Champagne Uncorked!: The Insider's Guide to Champagne!

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Summary: This little book has the answers
Review: A verbal tour of the champagne country...She leads us month by month, through a champagne year...In an amusing discussion of champagne styles, Zraly describes light-bodied wines as "Grace Kellys"...and full bodied wines as "Marilyn Monroes";it's all up front...A wonderful gift."

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Summary: Enhanced with quotes, toasts, a glossary, and a reading list
Review: Champagne is the premier beverage for parties, celebratory occasions, and truly elegant gourmet dining events. In Champagne...Uncorked!: The Insider's Guide To Champagne!, champagne expert Rosemary Zraly provides basic instructions on how to buy, serve, and save champagne. She also provides invaluable information on how to organize a tasting, showcases champagne recipes for everyday meals from diverse famous Chefs, and offers a section dedicated to cocktail recipes. Enhanced with quotes, toasts, a glossary, and a reading list, Champagne...Uncorked is a specialized and highly recommended addition to aspiring wine connoisseur reading lists and family specialty cookbook collections.

Rating:
Summary: A great present for your wine-drinking friends
Review: What a fun book! This handy guide to the ins and outs of Champagne is a must for anyone throwing a Champagne tasting, or having a party where they want to talk about this drink of celebrations.

First, the book is a pleasure to read. The lovely hand-drawn photos of grapes in baskets and vineyards go well with the calligraphy in the background. This is something to read by a window overlooking a garden, with of course a glass of Champagne in hand.

Ms. Zraly is well versed in her subject. She worked with the various Champagne firms for over twelve years, and it shows. She first goes through the history of Champagne, explains how only wines from Champagne France should be given that name, and goes through how the 35,000 hectares of land are strictly watched over.

The grapes in Champagne are typically Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The book goes through vintages, cuvees, and other terms. It lists the typical progress of a Champagne vineyard month by month. There are vintage charts, label reading instructions, fun quotes. And then there's more!

A series of delicious Champagne recipes help you further enjoy this fine bubbly, from the Champagne Lady's own files, from the owner of Spago, and many other luminaries. The book goes on to give party suggestions - how to plan a brunch, a cocktail party, a baby shower, you name it. It describes how to open Chamagne, and how it should be opened for you in a restaurant. There is even information on which houses make the most Champagne and what to do with the empty bottles!

A fine reference source and fun read for anyone interested Champagne - the sparkling wine that is present at most celebrations around the world.