interested enough in the subject to buy the first edition are pretty much compelled to buy all subsequent ones, for the knowledge encompassed in them changes not only rapidly, but also radically. (Paul Levy, Times Literary Supplement )
No wine-lover's bookshelves should be without (Jonathan Ray, Daily Telegraph )
The essential reference book (David Baker, Financial Times )
Wine anoraks will want Jancis Robinson's revised, encyclopaedic The Oxford Companion to Wine. (The Times, )
Impressive Scholarship (The Times )
Essential reference guide (Daily Express )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 51 people found the following review helpful
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.
9 of 9 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!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 5 hours ago by J. Cahill
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 17 months ago by Surya
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 21 months ago by Mr. G. White
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
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
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
Companion, or dictionary?
I bought this book expecting an accessible guide to wine - an easy book to read in front of the TV. Instead I got an 800 page dictionary which, although very informative, is as... Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2009 by peter sawyer
FROM VINE TO WINE ------ A MINE OF INFORMATION
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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... Read more
Published on 18 Oct 2002 by "hurburgh"
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