Kermit's Adventures
I have been re-reading one of the best books on wine ever written. It's Adventures on the wine route by Californian merchant and importer Kermit Lynch. I just wish there were more books like this on the subject: well written, interesting and perfectly judged. Yes, there's a bit of salesmanship here, but I can forgive this because it's just so good.
Does anyone have recommendations of wine books that are a good read?
Labels: books
posted by Jamie @ 10:17 PM
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22 Comments:
Benjamin Wallace's 'The Billionaire's Vinegar' is extremely readable and very funny too, though with Broadbent suing over his representation (I fear this may backfire, as he comes across as relatively normal compared to the cast of nutters that fill its pages) it might be unavailable in Britain.
Jay Mcinerney's collection of vinous articles is quite well-written, even if it does feel like excerpts from an in-flight magazine.
Alice Feiring's The Battle for Wine and Love - Or - How I Saved the World from Parkerization is AMAZING and must be read by the entire wine community. It is available everywhere.
Virgils vine yqrd is a good read
also the name of the book escapes me but the one about the nazi occupation of france and how the wine community the coped is another good read
Jamie, maybe not as perfect, but also very good is Lawrence Osborne's "The accidental connoisseur". A bit more slanted towards politics is Neal Rosenthal's "Reflections of a wine merchant" (Neal is one of the heroes of "Mondovino").
Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox which has just been made into a film by Niki Caro. Beautifully written and quite enchanting.
Andrew Jefford's The New France is a modern classic.
Think the new Harry Karis book on CdP is brilliant and nearly as good as JLL NRhone
Jamie,
I really enjoyed The Wine Experience by Gérard Basset. Very informative and well written.
I've read most of the books mentioned, and agree with them being recommended, especially Virgile's Vineyard. One other, maybe the best of the bunch, is Robert Camuto's Corkscrewed, published within the past year.
A fascinating book is Wine and war. Written by Don and Petrie KLadstrup. Lot's of wine facts and anecdotes set during the Nazi occupation of France.
Also translated into Dutch
Gladys Stern's book "Bouquet" publishied in the 1920's remains my all time favorite. She was a renowned British novelist and the book is about she and her husband, who are Bordeaux enthusiasts taking a wine tour in France with another couple, Burgundy enthusiasts. So a friendly rivalry. None are wine professionals. The book is about their stops which include non Burgundy, Bordeaux ones and their meals with accompanying wines. The top choice of place of each couple for drinking their top wine choice is reached. There is a decisive win.
"The Heartbreak Grape" by Marq De Villiers , the tale of Calfornia's Calera.
Alice Feirings book is very good.
I thought Jay McInerney's book dreadful.
Somerville and Ross' 'In the Vine Country' is an excellent read, IMHO. It records their journey to the Medoc harvest in the late 19th C (or early 20th) but is remarkably relevant to the modern day.
Don't think you'll learn much about wine though!
I recently re-read Kermit Lynch's amazing book too, but in French - yes, there is a French translation which for any native English reader who also reads French is a great 'practice read'.
One book not yet mentioned and worthy of it is David Darlington's Angel's Vists about the history of Zinfandel. Looking at Amazon it might have been re-published as simply "Zin, the History and Mystery of Zinfandel". The other classic read from many years ago was Oz Clarke's New Classic Wines, which was way ahead of its time and very far from Oz's later guide books etc.
'The Science of Wine' is among my favourites. I was recommending it to a friend only last night.
The name of the author escapes me....
I'm surprised to see no mention of Gerald Asher's "Vineyard Tales -Reflections on Wine". Really nicely written. Quite diverse range wine regions included.
Totally d'accord with your recommandation of Kermit Lynchs adventures in our French vineyards. Even as an "indider", that means a winemaker living in the South of France, I took very much pleasure in reading it (in French) some years ago. And my pleasure was even greater, when I had the chance to meet Lulu Peyraud of Domaine Temper, whom he treasure so much in his book, some time later at a conference about our wines. At 92, she was still a most charming and amazing Lady!
By the way: I bought Richrd Olney's "Lulu's Provençal Table" after that - a beautiful book about their wines and her recipes:-).
And of course - Alice Feirings book about wine and love is really passionating....
I strongly second the recommendation of Robert Camuto's "Corkscrewed," which has recently been published in a French translation of the original English-language version. (My full review of the original version can be found here.)
Bryce Rankine - Making Good Wine. The section on the role of the oenologist inspired me like nothing else.
"The Wine Hunter" written by Campbell Mattinson on the life and times of Maurice O'Shea is perhaps the best "book" written on a wine subject I've ever read. Most of us who purchased it devoured it in 1 or two sittings - very impressive on so many levels as it talks to us who are in the business as to those who just drink the product.
A must read, contact Campbell at winefront.com.au and I'm sure he can find a way of getting you a copy.
Cheers
Two books from last year that fall into the Adventures on the Wine Route (Kermit Lynch) category:
Neal Rosenthal's Reflections of a Wine Merchant
Sergio Esposito's Passion on the Vine
Virgil's Vineyard - I'll second that it's a very good read.
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