New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Reference Guide to the Wines of the World (revised and updated)

Rating:
Summary: New Guide is Not So New
Review: This book is of general interest to the wine enthusiast. It is well presented and interesting to read. At the same time it functions as a reference guide. An excellent buy.

Rating:
Summary: A great reference and coffee table book
Review: This book is of general interest to the wine enthusiast. It is well presented and interesting to read. At the same time it functions as a reference guide. An excellent buy.

Rating:
Summary: Best reference in wine
Review: This book is the ultimate, in wine appellation references. It covers law and grape varietals very well. The only place it lacks is any reference to the grapes grown for spirits. If you have only two books with which to study for the sommelier exam, this should be one. (the other is: Sales and Service for the Wine Profesional. by Brian Julyan)

Rating:
Summary: Best reference in wine
Review: This book is the ultimate, in wine appellation references. It covers law and grape varietals very well. The only place it lacks is any reference to the grapes grown for spirits. If you have only two books with which to study for the sommelier exam, this should be one. (the other is: Sales and Service for the Wine Profesional. by Brian Julyan)

Rating:
Summary: The best balanced 'serious' book on wine available today.
Review: Tom Stevenson has nearly achieved a miracle with this comprehensive book on the 'World of Wine'. While giving information on every wine producing area (few writers do this), he has achieved a level of readability that will delight beginners as well as the knowledgeable. What is pleasing is that Stevenson takes his audience seriously, as well as the efforts of the wine growers. It is marvellous to see him list good growers in out of the way areas that are not the 'names' on most winewriters' lists (eg Fritz Becker Erben, Juffer Sonnenhur - and great wines at low prices they can be). He is also ready to tilt at the pomposity of institutions and regulations in an amusing style. For me the best wine book, along with Remington Norman's "Rhone Renaissance", of the last 5 years and like that book a joy to read. If there is a criticism it is that he couldn't have been allowed to give us more information. For example while he is amazingly helpful on Cru Bourgeois of the Medoc, there are few notes on the individual growers of say Tuscany,California or the Rhone. But as I said this is a book that has attempted a great deal and achieved 95% of that objective, and thus truly deserves the title of Encyclopedia.