Books to Treasure or to Give

Dec. 8, 2014 — Wine and Spirits educator, Harriet Lembeck has reviewed four new wine books plus a book about whiskey that will increase your knowledge and add to the enjoyment of wines from both hemispheres. With whiskey’s popularity soaring, Tasting Whiskey is an affordable guide for those just starting to explore the world of whiskey as well for those well versed in it.

Wines of South America
The Essential Guide
Evan Goldstein,
University of California Press, $39.95, 302 pages, hard cover

With increasing imports from Chile and Argentina, and Brazil and Uruguay not far behind, be prepared for this vinous influx. Goldstein, a Master Sommelier, gives you the history, grape varieties, and studies of the 10 S. American countries that make up that continent, with specific wineries and wines, as well as travel info when you are inspired to visit on your own, which you surely will be!

Wine Atlas of Germany
Dieter Braatz, Ulrich Sauter, Ingo Swoboda,
University of California Press, $60, 302 pages, hard cover, Foreword
by Jancis Robinson

Here is the most comprehensive listing and topographical representation of German vineyards available today. Every one of the 2,658 vineyards in Germany is here, classified according to four quality standards: Exceptional, Superior, Good, and Vineyard without special distinction.
This Atlas also includes the most recent classifications that attempt to recognize excellent dry wines as well as sweet wines from the best parcels. Nothing ambiguous here.

Native Wine Grapes of Italy

Ian D’Agata, University of California Press, $50, 620 pages, hard cover

Here is a scholarly study, where you will find whatever native grape you are looking for, in depth. You can’t even skip over the Preface, and reading ‘How to Use This Book’ is a must. It illustrates the care, detail and effort that author D’Agata has put forward, describing each grape, its origins, color, flavor and cultivation.
In my first five minutes with this book, I learned that there is a difference between an ‘Ampelology’ and the more common, but often incorrectly used ‘Ampelography.’ There are even two indexes here, a general one, and a separate 10-page index just for grapes. You will be turning to this book more often that you think.

Barolo and Barbaresco
The King and Queen of Italian Wine
Kerin O’Keefe,
University of California Press, $39.95, 346 pages, hard cover

This book is a good read, with an in-depth look at the Langhe region, its geology, climate and history, along with cultivation of the Nebbiolo grape. Barolo and Barbaresco, lying on either side of the city of Alba, had suffered from conflicts in styles, use of oak and its size, age and source, and eventually arrived at coexistence of acceptable styles. Expansion of subzones is also discussed, as well as profiles of individual producers. Read this book before you visit those regions.

Tasting Whiskey
An Insider’s Guide
to the Unique Pleasures of the World’s Finest Spirits
Lew Bryson, Storey Publishing, $18.95, 256 pages, soft cover and e-book, Foreword by David Wondrich

Lew Bryson, managing editor and feature writer for Whisky Advocate, has written 15 chapters of practical information, from describing whiskey production, aging, tasting, and whiskey styles. There are specific chapters on Scotch, Irish, American, Canadian and Japanese whiskies, as well as food pairings for each of the styles, and even a guide for a whiskey dinner.
Collectors and aficionados are guided to the most collectable brands. Craft distilling, and recent controversies surrounding the term, is also sensibly discussed. Illustrations in color enliven the text.

This article appears in the December 2014 issue of Beverage Dynamics.