Best Books to Learn About Wine
Have you ever wondered what are the best books to learn about wine?
The best way to learn about wine is to taste them, and that's something every wine lover knows. However, there are several books that can complement the drinking part. The biggest mistake everyone would make is to rely only on one source or think that one wine book could be enough.
Here is the "strategy" The Wine Jokers decided to carry on to develop their knowledge and skillset.
Our Strategy
First of all, you need to build the "skeleton" up. That part of your study will be the most important one! It gives you a general understanding of the world of wine. Don't get disappointed if you see that your knowledge is very low at first. Because the more you study and know, the more this feeling will increase. But this is good, as it means that you aren't satisfied anymore with the general knowledge you have, and you'll feel the need to telescope down the topics you are more interested in.
To make it clear, this is what happened to us. We started studying Beaujolais in a general way at first. We wanted to focus on the main grapes (only Gamay, thank God!), its terroir, and the carbonic maceration. The next step started in a wine shop. We realized that we knew very little about the appellation system in Beaujolais. You realize how little you know these things only when you have to pick up a bottle from shelves. You feel lost and go blind if you don't have a clue. We didn't know the difference between a Beaujolais, a Beaujolais Village, and a Beaujolais Cru. A couple of days after, we knew everything about the appellation system. After realizing that the Beaujolais Cru is the best in the market, we wanted to know all the ten Villages (yes Cru stands for Village here in Beaujolais!). We're now in the most beautiful stage: to taste the differences between Gamays from different Villages. Now we know that wines from Fleurie are very feminine, whereas the ones from Morgon are very masculine. But this is just the beginning!
Whether you want to dive into the world of the grapes or learn more about winemaking processes, in this article we'll present you a list of the best books published to achieve those goals.
1. The Wine Bible
The Wine Bible will educate you profoundly in the fundamentals while layering on informative asides, tips, amusing anecdotes, definitions, glossaries, photos, maps, labels, and suggestions. The information comes straight through primary research. Some topics covered throughout the book are:
How to taste with focus and build a wine-tasting memory
Understand the subtle interplay of variety, vineyard, and vintner.
What makes a great wine great?
How oak affects flavor.
The reason behind Champagne's bubbles.
And, because of MacNeil's writing style, you'll always be delighted.
This is "The Wine Jokers' skeleton". This is the first book we relied on and it looked so massive at first. However, it wasn't that overwhelming at all after a while. We found it very well done in the chapters regarding France.
2. World Atlas of Wine, 8th Edition
Considered a classic, The World Atlas of Wine (first published in 1971) is the most dominant wine reference work available.
Throughout its pages, you'll find superb photography.
With superb photography throughout, Johnson and Robinson, the world's most respected wine-writing duo, have joined forces to create a classic that no wine lover can afford to be without.
Every Sommelier knows how important wine geography is. Well, this is the best wine book you'll possibly buy to get to know wine countries and their most famous labels. This book doesn't have to be the first reference you use though. You would just think that learning about wine is impossible and you could even quit! But this book is the next step you'll have to take after studying the Wine Bible.
3. The Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition
The first edition of Robinson's volume quickly accomplished legendary status, winning every important wine book award including the Glenfiddich and Julia Child/IACP awards Merging researched fact with refreshing opinion and wit, The Oxford Companion to Wine presents nearly 4,000 entries on every wine-related topic conceivable:
From regions and grape varieties to the owners, connoisseurs, growers, and tasters in wine through the ages.
From viticulture and enology to the history of wine, from its origins to the present day.
Now exhaustively updated, this fourth edition incorporates the very latest international research to present 300 new entries on topics ranging from additives and wine apps to WSET and Zelen.
This volume is unlike any other wine book, offering an understanding of wine in all of its wider contexts and serving as a truly companionable point of reference into which any wine-lover can dip and browse.
4. Wine Folly: A Visual Guide to the World of Wine
Drinking great wine isn't hard, but finding a great wine is much easier when you understand the fundamentals.
Using visual infographics, charts, and maps, the expert founders of Winefolly.com have created the ultimate wine resource packed with facts and information.
From tips on which glasses to use, and easy-to-grasp flavor wheels for each wine type, to simple tasting and food-pairing notes, Wine Folly is a fascinating modern and colorful guide.
This accessible book will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to enjoy great wines. The job is very well done especially for people who are approaching the world of wine for the first time. However, you'll feel the need to read something more specific if you want to master your knowledge.
5. Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties
This book is a must-have for every wine lover. Here, the authors analyze in-depth hundreds and hundreds of grape varieties.
If you've ever wanted to know where Chardonnay comes from, the history behind Pinot Noir, or how to identify a Riesling by its flavor, let us tell you that this book is all you need.
This is one of the best books to learn about wine, and it should be on every wine lover's bookshelf. We believe that this book makes a difference. Wine is about storytelling and what's more interesting than knowing the origin of the grape you are about to sip? In this book you'll find everything you ever wanted to know about grapes.
6. The Wine Pocket Bible
This is the perfect gift for any wine lover.
This little masterpiece is full of answers to any question that matters in the world of wine.
Not only does it have all the information you need, but it also provides you with trivia and little-known facts that will entertain you while you read it.
Conclusion
The world of wine is a slow business. It takes time, effort, and patient to make it in vineyards and so it does to study it and master it. So being patient, curious, and HUMBLE is pivotal. The best Sommelier in the world could learn something from old winemakers who are running their small businesses for years. Never be ashamed to ask because there are no stupid questions when it comes to wine.
Well, guys, we've seen some books you can start learning about this fascinating world. These are just some of the books to learn about wine. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below or let us know on our social media. We're always looking for new perspectives to learn from.
How many of these did you know? And, how many do you have at home? If the answer is "one or two", you'd better stop reading and go buy one of them. We'll leave you the links to Amazon below, so you don't have to look for them!
The Wine Bible (Karen MacNeil)
World Atlas of Wine, 8th Edition (Hugh Johnson & Jancis Robinson)
The Oxford Companion to Wine, 4th Edition (Jancis Robinson & Julia Harding)
Wine Folly: A Visual Guide to the World of Wine (Justing Hammack & Madeline Puckette)
Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties (Jancis Robinson & Julia Harding)
The Wine Pocket Bible (Andrew Smith & Jenny Dodd)