Exploring wine / Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith, Michael A. Weiss.

Formerly CIP. Uk

"The Culinary Institute of America."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Filled with insightful information that demystifies all aspects of wine. The authors map out what affects the quality of wine: the soil and climate of the vineyards; what type of grapes are grown and blended; and what kind of barrels are used for storage (oak, chestnut and redwood). They then guide the reader through text and illustrations in the art and science of wine tasting: the color bouquet, what makes a dry or semi-dry wine; and they teach readers the language (full of fruit, essence of cherry, smoky character, etc. Readers then treated to an arm-chair travel guide around the world to well-established and little-known vineyards in the "old world" (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean), and the "new world" (North America and the Southern Hemisphere). Readers learn from vintners everything from growing strategies, quality control methods, and marketing plans to the history, culture and romance of wine