The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Edition

• #7 in Best Wine Books

52 Reviews

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Some reference books sit on the shelf, forgotten, hoping to be used someday in the future when someone has a desperate need to know how to calculate the third log value of an arctangent.

This book is as far removed from that fate as a Petrus is from a White Zinfandel!

At least once a week I have opened up this gorgeous wine tome and looked up the answer to a question, or read more about a particular wine I was enjoying. With over 3,000 entries to choose from, you can explore the ancient roots of wine in Iraq and Egypt, or learn about new vine-growing techniques winemakers are using in Washington State. The information is clearly written, well illustrated, and not overly technical.

Jancis Robinson, the editor of the tome, is well known in the industry for her knowledge and fluency in wines of all types. Combine her amazing knowledge with fantastic photographs of each wine region, and even reviews of various personalities in wine, and you have a book that you'll keep on the coffee table and actually read often! Be warned - you can lose guests in its pages for hours.

The book is great for a beginner. Confused about Beaujolais Nouveau? Want to know how a White Zinfandel differs from a Red Zinfandel? The Oxford Companion to Wine has clear, concise descriptions of all wine types, explaining their histories, their characteristics, and where they're found now.

The Companion is also a boon for experienced drinkers. It goes into the fine details of how wines are grown, and how various winemakers use different techniques to bring out the best in their particular grapes. There are maps of wine regions, and insights into what makes certain wines unique.

Great as a gift for your favorite wine drinker, but buy one for yourself, too! The book is a wonderful reference tool to have around the house. With its lovely photos of France, Italy, and Spain, it serves as a wine-lovers guide to places to visit or dream about, and wines to drink while doing so. Highly recommended as the only wine book you should ever need.

The sheer breadth of what this astounding book offers is almost too good to be true. I just started out learning about wine and I wish this had been the first book I cracked open. Jancis Robinson shows her immense talent as an editor and should be commended. If you're learning about wine, this is the book to get. If you already know about wine, get it anyway. You won't reget the purchase.

As a wine industry professional and card-carrying wine geek I can say that this is the single best wine reference book out there. If you're a beginner look elsewhere, but if you're someone who needs to know the grape parentage of Huxelrebe or the history of Chateauneuf du Pape then this is the book.

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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.

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.

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The Oxford Guide is extraordinary by any measue. It's only flaw, and a major one, is that phoenetic spellings are not given for the wines and some of the vineyards, towns, et al. Even those who speak FLUENT French, Italian, German or whatever, will encounter unfamiliar names with pronunciations that may be a puzzle.

Wine lovers of the world rejoice! This book is the best English encyclopaedia that one can peruse on the subject of 'Wine'. It has been painstakingly researched and meticulously indexed by Robinson, with the end result being a compelling volume that is rich in history, depth and information of 'all topics wine'.

The second edition which went on further to update readers on topics ranging from controlling bodies, prices & investments, new global markets, statistical overviews and vintages.

Worth every pence!

This complete and encyclopedic reference to all things wine has been written by hundreds of experts. The entries are enjoyable to read and extremely informative. Do you want to know where that obscure appelation is? What is the chemistry of wine as it ages? Almost anything you can think of is here.

No wine lovers' library is complete without the Oxford Companion to Wine. This is THE reference book for everything wine, quite literally from A to Z. Whether you are a wine novice looking to know more about a particular grape variety or wine region or an expert searching for information on vinification or the history of cork, you will find it -- quickly and easily -- in this book. Given that the book resembles and is organized like an encyclopedia, the annotations for each subject are written in a compelling manner. This is not a coffee table book. This is a book you will use again and again.

This is a great source of information for many aspects of wine. There is a lot of narrative information about wine producing countries, wine producing appellations, varietals, technical growing information, production (as in fermentation or grape crushing), storage, consumption (glasses, bottle aging, etc), and history (people, wineries, wine gods, folklore, myths, etc).

Other nice features: Articles frequently reference each other, with the article heading in bold for easy reference. There are great appendixes with wine stats (production, etc).

The only thing I didn't like about the book is that there is no pronunciation guide, which to me is a big negative. Overall, I doubt you will find a better (or even close to better) single source of wine information anywhere else. Why didn't I give it 5 stars? It's not exactly a classic, just a great data source.

For a novice like me with long but limited wine knowledge this is a perfect companion. I consider this THE enceclopedia for all wine related questions. It would be hard to find a more comprehensive compendium on wine. Equally recommended for the beginner or evryone who needs answers to his questions regarding wine. KEEP IN MIND: This is an alphabetic enceclopedia type of book.

I use the Oxford Companion constantly! Wine terms and references can be a bit confusing at times and that's where this book comes in. This book is organized in alphabetical order so if you see a wine related term or word that needs some splain' just refer to The Oxford Companion to Wine.

I don't recommend this book for the wine novice because it can be intimidating. It is essentially an encylopedia/dictionary and over 2000 pages and as heavy as a half a sack of bricks. I think that if you gave this book to a beginner it would be overwhelming and might dampen their interest and we don't want that to happen. I use this book as companion to the wine text book I am using at the moment. I sit down and read my assigned text and then follow up by refering to the Oxford Companion. I can't tell you how many times the light bulb has gone off after reading the Companion.

The book reveals info on grape types. winemaking techniques and terms, wine regions, vine training methods, oak barrels, wine pioneers,wine producers, maps,photos and illustrations. Even though it is jammed packed with wine info I don't find it to be stuffy. I find that Ms.Robinson's (editor) personality comes through.

Over the years I have purchased a second copy because I take pages out of one so that I can carry a few pages with me on topics that I know I will encounter during the day (I work in the wine industry). Yes there is also the abridged version of the Oxford Companion but I prefer the original.

While this is not a cover to cover read (which I have attempted)I think you will find it to be a welcome edition to your wine library and an excellent reference tool.

This encyclopedia is extensive and very good. It is also very heavy. You may want to get a primer on wine (e.g., "Wine for Dummies") before getting this as a reference, but this is one for your shelves. It covers many aspects of wine and to a great deal of detail in some areas, which is welcomed. Almost all of the information is current. What little is not current is insignificant in size and importance. Take at a good look at this reference.

This book contains definitions and explanations to virtually every aspect of wine; from basic definitions of common wine verbiage to in-depth explanations of processes, micro-climates, geography, history, etc. It also looks good on your bookshelf.

It's a great encyclopedia, but here's a couple of suggestions on how to make it even better...

1) Next to each entry, put in phonetics or some sort of pronunciation guide. People would like to sound intelligent when they speak too, not just when they read.

2) Wine Region maps should be colored, not just black & white.

3) Grape varieties should have nice colored pictures next to them.

This book is a superb no-nonsense overview of wine from around the world, and is certainly more of an encyclopedia than any of the other "wine encyclopedias" of which I am aware. Topics covered include the known science and chemistry of wine, global geographic distribution of varietals including details of wine growing regions that may not be as widely known to many readers, several thousand types of wine, and the history of wine growing regions. In my opinion this book is unparalleled as of yet. These comments are for the first edition of the book, however I suspect the second edition is even better.

This is a very important and useful book, highly recommended for everyone who needs to understand all the aspects of wine culture. Very well written, it's a book of great interest.

This tome is simply the best reference for professionals, amateurs and students on the subject of wine. The 3rd edition is updated with additional entries and new statistics, and better maps.

If you're into wine, or into learning about it, then this book does well to supplement another perhaps smaller, more specialized book. It doesn't necessarily deal at length with nuances of individual grapes, or how to develop a thorough tasting method. It's very useful when you come across a wine term you won't find in Webster's or want to know what the deal is with grafting, etc. I don't give it a 5 because I think, considering it's namesake and already generous size, they could have gone into more detail on some of the world's lesser-known but up-and-coming varietals at the expense of a few dozen more pages. But still a very good book to have if you want to fill your mind, or just like reading encyclopedias cover to cover.

Its the best book about wine I ever read. Full of information, with an easy organization, with the entries alphabetically displayed. This is the real wine bible. Perfect!

On another review, I mentioned that you need more than one book if you are serious about wine. But this is the most comprehensive work on wine I've seen, and one of the "must-have" in your collection. If you are interested in the ratings of specific wines or wineries, you need to get other books in addition to this.

This is a tour de force. How Jancis managed the monumental task of updating so much information makes the mind boggle. It is a veritable encyclopedia for the serious wine connoiseur.

The Oxford is basically the bible for wine. Very thorough and a great reference. This is *the* book. Just get it.
One comment about the reviewer who said, "A lot of money for a text book that is not a consumer's guide" - my reply? Duh. Look what you wrote - It's an encyclopedia, not one of the multitudes of consumer guides. Know what you are talking about before writing a review. As far as consumer guides, Oz Clark and Robert Parker both produce consumer/buying guides where you can look specific producers.

Comprehensive, well written and witty, this is certainly one book aimed at the hard core wine geek. Definitions for the scary wine vocabulary (millandrage...) to the humorous (wine bore...) reside within the covers without becoming cheeky. Although not for the through-and-through novice, it's a great addition to any wine freak's library.

These are the best books on wines world i've ever seen. I'm learning a lot.

Tells me more about wine than I really need to know, but it's nice to have it handy.

I am a beginner in the world of wine. The Oxford Companion to Wine has already proven to be very helpful in answering some perplexing questions. The print is rather small and can be difficult to read, but the vast amounts of information make up for the font size. Had it been any bigger the book would have to be bound in volumes. Although I'm diving into a very detailed field, I feel confident with the Oxford Companion.

This is an excellent resource for any topic related to wine. It is well researched and written, containing a wealth of information for any wine enthusiast. It is easy to navigate and read, making it highly recommended. Enjoy!

This book is truly incredible and can best be described as an encyclopedia of wine. Printed on 816 pages of fine paper with sporadic full color photographs and pencil drawings, it is atypical of other books on wine. There no novice section, stemware identification guide or chapter on building your own cellar. This is the book you want in you hands to aid in locating those rare areas of production and defining little known terms. Robinson draws on approximately 150 contributors, highly qualified experts in their respective fields, to author select entries.

Joseph Broski (Dionysian Society International)

Wine is a very good enciklopedi review of international wines. It comprises regions, wines, history, marketing data and so on. Useful data on wine production and testing are included. It is quite easy to find the object you are interested in. There are useful maps of wine regions across the world.
I would like quite frequently to find more quantitative data including tables and graphs, comparisons. But especially I missed the data about the amount of alcohol, amount of acids, minerals and aromates quantitatively.
I am enyoing vhen reading this book inspite that I am wine lover, not professional.

Though I've hardly read the entire tome, my quick reaction is that I'm missing being able to look up specific wines from specific vineyards. Only select and generally quite famous wines and vineyards are mentioned and even with those, we are not told which vintages are special or to be avoided. A lot of money for a text book that is not a consumer's guide.

This behemoth covers "A"bboccato to "Z"infandel (actually Zweigelt) and every facet in between. As multi-layered as a fine wine itself, the OCTW is one reference you will neither tire of nor outgrow.

This huge volume will make your bookshelf sag in the middle, and you'll have a heck of a time reading it in bed. But if you're ready to move on to serious wine appreciation, it's a must-have, a truly magisterial volume that covers the world of wine in a thorough, accurate and readable fashion

search anything about wine? it's there. Just great, very accurate and up-to-date. The only disadvantage in my view is that for complete information about some subjects you have to follow refences throughout the book. On the other hand is that a great way to browse it.
In all respects a book worth recommending!

A must have for wine lovers curious to find exhaustive answers and precise descriptions.

I will keep this brief. This is the holy grail of wine knowledge. There is no finer reference that covers as wide a range of topics as this. My favorite part of this text is that other covered topics within a story have highlights so that you can flip to a new, related topic and expand your knowledge, much like a hyperlink on the web.

I am a Master of Wine student and this is indespensible. Buy this first then grab the World Atlas of Wine and the Sotheyby's Wine Encyclopedia. These are the three books that should be the cornerstone of any wine library.

The Oxford Companion has met our expectations very well. Highly recommended for general information about wine and related topics; this is not a "what wine to buy for tonight" guide.

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this encyclopedia had everything regarding winiculture and viticulture. great for any student or professional in the wine industry.

I am in the wine industry and this is always the first wine book I go to for an answer. It is a comprehensive wine reference book that I dub "The Wine Bible". In the morning this book is either still on my chest or on the floor next to my bed.

I gave this to my wine-loving son this Christmas. He sat down with it after opening the package and read for hours. He was delighted with it.

This is a must have reference book for all wine enthusiasts, wine professionals, students of wine, and sommeliers.

I would recommend this for anyone interested in wine from the novice to Robert Parker (I'm betting he has a copy). Four friends have purchased this book after looking at mine.

The Oxford Companion to Wine is a great encyclopedia for wine lovers. It covers a great breadth of topics, deeply enough to be informative, but in a short enough fashion to keep this under 1000 pages. Coverage includes wine growing regions, wines, vine varietals, wine making, barrel making, bacteria, and on and on.

One thing this is not - it's not a review/criticism of specific wines (which tend to become out of date too quickly to be useful in book form).

Highly recommended.

Along with most of the reviewers here, my wine-knowledgeable friends, to whom I gave this book as a wedding anniversary present, were extraordinarily pleased. They tell me that they learn something new from it every day, and that it has "everything about wine" within its covers.

I have been working in the wine industry for many years and I have never come across a more complete reference book. It is worth every cent.The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Edition

The Oxford Companion to Wine is one of the best books about wine that I have seen.

Having a healthy interest in wine (don't drink too much most of the time) this answers so many of the questions that I've had over the years. It gives many of the expected details of different wine regions and wine classifications throughout the world in great detail. It also gives information on the winemaking process, the different varieties, how to consume wine (storage, tasting), qualities and faults in wine, famous personalities/labels in wine and wine history. All this with some beautiful fullpage photographs, maps and diagrams. Makes a great present and should be a mandatory accessory for anyone with a substantial wine collection.

While I've found the book book very informative and helpful, pages 601-624 are missing. I guess I shouldn't complain though, since I have pages 625-648 twice. Has anyone else noticed this in their 3rd edition? I can't believe mine is the only copy where this mistake has occurred.

Fabulous help for all wine lovers. Easy to find information and great photos. A must have for casual wine lovers and professionals alike.

I continue to use this book as a resource for wine pairings and information regarding the wine's breeding and hybridizing. Makes for an excellent companion to tasting books. A must-read for people after a few wine tasting trips.

An outstanding reference. Covers just about everything you need or want to know about the world of wine. I just open the book to a random page and enjoy reading it. I teach an introduction to wine course at a local university and I find the book gets me details I cannot find in other places. For lme at least it is fun to read.

This is simply an outstanding resource: accessible, comprehensive, enticing. It serves well both the neophyte and the expert.

This tome is chock full of wine information. I look information up in it regularly. With the explotion of wine production there is a lot of new wines on the market to learn about. It also has a section listing the grapes in French AOC wines. Concise and well written.