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Rating: 
Summary: A Wine Book You Can Enjoy Reading
Review: Gloria Bley Miller's _The Glory of Wine_ is subtitled, "A straightforward approach to the classic wine experience." This is indisputably true, but a little bit like labeling a 5-pound of Godiva chocolates with the single word "candy." Like the purveyors of those little gold foil boxes, Miller has provided an experience of great quality and richness. The book begins literally at the root of the subject; its first chapter is dedicated to the vines and its second to man's role in tending them. If, like me, you had never heard of the phylloxera aphid, you will be amazed at the dramatic history of the 19th century, when European winegrowing hung by a slender tendril. Miller traces her grapes through harvest and fermentation into their bottles, where she discusses and demystifies her subject in a prose that is both lucid and systematic. Traditional and newly emergent wine-growing regions are treated fully and judiciously, and the vexing question of labeling spelled out. Yet this is no mere catalog. It is an education in the production, selection, and consumption of wine. I particularly admire the way that Miller has dealt with the large body of specialized wine-making and wine-selling vocabulary. Assuming intelligence but not expertise in the reader, she unapologetically defines her terms as she goes. The lay terminology used is comprehensible and the explanations are thorough and succinct. If you don't know anything about wine, but you know what you like, you will like this book. If you like wine, and always wanted to understand the subject better, you will love this book. If you know everything about wine - well, buy this book for your less-blessed friends, and you will no longer need to be patient with them.
Rating:
Summary: A Wine Book You Can Enjoy Reading
Review: Gloria Bley Miller's _The Glory of Wine_ is subtitled, "A straightforward approach to the classic wine experience." This is indisputably true, but a little bit like labeling a 5-pound of Godiva chocolates with the single word "candy." Like the purveyors of those little gold foil boxes, Miller has provided an experience of great quality and richness. The book begins literally at the root of the subject; its first chapter is dedicated to the vines and its second to man's role in tending them. If, like me, you had never heard of the phylloxera aphid, you will be amazed at the dramatic history of the 19th century, when European winegrowing hung by a slender tendril. Miller traces her grapes through harvest and fermentation into their bottles, where she discusses and demystifies her subject in a prose that is both lucid and systematic. Traditional and newly emergent wine-growing regions are treated fully and judiciously, and the vexing question of labeling spelled out. Yet this is no mere catalog. It is an education in the production, selection, and consumption of wine. I particularly admire the way that Miller has dealt with the large body of specialized wine-making and wine-selling vocabulary. Assuming intelligence but not expertise in the reader, she unapologetically defines her terms as she goes. The lay terminology used is comprehensible and the explanations are thorough and succinct. If you don't know anything about wine, but you know what you like, you will like this book. If you like wine, and always wanted to understand the subject better, you will love this book. If you know everything about wine - well, buy this book for your less-blessed friends, and you will no longer need to be patient with them.
Rating:
Summary: Everyman's Wine Reference Book
Review: I recently purchased (from Amazon) The Glory of Wine, by Gloria Bley Miller. In my opinion it's a splendid refernce book. The writing is lucid and unpretentious, free of the wine snob jargon that is so common. It's scope is encyclopedic. All wines, from all of the wine producing countries, are covered. The various national labelilng requirements are explained. It's well indexed. If you have a particular question, it's easy to find a discussion of the desired subject. The paper-back bindilng keeps the cost within reason. All in all, a first-class book.
Rating:
Summary: Everyman's Wine Reference Book
Review: I recently purchased (from Amazon) The Glory of Wine, by Gloria Bley Miller. In my opinion it's a splendid refernce book. The writing is lucid and unpretentious, free of the wine snob jargon that is so common. It's scope is encyclopedic. All wines, from all of the wine producing countries, are covered. The various national labelilng requirements are explained. It's well indexed. If you have a particular question, it's easy to find a discussion of the desired subject. The paper-back bindilng keeps the cost within reason. All in all, a first-class book.
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