Kevin Zraly's incomparable course is still America's top-selling guide to wine. In his inimitable, irreverent style, Zraly answers all your questions; offers the most up-to-date recommendations; takes you on a country-by-country, region-by-region ratings tour of the latest vintages; and starts you on your way to becoming a wine connoisseur. Abundant full-colour labels and maps entice you. More current, more informative, more concise and precise than ever, this remains the wine guide against which all others are judged.
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"One of the best start-from-scratch wine books ever written." - Frank Prial, The New York Times. "A visually exciting, intelligently structured reference." - Bon Appetit "Are you intimidated by wine stewards? Read Kevin Zraly's new edition of Windows on the World Complete Wine Course and order with aplomb" - Playboy "The liveliest short course on wine ever wrapped between two covers" - Boston Globe "Brims with enthusiasm... breezy, down-to-earth...Reads like an interesting conversation." - Chicago Tribune "As entertaining as it is informative. A masterful job of simplifying a complex subject and making it fun in the process." - New York Daily News "The top introductory book available." - Booklist"
About the Author
KEVIN ZRALY is the founder and teacher of the immensely popular Windows on the World Wine School that has graduated over 10,000 students since its inception in 1976. He has studied winemaking techniques in California and all the great wine regions of Europe. The recipient of the James Beard Award as the Wine & Spirits Professional of the Year and the Food & Beverage Association's Man of the Year Award, Kevin is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Culinary Institute of America and has been featured in The New York Times, People magazine, The
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4.7 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
45 of 49 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heights Unmatched
11 Dec 2002
By Randy Given
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
This book is named after the restaurant "Windows on the World" (WotW) which was near the top of the World Trade Center (NYC). Although I had been to the top of the WTC many times, I never made it to WotW. I wish I had. If this book is any indication (especially the 2003 edition with stories and pictures about the restaurant itself), it must have been a wonderful experience.
For beginners, this book should be read after "Wine for Dummies" (WfD). I recommend WfD as the book to purchase if you only want one book. If you want two or more, which is very likely, the second one is this one, "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course" (WotWCWC). This book covers reds and whites, in depth, as well as a clearly diagrammed set of geography pictures and notes.
The author takes out much of the snobbishness of others, presenting a great deal of information in an attractive manner. This is great for the library as well as a book that can be laid out on a table for casual reading by guests.
There is a FAQ section towards the back that is very good. There are also some suggestions for starting your own collection and for those that want to make a restaurant wine list (which is also a must-read because some of it will apply to your own collection).
This book is a must-have for a wine library. Your guests will also appreciate it.
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not just for beginners! A great read.
13 Nov 2002
By Kris Backus
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
My husband and I consider ourselves wine hobbyists - not really beginners - and we are getting a lot out of this book. Zraly packs a lot in, and it's all interesting stuff, from little known facts (did you know your nose can discern over 2,000 different smells?) to diagrams of the taste centers of your tongue, to discussions of the various wine regions in different countries, as well as the United States. What sold me on this book is the suggested wine buys for the well-stocked cellar (in the Appendix), where Zraly suggests wines you can easily find in various ranges: under [money] (everyday wines), [money] (once a week wines), [money] and up. Great suggestions from someone whose been in the business for years and loves it.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect "course" for the beginning oenophile
3 July 2005
By Jonathan Appleseed
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
This is an excellent book for the beginning oenophile. Truly, I have found that there was no greater revelation in my gustatory experience than when I first had a good glass of wine. Not a wine that had been left out and corked at a restaurant for three days, not a $4.99 bottle from the local supermarket, not two-buck-Chuck, or, god forbid, the jug wines of my parents day. That first good glass of wine opened my eyes to an amazing world that I didn't know existed.
When you have that first good glass, you seek out more, and during your search you discover that there are varietals you've never heard of: Viognier, Barolo, Carignan, Mourvedre, Tempranillo, and so many others. As you taste these wines, you realize this is a world you want to know more about.
This is the perfect book to start your journey into the "wonderful world of wine". While it is very well written, it is certainly not comprehensive (no introductory book of any kind could be!) but there are times when the author references something that 1) you may wish to know more about; or 2) you feel it hasn't been adequately explained. I would highly recommend purchasing The New Wine Lovers Companion, available here on Amazon for only $10.17 (i.e., not any great expenditure) and keep it next to you while you go through the book. It will greatly enhance your experience.
When you have finished with this book you will have a solid understanding of all of the major wine producing regions in the world, the varietals that come from them, the wines that are made, and so much more.
I myself work part-time in a wine store, and recommend this book to everyone who comes in wanting to know more.
When you have that first good glass, you seek out more, and during your search you discover that there are varietals you've never heard of: Viognier, Barolo, Carignan, Mourvedre, Tempranillo, and so many others. As you taste these wines, you realize this is a world you want to know more about.
This is the perfect book to start your journey into the "wonderful world of wine". While it is very well written, it is certainly not comprehensive (no introductory book of any kind could be!) but there are times when the author references something that 1) you may wish to know more about; or 2) you feel it hasn't been adequately explained. I would highly recommend purchasing The New Wine Lovers Companion, available here on Amazon for only $10.17 (i.e., not any great expenditure) and keep it next to you while you go through the book. It will greatly enhance your experience.
When you have finished with this book you will have a solid understanding of all of the major wine producing regions in the world, the varietals that come from them, the wines that are made, and so much more.
I myself work part-time in a wine store, and recommend this book to everyone who comes in wanting to know more.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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