Oz Clarke S Essential Wine Book

Oz Clarke brings a fresh, no-nonsense, and often controversial approach to wine, and adds a special sparkle to this encyclopedic reference with his humor, enthusiasm and erudition. Over 700 illustrations and maps in full color.

Completely updated with a sparkling new interior, "The Essential Wine Book" offers "the best introductory text to wine and the most enjoyable (one) to read" (Robert Parker). 175 color photographs. 350 color wine labels. 60 maps.

Bordeaux has always been the center of attention in the wine world, with some of the greatest wines, the most historic châteaux, and the highest level of glamour and prestige. And, despite increasing competition from new classic wine areas around the world, it still accounts for more than 90 percent of global wine futures and auction markets.In his trademark A-to-Z format, Oz profiles more than three hundred of Bordeaux's most important châteaux as well as their second wines and discount brands, and recommends and describes hundreds of other châteaux. With color photos, wine labels, charts, and maps throughout, this volume covers each of Bordeaux's subregions in sumptuous detail--fully exploring the area's history, geography, soils, and grape varieties.Oz is at his witty, incisive best on this region, which he has both championed and challenged for years. With his vivid descriptions of the area as well as his knowledge of classic and best-value wines, this is an essential book for all lovers of Bordeaux wine.

First published in hardcover as Oz Clarke’s Encyclopedia of Grapes, Oz Clarke’s Grapes and Wines is newly revised and updated to provide the most current information on an even wider array of grapes. Oz covers chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and fifteen other "classic" grapes in depth, and includes features on tradition and innovation, methods used in the vineyard and the winery, and different wine styles around the world. He also provides vivid descriptions of more than three hundred grape varieties organized in his renowned A-to-Z format, as well as a glossary of technical terms and a wine decoder that lists which grapes go into which wines.This authoritative volume by one of the world’s great wine writers is all you need to distinguish among grape varieties— the wines they create and the flavors they contribute—and to make an informed choice on selecting the most satisfying wines.

As easy to use for the beginner as it is informative for the expert, Oz Clarke's Encylopedia of Wine is organised alphabetically rather than by region, allowing the wine lover to find any wine, region, producer, or grape variety with ease. - -More than 1,600 entries -In-depth profiles of the world's major wine producers - the well known as well as the rising stars - including recommended wines and vintages -37 special regional features on the world's leading wine-producing regions, plus features on 15 major wine-producing countries of the world, their classification systems, local grape varieties, and wine-making practices -When to drink different wines; serving and tasting; identifying wine styles; matching food and wine -A comprehensive Glossary of wine-making terms and techniques -Nearly 700 colour photographs, maps, labels and vintage charts