Rating: 
Summary: Should be read by wine lovers
Review: Vino Italiano is an excellent read for anyone wanting a good understanding of Italy's regions and the wines they produce. It's a great reference book that is neither pedantic or simplistic. The best section is the brief summary of all of Italy's major producers and their product lines.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo!
Review: Vino Italiano is not the best book if what you need is an introduction to Italian wine. But if you already know there is a big difference between a Vino Rosso di Montepulciano and a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, then you'll no doubt appreciate this informative and easy-to-read book as much as I do.This book gives the lover of Italian wine, food, and culture a lot to be excited about. It is divided into chapters that cover an Italian region (or in one case, two minor regions) and each chapter contains more information than some lesser books contain in their entirety. Included are regional recipes, maps and other essential information (e.g. significant producers, grapes grown, etc.) related to its wines, and stunning black-and-white photos that make it tempting to regard this as a coffee-table book. But I think the best part of each chapter is a well-written and entertaining essay that includes anecdotes that frame the character of the people, history, and culture of the region being described. Of course, the centerpiece of it all is wine. But authors David Lynch and Joseph Bastianich understand that even in Italy, that subject cannot stand alone, and so they bring in discussions of hunting, and football, and fashion, and Mussolini, and cars, and artisan vinegars, oils, and cheeses. Reading over what I have written here, I feel that I have not done this book justice. There is such a range of well-researched information here presented in such an accessible way that a different reader might pick it up and enjoy the book just as much as I do but for an entirely different set of reasons. Perhaps the best way to conclude, then, is with my own brief anecdote: Italy is a country very understandably proud of its culture of food and wine, and the domestic Italian best-seller lists always have a few new books on those subjects listed on them. And yet every time - without fail - that I show this book to my Italian friends, their comment is, "Why can't we have a book like this in Italian?"
Rating:
Summary: Getting to know Vino Italiano
Review: We read the gushing Robert M. Parker Jr. quote on the cover, "A terrific and candid guide to the wines of Italy that should be on the bookshelves of all wine lovers." and knew we just HAD to have this book. Vino Italiano is written by "Mario Eats Italy" Batali's partner (Mr. Bastianich) and a former senior editor of Wine & Spirits magazine (David Lynch). These guys are serious wine buffs. But it's all tempered by a bit of fun injected by Batali, who along with Lidia Bastianich (Joseph's mom) contributed the recipes at the end of each chapter. These folks truly understand Italian wine is, after all, meant to be consumed with food! There's more here than you may ever want to know, but the book is a success on many levels for many people, from the barely curious to the Italian wine lover. Although they try to write about all the wines from Italy, they suggest (and furnish information on importers) tastings of wines that are available in the US. We highly recommend this book as well as TCI's The Italian Wine Guide. Larry Theobald, CycleItalia www.cycleitalia.com
Rating:
Summary: Getting to know Vino Italiano
Review: We read the gushing Robert M. Parker Jr. quote on the cover, "A terrific and candid guide to the wines of Italy that should be on the bookshelves of all wine lovers." and knew we just HAD to have this book. Vino Italiano is written by "Mario Eats Italy" Batali's partner (Mr. Bastianich) and a former senior editor of Wine & Spirits magazine (David Lynch). These guys are serious wine buffs. But it's all tempered by a bit of fun injected by Batali, who along with Lidia Bastianich (Joseph's mom) contributed the recipes at the end of each chapter. These folks truly understand Italian wine is, after all, meant to be consumed with food! There's more here than you may ever want to know, but the book is a success on many levels for many people, from the barely curious to the Italian wine lover. Although they try to write about all the wines from Italy, they suggest (and furnish information on importers) tastings of wines that are available in the US. We highly recommend this book as well as TCI's The Italian Wine Guide. Larry Theobald, CycleItalia www.cycleitalia.com
Rating:
Summary: Witty Informative Necessary Excellent W.I.N.E
Review: Where have Lunch and Bastianich been? I have been looking for a compendium on Italian Wines and I need look no further. There is a wealth of useful information explained in a witty, informative yet easy to understand manner. Unlike many investments you can make today, I guarantee this will pay dividends for years in fine Italian Wine enjoyment. I stand and applaud the efforts and acheivements of David Lynch and Joeseph Bastianich, and eagerly anticpate the next bounty from their vine.
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