Published in 1994 to worldwide acclaim, the first edition of Jancis Robinson's seminal volume immediately attained legendary status, winning every major wine book award including the Glenfiddich and Julia Child/IACP awards, as well as writer and woman of the year accolades for its editor on both sides of the Atlantic. Combining meticulously-researched fact with refreshing opinion and wit, The Oxford Companion to Wine presents almost 4,000 entries on every wine-related topic imaginable, from regions and grape varieties to the owners, connoisseurs, growers, and tasters in wine through the ages; from viticulture and oenology to the history of wine, from its origins to the present day. Now exhaustively updated, this third edition incorporates the very latest international research to present almost 400 new entries on topics ranging from globalization and the politics of wine to brands, precision viticulture, and co-fermentation. Hundreds of entries have undergone major revision, among them yeast, barrel alternatives, climate change, and virtually all wine regions; and useful lists and statistics are appended, including controlled appellations and their permitted grape varieties, and wine production and consumption by country. Illustrated with maps of every important wine region in the world, useful charts and diagrams, and stunning colour photographs, this Companion is unlike any other wine book, offering an understanding of wine in all of its wider contexts - notably historical, cultural, and scientific - and serving as a truly companionable point of reference into which any wine-lover can dip and browse.
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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
'The essential reference book' -- Financial Times Magazine, 9/10 December 2006
'essential reference guide' -- Daily Express, 1 September 2006
"Impressive Scholarship" -- The Times
"Wine anoraks will want Jancis Robinson's revised, encyclopaedic The Oxford Companion to Wine." -- The Times,
"essential reference guide" -- Daily Express
"no wine-lover's bookshelves should be without" -- Jonathan Ray, Daily Telegraph
"the essential reference book" -- David Baker, Financial Times
'no wine-lover's bookshelves should be without' -- Daily Telegraph, 23.12.06
Impressive Scholarship
-- The Times, November 25, 2006
Wine anoraks will want Jancis Robinson's revised, encyclopaedic
The Oxford Companion to Wine. -- The Times, November 25, 2006
'essential reference guide' -- Daily Express, 1 September 2006
"Impressive Scholarship" -- The Times
"Wine anoraks will want Jancis Robinson's revised, encyclopaedic The Oxford Companion to Wine." -- The Times,
"essential reference guide" -- Daily Express
"no wine-lover's bookshelves should be without" -- Jonathan Ray, Daily Telegraph
"the essential reference book" -- David Baker, Financial Times
'no wine-lover's bookshelves should be without' -- Daily Telegraph, 23.12.06
Impressive Scholarship
-- The Times, November 25, 2006
Wine anoraks will want Jancis Robinson's revised, encyclopaedic
The Oxford Companion to Wine. -- The Times, November 25, 2006
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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!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Serge Pillot
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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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....
60 of 78 people found the following review helpful
By "hurburgh"
Format:Hardcover
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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 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.
... Read more ›
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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