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Shelf Number | Material Type | Copy | Shelf Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARC 641.22 STE | Archive Collection | 1 | Archive Collection | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Authoritative, international and up-to-date, The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia is arranged geographically and combines maps and photographs with information on all wine-growing areas, profiles of distinguished producers and assessments of individual wines. The book's easy-reference style, and wealth of practical advice, make it an unrivaled source of information for all lovers of wine -- from the occasional drinker to the connoisseur. Wines of the World. Distinguished wine authority Tom Stevenson examines the viticultural history of each wine-making country, discussing its wine-producing regions and the current reputation of its wines. He analyzes the factors affecting the taste and quality of each region's wines -- location, aspect, soil, microclimates, grape varieties, and methods of viticulture and vinification -- before assessing its appellations, the individual wine producers (chateaux or wineries), and, of course, the wines themselves. Enjoying Wine. Tom Stevenson provides practical guidelines on wine tasting, while an "author's choice" chart at the end of each section lists the very best wines. A star-rating system identifies the finest producers and highlights those offering the best value. A "taste chart" explains how to identify the flavors in a wine, and a "troubleshooter's guide" spots common wine flaws. Whether you are a newcomer wanting to explore the pleasures of wine or a wine enthusiast looking for inspiration, The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia is the book to consult again and again.
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
This full-bodied reference aims to be for wine-lovers an "encyclopedia to everything... whittled down to a graspable level" and absolutely delivers. Originally published in 1988, Sotheby sommelier Szentkiralyi was brought on for this extensively revised and updated edition. The first of the volume's three parts explores wine basics with a rundown of grape varieties, a list of well-known barrel makers, a guide to aromas, and a cogent course in tasting. The second section offers a 10-page "chronology of wine" landmarks, from the Earth's first vine, circa 500 million years ago, to the 2020 Australian wildfires. The sprawling third section attempts no less than to catalog and explore every wine appellation on the planet. As such, these some 600 pages offer as much an atlas as an encyclopedia, complete with color maps, photos of verdant countryside, and hundreds of brief descriptions of production in territories both familiar, such as Alsace in France, and less expected, such as Bhutan. Sips of entertaining trivia ("Madeira gives its name to the only wine in the world that must be baked in an oven!") and historical perspective (Lebanon's wine-making heyday was "arguably in the second millennium BC... the toast of the Greeks and Romans") pour in along the way. Vast and varied, the scope of this impressive work would make Dionysus swoon. (Oct.)
Library Journal Review
Now in its sixth edition, this venerable reference work is still an excellent go-to resource on all things wine. A particular strength is the book's abundant use of maps, photographs, and other graphics. Stevenson (Christie's World Encyclopedia of Champagne & Sparkling Wine), wine professional Szentkiralyi, and a team of sommeliers and other wine experts cover key aspects of wine, from grape varietals to production to consumption. While the encyclopedia cannot possibly include entries on every winery, there is a relatively deep representation of finer wineries worldwide. Impressively, the book does not treat any locale as anything other than legitimate, irrespective of renown or scale of production. Its respectful, inclusive approach makes the encyclopedia especially useful. VERDICT A wide-ranging, visually appealing resource on wine for quick reference or for browsing. This finely and carefully crafted tome earns its place in collections.--Peter Hepburn, Coll. of the Canyons Lib., Santa Clarita, CA