The Wine Bible

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The spine on my worn copy of the Wine Bible is cracked and its pages are dog-eared, even though I think the book has several notable shortcomings. As I write this, I find myself in the unusual position of criticizing the thick volume even though I turn to it for information on a regular basis.

My biggest complaint is that I feel the book doesn't really know what it wants to be. On the one hand, it is a comprehensive reference book that in many areas goes into more depth than other general wine books. But it falls short as a reference book because it lacks the scope of books like The World Atlas of Wine or The Global Encyclopedia of Wine, which cover more up-and-coming wine producing countries, more specific producers and, especially in the case of The World Atlas of Wine, are enhanced by beautiful photographs and maps. Though the Wine Bible is substantial (it weighs in at a hefty 910 pages) its design is more compact than the other books I mentioned, and so might make a better travel companion for someone visiting multiple wine producing regions in a single trip. But the lack of good maps makes a supplemental book necessary.

Additionally, the book can feel like a disjointed collection of articles that ought to have been better integrated before publication. Often, the same information (referring to multiple or confusing names for grape varieties or regions, or quality standards in specific countries) is referred to parenthetically several times, often in quick succession -- something unnecessary, especially given the book's excellent glossary.

But despite these criticisms, I find myself referring to the book repeatedly. Part of the reason for that is author Karen MacNeil's pleasing and unpretentious writing style, which somehow manages to please wine lovers of many different levels of knowledge. Ms. MacNeil's passion for wine comes through in the text and her knowledge of the subject is extremely impressive, with her descriptions often compensating for a lack of quality photos. And though I would like to see more wine producing areas covered by the book, the regions she does address are covered extremely comprehensively. The quality of information is also very even: before travels to these areas I have read the book's sections on South Africa, the Mosel, Loire, Ribera del Duero, Languedoc, as well as everything on my adopted home country, and could not detect any ebb in Ms. Mac Neil's enthusiasm or knowledge.

After some thought, I settled on four stars for this review, despite the complaints I have. The book is just too useful and too skillfully written for fewer stars. The next addition, I feel sure, will earn five on my improvised scale.

Once you have moved beyond the most basic level in wine knowledge, this is an important book to have. If you can buy only one book on the subject, this is not the one I would suggest -- The World Atlas of Wine gets my vote for that honor -- but if you were to limit your collection to two books, then I think this is a serious candidate for that second position. Once you've got that much covered, I'd lean toward a book that focuses on your favorite wine producing region or another specific aspect of the subject, like tasting or wine production.

A great book for a beginner. This book doesn't rate wines, it teaches you about how they are made, what flavors each grape is known for, what regions grow each type of grape and so on. Immensely useful information. I have used this as

* a learning tool,
* a reference when I'm curious about a wine I've found
* to settle arguments with family over wine labeling
* a reference to decide which wines may be worth trying from a specific region.

As a reference, the book is not encyclopedic, but it doesn't attempt to be either. The book is a bible in the sense that it gives you a good solid overview of a wine region, it's styles of wines, and some of it's representative producers if you want to start trying out the regions wines.

It is quick to point out that the ultimate judge of a wine is the drinker, and you shouldn't be shy to decide you do or don't like a wine despite it's reputation. I like that and believe it is a good approach.

This is a very solid book at least in the opinion of this newcomer to the field of fine wine. There seems to be good coverage for many wine regions around the world, and some good introductory material on the making of wine. The author describes grape types, climate, topography, storage casks, and whatever else may determine the quality and character of wines. The wine industry is not simple, but this book goes to great lengths to make it understandable. Granted it is my first venture into this field, but it appears that this book has something for everyone.

Utterly fascinating and comprehensive, The Wine Bible is just the right length to provide even the most discriminating oenophile with all the facts needed to quench his thirst. It is difficult to imagine a better overview of all the wine areas of the world. Certainly there are more scholarly tomes, but MacNeil's ebullient and zestful writing style is utterly charming and never wearying, her descriptions of specific wines so lively you can almost taste them. I wanted to rush out and buy all her recommendations.

The layout of the book starts with the basics of how wine is made, what factors make great wine, how to taste, the major grapes and their characters, and other fundamentals. It then proceeds into an extensive look at the countries that produce wine. Each country section breaks down the major wine producing areas within the country, going into great detail to highlight the unique qualities of those areas that bring their wine to life. The country sections also include travel notes, comments about the local food, wineries to visit, and more. At the end of each growing area section, MacNeil includes specific wines of note.

This format makes the subject quite approachable, but also leads to the only complaint I have (and it is not enough to take away anything from the book.) Because of the length (900+ pages), the book is written sectionally. Given the scope, MacNeil wrote it in a manner than lends each section to being self-contained. Because of this, when reading several country sections, MacNeil repeats herself many times, often explaining a concept in a later chapter that she had explained earlier. This is done for clarity sake, especially if the book is being used as a reference. For a complete readthrough, though, one can simply skip over what had already been explained previously.

If you have a passing knowledge of wine and wish to go to the next level (or simply need an approachable, yet complete reference), I can think of no better place to start than The Wine Bible. MacNeil's love of wine certainly comes through and makes this reference a gripping read, one of the few references you'll find hard to put down.

There are so many great wines and so little time to taste all the wines of the world. Karen does a fantastic job of boiling down all of the wines to the essence. Or as she puts it wines that deserve our attention. This book is a wealth of information. Read "how to use the book" first. The information about the regions and where to visit and what to taste will make sure this book is a traveling companion for me.
Enjoy your wine journey.

It was certainly a surprise when my wife presented me with my copy of Karen MacNeil's The Wine Bible. She had been doing some Amazon gift shopping for a friend and took the opportunity to give a gift to her husband as well. Seems she had recently attended a cooking demonstration at one of Manhattan's great restaurants, Tabla, and Tracy, the sommelier, suggested that The Wine Bible was one of the most comprehensive and up to date books on the subject. One does not digest 910 pages in a sitting, but a perusal of several known wine areas, and a careful review of the indexes indicate that this is a book to be reckoned with. You won't find every wine, but those you do are sure to please. Written with clear, unpretentious prose, this book is one you will be happy to have on your reference shelf.

So I'm a beer snob, and learning to be a (cheap) wine snob. This book was given me as a gift by my parents, and it is cool.

It won't tell you everything there is to know about wine; that only comes with further reading and lots of tasting. But it's a spectacular foundation to learning the history and traditions involved, and it does a remarkable job of covering its subject without prejudices. The history of recent (i.e. last couple of hundred years) of wine development is the focus -- if you're looking for information on ancient wines you won't find much of it here, but if you want to know how Chile or Australia became the wine-growing powerhouses they are today, this book will tell you everything you might wish to know.

I've no real complaints with the book. There are big holes in its coverage, but wine is a truly gigantic subject and MacNeil has done a great job covering as much ground as she can -- there's great information on most of the major wine-growing countries, starting with France and Italy and going from there. There's even a narrative of sorts, with heroes like Robert Mondavi and the Gallo Brothers who rebuilt the California wine industry with book knowledge when the traditions had been wiped out by Prohibition, and villains like the phylloxera aphid that nearly destroyed the wine industry worldwide before American botanists saved the day by grafting European vines onto American rootstocks. Ancient traditions in France, Germany, and Italy are placed alongside modern innovation in California, Australia, and South America, showing that either way is an effective method for creating a great wine. Champagne is mentioned alongside the humble Spanish cava and party-loving German sekt. And the great old fortified wines -- port, sherry, madeira, marsala -- get their due in detail most people probably never imagined.

It's an excellent book to just open to a random page and flip through. It's informative without being snobbish, and written for both the casual browser and the serious oenophile. Tradition and modern science sit side-by-side, and the reader is bound to find a few little-known future favorites (Argentinian Malbec, in my case, a powerfully flavorful wine that I tried alongside some pot roast) just waiting in the "interesting cheap stuff" bins at the liquor store. Essentially, with this book there's no excuse for buying the cheap stuff in the box, or simply settling for the easy varietals (unless of course that's what you want). If you want to learn about wine and like to read, get this book and the address of a good liquor store.

I think "The Wine Bible" (TWB) should be the third book purchase for wine beginners (after "Wine for Dummies" and "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course"). TWB is full of good information. Of course, the first section is a must-read. Then, the sections are split into separate geographical areas and are very good and very detailed, while still being easy to read (the author's "education" background is readily apparent and helpful to the reader). I especially liked the depth of information that is presented in a friendly manner. For example, I wanted more in-depth information on Valpolicella. Most books given only a paragraph to it, if they give anything at all. Over several sections, this book probably had close to three pages (a lot of text on each page) which is about ten times the information of the competition. And no, this book is not lopsided in favor of information on Italy. That is just one example of why this book gets five stars. There are many other cases of information that other books do not contain or they gloss over. This book has a lot to offer.

I believe that this book knows *exactly* what it wants to be. It doesn't try to be as comprehensive as either "The World Atlas of Wine" or "The Oxford Companion to Wine". What this book is trying to do is appeal to everyone, and be considerably more accessible than the books referenced above. I recently gave this as a gift to my father-in-law who was interested in learning about wine. This was the only book I even considered giving to him. It contains enough information to get someone started, and make them thirsty enough to want more. I would probably follow this up with either "How to Taste" by Jancis Robinson (speaking of thirst...).

This is a great book for all things wine related. In fact, when I first saw the book, I was somewhat overwhelmed by the comprehesiveness. Don't buy the book thinking you will have an easy to use tool to take with you to the local wine and cheese outlet. But, if interested in becoming more of an "expert" in the art of wine tasting and enjoying, try it out.

Kudos to Karen MacNeil for completing a daunting educational task. Although this project was vast, Karen's amazing subject mastery and economic use of poetic language both informs and delights her reader. The Wine Bible is a perfect bedside book for both the serious and not-so-serious wine connoisseur because one can pick it up and start reading and learning from any page.

Karen MacNeil's Wine Bible is so ambitious that it seems almost impossible for it to succeed. This book is first of all an encyclopedia, so it sets out to be comprehensive and it succeeds. Almost every bit of knowledge that isn't about a particular vintage can be found here. Remarkably, for an encyclopedia, many of the entries are quite detailed. I was particularly impressed by the section on Austrian and Italian wines (I've spent a fair amount of time in both countries).
Accuracy? It's a rule that everybody makes mistakes and the more ambitious you are, the more you make. But this rule doesn't seem to apply to MacNeil. Some wine snobs of my acquaintance have combed the book looking for errors (they're easy to find in most wine texts). So far, even this punctilious gang has found nothing wrong.
Another impressive thing about this book is its modesty. The author includes a generous bibliography that takes the reader to more detailed sources when it's necessary.

But the reason that you'll pick this book up time and again is its unfailing good writing and good humor. MacNeil is a pleasure to read and one suspects she'd be a pleasure to share a glass of wine with too.

Potential buyers should be aware that this isn't an atlas-real wine loons should have a seperate one of those anyway. The chapter on winemaking is good reading for a novice but leaves out a lot that a specialist might want to know. You won't make your own wine based on The Wine Bible. It's also not a coffee-table book. You'll have to look elsewhere for more pictures of gorgeous vineyards at sunset. But for the single, indispensible wine reference at a great price, you can't beat it.

Lynn Hoffman author of The New Short Course in Wine

When I was studying for my Sommelier Diploma our assigned texts could be dry and confusing so I always started off by reading the Wine Bible. The Wine Bible gave me just enough information to jog my memory and I felt as though I had a handle on the basics before moving on to the required reading of our text.

The book is organized by major wine growing regions of the world so you learn about the region (ex. Bordeaux,France or Napa,CA) not by grape or wine type. If you are more interested in finding out what types of wines you would enjoy drinking, then I would suggest Oz Clarke's Understanding Wine. From there I would then suggest moving on to Mr. Clarke's Encylopedia of Grapes.

The information given in the Wine Bible is enjoyable,unintimidating,and easy to read and understand. It wets your appetite (pun intended) just enough so that you want to know more about the subject at the end of each chapter. You can use the book as a reference or read from cover to cover. The only complaint I have of the Wine Bible is that it is over 300 pages which makes it difficult to carry in your purse or backpack. Even with the bulkyness this is the one book that I have chosen on several occasions to take with me on week long vacations.

This is an up to date book that educates and enlightens all who have an interest in wine. The book need not be read from front to back. It is well researched and compiled. One item comes through clearly, wine making has changed and improved a great deal in the past 30 years.

This was a great book...6 years ago. While that might not seem a long time, remember that insane changes have occured lately: the restructuring of many Italian DOCs, promotion of massive numbers of Spanish DOs, new AVAs in California and Oregon, Canada establishing itself as a wine powerhouse for more than dessert wines, not to mention the stylistic change of Bordeaux after the 2000 vintage.

I have also found several errors based on outdated (1997-1999) information. Though this is of little concern to novices, experts and those in the wine industry cannot rely on this information. Also, this needs to come in a hardcover form (for this many pages).

Pros: value, basic knowledge good
Cons: poorly laid out, outdated info, not durable, lacks advanced info

I know Karen MacNiel can do better, she is one of the most knowledgeable wine experts I have ever met.

Over the past 5 years I found myself enjoying wine with meals quite often. This quickly grew into a love of not only drinking but collecting wine. I now have my own cellar and make frequent trips to wine country throughout the world. In my opinion there is no better book to get you started in understanding the wonderful world of wine. To be sure this book will not take you into great detail on every wine region in the world. There's no way to do that - even in 900+ pages. But what this book will do is expose you to the wide world of wine, touching on every region, sub-regions, AVA's, etc.. Karen writes clearly and explains even complex areas such as Burgundy very well. If you're looking for a book to get you started in the world of wine, this book does it better than any I've seen. It also makes a wonderful reference book even for those that are well versed in wine. I find myself referring to it numerous times throughout the year.

...then this should be that book. Easy to read, well-written, colorful and full of informative sidebars, this book is one of the best entry-level wine texts available. Karen MacNeil manages to make a 900+ page book fun and easy to read by writing in a breezy, well-informed manner. Her book design allows the reader to pickup and put down the book often, without feeling like you've lost your place. The well-structured chapters flow easily and are very informative. I love this book because I can read it in bursts, a few pages at a time, and still learn more every time I pick the book up.

I have three wine books, and this is the one I turn to the most. Granted, I don't have an atlas, and I am very new to the world of wine; nevertheless, this book is not only packed with information, it is an engaging and pleasurable read.

A book this long (over 900 pages) runs the risk of being overly dense and perhaps even overly pedantic. MacNeil's book is neither. The book is very well designed, with good visuals--text formatting and graphics--and MacNeil writes like someone who knows how to teach. Her prose is engaging, her voice clear, and she doesn't ever talk down to the reader.

The first 100 pages is devoted to examinations of grape varieties, storage, tasting, winemaking (i.e., how vintners do it, not how to DIY). (She warns us about the tendency of rabbit-ears corkscrews to chew up the cork, something I had to find out the hard way--I wish I'd know this sooner!) After that, the book is organized by country, and she discusses issues specific to regions, and even lists "Wines to Know" from each area, a nice feature for us novices.

If I could keep only one of my three wine books, this would be it. It's not just informative, it's fun.

I recently returned from from a trip to wine country and I can say this book has eludicated many wine concepts for me. I don't care for the dogmatic approach of Wine Spectator or Wine Advocate but this book's unpretentious approach is satisfying. The sections on wine travel --both in the US and around the world-- are great. The other superb wine book is Oldman's Guide to Outsmarting Wines, which is also unpretentious and has great humor and style.

I'm not going to go much in depth about the specifics of this book since I feel other reviewers have already done that. All I want to say is that this is precisely the book I was wanting to find on wine.

I was, like possibly most people who would buy this book, not totally in the dark regarding wine; but I didn't know there was this much to know about it! Karen MacNeil does a great job of presenting a huge amount of information clearly and specifically.

The book is never boring. I managed to finish it all in a one week vacation in Huatulco Mexico (not the best place to look for the wines mentioned in the book). Got the best tan I've had in a long time!

The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil is the perfect introduction to wine for new wine drinkers or a springboard for those wanting to explore deeper into the fascinating world of wines! Ms. MacNeil takes you through the introductory levels of wine making, wine regions and wine procedures (ie temperature, pouring, glasses, storage, etc) in a friendly teacher tone, not a snobby looking down your glass tone so often found in wine books. Her writing style is light, relaxing and friendly throughout the whole book. Each chapter is sprinkled with excellent little tidbits on everything from information on the former owner of a vineyard to what may cause your wine to take on a offensive smell! After the introductory sections, Karen takes you into each of the world's major wine producing regions giving you the skinny on their history, their terrior, their wines and some of the better producers (in the recommendation section). I am stationed in Germany and have tried four of her German wine picks, all of them were perfect! Expand your knowledge of the worlds favorite drink, raise a glass and say "Cheers!" (or Slainte`) to Karen MacNeil's Wine Bible!

This is a nice Wine Book, However, it cannot compare to the latest Windows on the World Wine Course. Never the less, this is nice to have, and it can be had at a reasonable price.

After having reviewed a number of other books on the subject of wine, this publication takes the understanding of wine to a level easily understood by all. I have it in my kitchen for quick reference and use it for futures purchases as well as a quick understanding as to where the wine and grapes utilized in the wine came from. Maps and diagrams in the text are crystal clear and the text is written for easy understanding. This is a book I simply can't do without. Matter of fact, I have a copy in our Chicago home as well as our Florida home because it is that important to our wine purchases as well as understanding the history of wine and from whence it comes. It is truly best of breed.

Karen is a goddess in the world of wine. This book brings to life the [other] elements of wine that are as crucial to experiencing it as drinking. Still, misty mornings in the Sonoma Valley with the crack of roosters and tractors, the cuisine of Sauterne and the religious effects of Spain's national drink are just a taste of the emotions Karen brings to you in this education of wine. I've read a lot about wine, since it is my business. There are some other great reads out there. Speaking purely for reference sake, this is the book I do not leave home without. It's written in such impressionable fashion, that I rarely forget a quote. Through her emotional ties in travel, tasting, and living Karen has shaped my vision of wine and its effect on culture the world over. I can't remember the last time I gave 5-stars [for anything], but for $13.47 - there is no better buy on the subject. Cheers!

This book is fabulous. If you are just beginning to learn about wines or if you already know a bit and want to hone your skills, this is the book for you. This is a fun and easy read that is jam packed with technical and anecdotal information. You actually feel like you are talking with a friend rather than reading a more textbook-like book. Don't be intimidated by size (886 pages of solid text), it's easily broken up and the book does not need to be read in order. Chapters 2-15 discuss the high volume wine countries of the world. Chapters are broken down into regions/states and also list some of the best wines from those areas (a nice little buying guide when you're not sure what to try). I got so much out of this book that I also bought it for my parents, sister & brother-in-law, and boyfriend so we can all have it in our collection.

Some bright spots, good general overview of world wide wine. Falls down on Major new areas, especially in California.

While drinking good wine isn't difficult, learning about wine can be complex. Once on a winery tour a vinter explained that there are 15,000 different choices that can be made from grape to bottle. Sometimes picking out a wine can seem daunting. The Wine Bible does a superior job of teaching those of us who would like to learn more without the information being overkill.

While there are more comprehensive books out there on Wine, I really like this book because it excells at being written for the average person. The book is divided into sections based upon region/country. I also like that recommended wines of the area are found in each chapter. This is a helpful guide when looking at wines you may be not know. I also like that histories of wine and what's makes each one special is also written about in each section.

While this book may not be the most up to date book there is, this book will enhance your knowledge as well as your ability to pick out wines that you and your guests may enjoy. I would highly recommend this book to those who want to learn more about wine, as this book does an excellent job of giving a basic education about many of the wines of the world.

I'll let you read the other reviews for a detailed analysis of this book. I just want to mention that this is a THICK paperback that's chock-full of wine info - and it's a terrific, reasonably priced gift idea for the wine lover in your life. I bought 2 of them for Christmas gifts. I'm glad I spotted them on Amazon!

This book is an excellent reference for admirers of fine wine.
The author sets forth a series of distinguishing characteristics
which set apart great wine from the imitations. These particulars
are variety, integration, expression and complexity. Wines
evolve from a process of picking, crushing, fermentation,
barreling, filtering and bottling. An experienced wine taster
utilizes a systematic approach consisting of sipping, smelling,
swirling and setting apart outside influences from the
evaluation. The book provides classic wines on a country-by-
country basis. For instance, French Beaujolais wines are
described in the preferred mode of St. Amour or Chenas.
The Cote d'Or is highlighted as the most important wine in the
burgundy family. Important historical data is provided.
i.e. The Swiss are famous for their white wines.
Purchase this work if you plan to entertain a guest list
from all over the world. It is a good investment.

...I was not disappointed. I have recently taken to wine seriously and the first book I bought was this one, based on a recommendation by NY Times wine columnist Eric Asimov. I backpacked it with some shirts and jeans and flew from Brazil to Bordeaux, then took the TGV to Burgundy, then train to Liguria and then Piedmont and Tuscany and Campania. Nice trip, everyone should do it sometime. (Couple of tips: in Burgundy, stay in Beaune, not Dijon. In Piedmont, spend two nights in Alba, jazzy little barolo-and-trufles town.) Back to business: TWB is exactly what most reviewers below say it is: conversational, unpretentious but authoritative and above all demystifying. The book is organized by countries, so it inspires you to travel. In my case, during the trip I followed her advices on local wines and I never regretted it. I learned a lot and drank some of the best wines so far in my life: thank you, Karen. (Look for these wines if you happen to go to Bordeaux or Siena, respectively: "Le Bon Pasteur", a Pomerol, and "Scirus", a Super Tuscan.) The only reason I do not give TWB five stars is that I feel that the book is already in dire need of a second revised edition. Some of the stores and restaurants she recommends do not exist any more, for example. But more important than that, the wine industry worldwide has been developing very fast in the last ten years and, frankly, the space the book dedicates to some regions seems to me indefensible. Being from South America, probably my opinion that Chile and Argentina together should get more than twenty-some pages at the end of a 900-page "bible" is a little biased. Ok, but the dry table wines from Portugal get six pages, less than the State of Virginia (USA). If you think this is fair, try the Portuguese red blend "Vinha do Mouro 2004" (US$10 or less) and get back here... Anyway, a fine and fun, if a little dated, introduction to wine. Still a buy.

I use this book as the main text for a course I teach at a local university. It is easy to read and understand and gives information in plain English. It was published in 2001 so some of the sections need to be updated. I supplement those sections. I was in contact with the author and she tells me that she is working on a revised edition and it might be ready in 08. It a big book and it takes time. All in all it is a very worthwhile text for starting to study about wine.

The Wine Bible is a great travel companion as it is structured by wine producing regions and offers extensive information on these regions. It paints a rich background on the regional wines, depicting the local cuisine, culture, traditions, and production / appellation guidelines.

Despite enjoying the book, I would not recommend it as your first wine book. The book does not offer a broad enough introduction to wine nor tie the knots together for wine beginners who know bits and pieces. For example, there can be better explanations linking regional appellations to basic grape variety and typical grape personality.

Overall, great content (especially useful if you are in the wine regions) and fun read.

Enjoy!

Kendra
http://www.bettertastingwine.com

I would rate myself as an intermediate wine enthusiast. I have a good wine cellar, love to buy wines and of course drink them! I just bought the "bible" and have learned so much in the introductory section. The information will bump me up to a new level and give me more confidence when discussing wines before I buy them. It covers the most important wine regions and the wines from them. It is after all a primer not an indepth study of a specific wine. If you want to be an expert on Bordeaux then buy a book on that. MacNeil's writing style is fun and so knowledgeable without being being a wine snob, which of course a leading authority on wine could be. This the perfect wine reference book for anyone interested in wine.

Imagine yourself at one of the popular new wine bars in your town. You are sipping a glass of red wine perfumed with notes of violet and lavender - a departure from your typical request for a California Cabernet Sauvignon. You take another sip and wonder what combination of soil and sunlight could produce such a succulent wine? Your curiosity roused, you look at the label on the bottle and see it is from the Languedoc - a region in Southern France.

Suddenly, you are bursting with questions about the region. What grape is the wine made from? What is the typical climate of the area? Who are the top winemakers in the region? And if you were going to serve it at a dinner party, what foods would pair best with it?

Karen MacNeil, director of the wine program at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley, has crafted an excellent book in the appropriately-named The Wine Bible, a terrific 910-page resource for amateur and seasoned wine lovers alike. This book starts out with the basics, with MacNeil explaining the elements, such as sun, water, and soil necessary for good wine, and goes on to the more complex issues of wine making and regional styles.

What I liked best about the book is that MacNeil takes you to vineyards all over the world, describing the climate and terrain with such detail and color you will feel as if you are there, by her side, seeing it for yourself. She even introduces you to winemakers, taking you deep into their dank, dark cellars so you can taste the wine for yourself. Then she describes the local cuisine in such tantalizing detail you'll want to rush out and create your own wine and food pairing based on the succulent flavors described in that chapter.

You will find many ways to use this book. Instead of reading it from beginning to end, you might try to use it as a reference guide. Did you have a great Chianti at a restaurant and want to find out more about the region? Pick up this book and go to the appropriate chapter. Are you having friends over for drinks and want to show off your wine sophistication? Read up on the wines you'll be serving and surprise your guests with some fun, colorful facts about the wine. Do you love to cook and are you eager to find the perfect pairing for a recipe you just saw in Food & Wine magazine? You'll find it in this incredible resource.

Here are some other things you will discover:

how to taste and analyze wine like a professional
how to read a wine label
how to write your own tasting notes
how to store and serve wine

and much more.


With this book in hand, you can set up your own classes, or study sessions. One week you might study the wines of France, and buy wines from the region. The next week, you can do the same thing with Spain. What makes it even more fun is if you can get a partner or some friends together and make a party of it.

So the next time you find yourself in a wine bar, eager to learn more about what you are drinking, or in a wine store, wondering what to buy, sneak a peek in this book. Sooner than you think, friends and co-workers will see you as the go-to wine expert in your circle.

Building Buzz: How To Reach And Impress Your Target Audience

This is a great book to keep by your bedside and read a chapter a night. It covers the basics on all the major wine regions of the world. You won't be an "expert" when you read this but you'll feel more confident and know the basics. I wish there was more about food and wine pairing, though.

This book touches on so many wine-related topics that it could probably replace three or four books on your shelf. I like that it is designed in such a way that you can flip through any section and get the info you want without having to read the whole book.

I do think the book is a little "old school" as far as wine education goes and tends present information as rules as opposed to presenting the topic wine as fun. But if you want to learn about wine, the book is packed with info to help you sniff, swirl and sip like a pro.

This is a MUST if you have interest in wine. Reading her book is so pleasurable, that you can get lost in it for hours. I love it!!!

Talks about a lot, and in great detail without boring you. I learnd more about wines in the first 2 chapters than I did in 2 years of drinking it.

This is an excellent book on wine, wine regions, grapes, etc. The thickness of this book can look intimidating, but the larger than normal font and pictures make it easy to read and less intimidating. I keep this book by my chair for quick reference. You should also look for Karen's 13-part PBS series, "Wine, Food and Friends" on DVD.

Good information if you can see it or lift it. I would like to have seen this book larger and in 2 volumes. I do not agree with her choices, especially on the 'noteworthy wines' in California.

I am a wine lover and i though this book would enhance my knowledge, but it did not. It is a general wine description book. The market has a lot more to offer.

Has a wealth of information, stories and facts about just about every type of wine. This book is great for anyone wanting to expand their wine knowledge. It would probably also be great for someone that doesn't know anything about wine, but wants to learn.

this book was ok. i expected more from it, but it did have some cool information on where wine came from, just not as much as i wanted on the actual wine itself (taste, type etc. ) i would buy it again however, i just wish i knew that it was more about where wine came from.

The Bible is well written, lots of useful info and facts - curious details, etc.
I like the break down of countries, regions, grapes by color/region, etc.
This was one of the very first books I got recommended to buy when I got into the wine industry - as I was asked the grapes of Bordeaux, I had no clue couple years ago. After looking them at the wine bible, I have never fogotten.
I now work at a Texas winery, and I can thank my teacher and this bible!
Read up, and drink up!
PS: only wish more of the photos were in color.

I have my own collection of wine books and I was introduced to the Wine Bible in a wine shop I worked in. I was very impressed with the amount of information in the book. Also, the book is well written and easy to read. Not only did I buy the Wine Bible for me, but I've bought it for friends just getting started in their wine appreciation and knowledge.

.... this is a good one to buy. A very good book for a wine enthusiast to keep in the car or nearby for reference. MacNeil has covered the wines of the world with interesting facts and offers a handful of recommendations of her favorite wineries. An easy to read Mastering Wine section is appropriately placed in the beginning. (I was a bit surprised that New Jersey, the fifth largest producer of wine in the U.S., was not given a review but Pennsylvania was.) (Joseph Broski - Dionysian Society International)

This book is a very good source for the background and personallity of all types of wine. Excellent introduction wines.

If I was an expert, of course, I could better "rate" this book!

I bought this for my husband so we could better understand what we were buying and zero in on products we would more likely enjoy.

Very thourough and interesting - lots of information and recommendations for a low price.

We live in Brussels. This book is wonderful for our touring the European wine country. Very comprehensive and informative.

The wine bible is great for looking up questions and small details. It really is just too large to sit down and read from start to finish. However, it is a WONDERFUL wine tool for looking up questions and getting comprehensive and thorough answers. A definite must have for a wine lover!

A lot of information regarding the wine processing, which is very interesting and helpfull. Book provides information regarding wine as a common sence, but if you looking for wine guide (vinery name, year of production, wine name ets.), you bought a wrong book.
I love this book. it contains everything I wanted to know about wine, very good description of wine from the different regions of the world.

Excellent reference, covered wines from all over the world, all kinds of info about winemaking, different grapes,etc. I gave mine away, I have to order another one. Makes a great gift!

Excellent information -- maybe a little more needed on how to choose.

I have to admit I like this book much better than Wine for Dummies, but I still think she went a bit overboard. I felt a bit unsatisfied after completing this book. While I have to give her credit; she knows wine more than any one person I have ever met. I just felt as though she was talking over my head and I had to read the same thing over and over to comprehend.

Although this book doesn't cover everything regarding wine and the title may be misleading, I still found this book to be a great starting point for anyone looking to learn more about wine. Very detailed in areas, there is something here for even the expert wine enthusiast to learn.

I would highly recommend this book.

The author has obviously a vast knowledge on her subject - I have certainly learned many things I didn't know. However she has great difficulties with consistent spelling of the numerous foreign names that are unavoidable in the world of wine. She especially seems to shy away from accented words, and instead of recognizing their value in pronouncing words, she treats them as decorations that can be dropped or added almost as an afterthought.

I hope that a revised edition will correct this shortcoming.

This is by far the most comprehensive and educational book on wine that I have found! Ms. MacNeil is one of the leading women in the world of wine and her expertise, down-to-earth style and fun spirit come through in her writing. If I could only have one book on wine, this would be the one. The book is written to accomodate all levels of readers, from beginning wine lovers to seasoned wine enthusiasts. Makes a great gift for anyone interested in wine. The best wine reference on the market.

I am into wines and viticulture, and this was the first book I read on the subject. It is an excellent place to start, especially for Americans (because of the emphasis on American wines) and anyone who wants a detailed introduction to American wines. It is very down-to-earth and friendly, written by an author who is very knowledgable about her subject and who obviously loves her work. You learn a lot about viticulture and tasting in this book, which equips you to learn more about European wines from other sources (this book does contain information about regional varieties from Europe, Australia and South Africa, but the material is less detailed than in other books.) Highly recommended, this should be on any wine lover's bookshelf!

In my quest to better understand all of the concepts that account for differences in wines of the same varietal and/or location, I stumbled upon this book. Enbedded in the book were the answers to my questions. Although the Wine Bible can often get too much into somwhat boring and trivial details, it is the ultimate reference. Not only do I better understand wines but it also provides a history of the wine regions of the world, the culture and cuisine.

This is a very comprehensive book. Excellent as a reference with sound advice throughout as well. I live in Europe and have had the opportunity to use the information in the book to purchase wine in Germany, France, Italy and Spain. My only complaint would be that many of the

The Wine Bible is something of a rarity in that it is simultaneously basic enough be the a first wine book, and advanced enough to be an intermediate reference guide. That is quite a trick, and is the primary reason I have read through its sections many times and continue to refer to it on a regular basis.

Karen MacNeil has written a handy book here. The practice of winemaking is discussed, the major and minor grapes are detailed, and all of the major regions are analyzed in basic enough terms to make it approachable, but also with enough detail to provide a fairly complete picture of each region. Cuisine is discussed, as are wines to know and wineries to visit. In short, the Wine Bible is an all-in-one reference guide to the beginning wine enthusiast who knows enough to talk about wine, but not enough to talk about wine intelligently.

The Wine Bible is also well-written, although the author can be a bit much at times (for example, flavors are always "darting" about in the glass). However, at the end of the day, her occaisonal overreaching only serves to emphasize her enthusiasm, and this is not a bad thing. In sum, a great reference, and good read for beginning enthusiasts ready for that next step up in knowledge.

This is serioucly the best gift idea ever. I couldnt thinkof what to get people for the holidays and the whoel bottle of wine thing has been so done. So instead I decided to take and old idea and spice it up I bought a cheap little basket this book (which is great) a bottle of wine I found in the book and a set of glasses. Its the cheapest nicest gift I've ever given and I got tons of compliments for the idea.

Lots of info. Very good read. Gives a lot of history and origins.

This is the best book on wines that I have found yet. It is written by someone who is obviously extremely knowledgeable about wine and loves it as well. She is able to impart this information in a "down-to-earth" manner that even the wine novice can understand. Thank you to the author for such a great book!

Talk about not being able to see a tree for the forest. To much information. Definitely, Information Input Overload. Tried to do much, and perhaps did, but way to much info for a beginner.

Very informative...everything you need to know or learn about wines. Extremely large and alot of information to go through but well worth it. Product arrived as promised and fast. Will continue to shop with Amazon.

I bought this book as a tool for work, im a manager at a private social club. This book will teach you a ton about wine. I expecially enjoy the fact that you can start reading this book at whatever section you need to learn about. (broken down by region)

This is such a awesome book, thanks to Karen McNeil for spending the time to write it in "Plain English", it makes it enjoyable and easy to understand for the novice wine lover. CHEERS Karen.

Great learning device for those interested in reading about every aspect of wine. Well-written and highly recommended.

This is the best on everything about wine and grapes. Everything you need to know and then some!

Bought this for wine loving friends. They stated that they will never be able to get through all of the wines reviewed but will have fun trying.

I am doing a sommelier course at Algonquin College in Ottawa. The wine bible has a wealth of information relevent to my courses. It would also be of great benifit to some one interested in wine as a hobby.
Walter Cartwright

This is a comprehensive guide about wine and wine regions of the world. It's a good book to have around as a resource. I'm glad I bought it.

Bought as one of the birthday gifts for my adult son who was delighted to receive it.

Terrific guide to everything about wine, great for beginners as well as more seasoned enthusiasts. Written in an unpretentious, interesting style that clearly conveys the author's passion for the subject and takes the mystery out of a sometimes unapproachable subject. Strongly recommend it.

Thanks to this book, I know exactly what I want. Very complete and thorough.

There are better books out there, but a great second book to have around if you for get the basics.

Ian

http://www.bragazzis.com

For the savvy or not so savvy, this book is great to have around. Loaded with information and buying smarts, I'm glad I bought this book!

Karen Macneil shows us the wine world in a very detailed and organized way. This book contains very valuable information for those who loves wine. I have many friends that share the passion for wines that have bought this book and we gather to comment about the information in it regularly and recommend it to every person we know that may want to know more about wines. This book is that good! It goes into the details, very well explained, of the making of the wine...and why wines are the way they are according to their variety, location and winnery. It also teaches you what to look for in a wine and to find best values for your buck.
Great reference book!

I ordered 2 of Karen's bibles--one for me and one for friends. As for me, I simply love and appreciate good wine and champagne. My friends on the other hand are restaurant owners.

I've been reading my wine bible almost every day...carrying it in the car to read while I wait for the kids in carpool. I stayed up late last night reading the entire section on champagne-what an education. I retained so much of the information I read which made me realize how well written the power-packed book is.

Love IT!

I'm waiting for the grand opening of my friends bar next door to Local on Elm Street in Dallas (hopefully May 2005) to give The Wine Bible to the proprietors as a congratulatory/celebratory gift. These owners, two brilliant, discerning women, have exquisitely executed their plans for an inimitable restaurant and bar. The Wine Bible is the perfect gift for perfect friends with perfect taste!

I have recommended The Wine Bible to several other girlfriends of mine and teased them with stories about Karen's terrific descriptions that allow readers to "click" with each topic.

This is a fabulous find that will be my "go to" book. It truly is a bible in that you can pick it up, open to any page and begin reading something that will be interesting, exciting, educational and allow you to "witness" to others!!

Well done!