{"product_id":"cork-dork-a-winefueled-adventure-among-the-obsessive-sommeliers-big-bottle-hunters-and-rogue-scientists-who-taught-me-to-live-for-taste-9780143128090","title":"Cork Dork A WineFueled Adventure Among the","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eINSTANT \u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES \u003c\/i\u003eBESTSELLER AND A\u003ci\u003e NEW YORK TIMES \u003c\/i\u003eCRITICS' PICK\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Thrilling . . . [told] with gonzo élan . . . When the sommelier and blogger Madeline Puckette writes that this book is the \u003ci\u003eKitchen Confidential \u003c\/i\u003eof the wine world, she’s not wrong, though Bill Buford’s \u003ci\u003eHeat \u003c\/i\u003eis probably a shade closer.” —\u003cb\u003eJennifer Senior, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eProfessional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine—until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession, and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith boundless curiosity, humor, and a healthy dose of skepticism, Bosker takes the re\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWinner of 2018 M.F.K. Fisher Award for Excellence in Culinary Writing\u003cbr\u003eFinalist for the 2018 Gourmand Award for Wine Writing \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFinalist for the 2018 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing (Non-Fiction)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Bosker’s journey into this sodden universe is thrilling, and she tells her story with gonzo élan. . . . She gives great gossip . . . [and] is, in the main, great company as a narrator—witty, generous, democratic . . . When the sommelier and blogger Madeline Puckette writes that this book is the \u003ci\u003eKitchen Confidential \u003c\/i\u003eof the wine world, she’s not wrong, though Bill Buford’s \u003ci\u003eHeat \u003c\/i\u003eis probably a shade closer to this book's sensibility and heart.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJennifer Senior, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Reads like a wine lover’s equivalent of Dante’s ‘The Divine Comedy’: There is paradise, but only after glimpses of purgatory and hell…A funny, thought-provoking and at times frightening look at the sublime tastes, enormous egos and curious rules of a profession that is both insanely rigorous and occasionally ridiculous.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Associated Press\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A madcap 18-month journey...[that's] as informative as it is, well, intoxicating.\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eFortune, \u003c\/i\u003e“The 4 Books You Should Read This Spring”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A funny, fascinating adventure.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eReal Simple\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“\u003ci\u003eCork Dork\u003c\/i\u003e is remarkably entertaining. Bosker is a talented writer, a thorough reporter and is unfailingly funny.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—The San Francisco Chronicle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A savory romp...[that reveals] not just the intricacies and nuances of flavor that vary from grape to grape, but why wine has become such a social staple for the entire world—and how the way we drink it can potentially change our lives.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eHarper’s Bazaar, \u003c\/i\u003e“12 Books You Need to Read in March”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“Both an entry-level guide to the ever-growing business of wine and a masterclass in the strange, immensely skilled fanatics who make it their life’s work.” \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—The \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eAtlantic\u003c\/i\u003e, \"25 Books \u003ci\u003eAtlantic\u003c\/i\u003e Staffers Are Reading This Summer\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“If Malcolm Gladwell were to write a book about wine, the results wouldn’t linger much more pleasurably on the palate than this accessible, adventurous, amusing and informative book by Bianca Bosker.”\u003cb\u003e \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e (London)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[An] often-hilarious memoir.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eGood Housekeeping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An informative and riveting read that doesn't take itself too seriously—a much needed dose of reality the wine world could benefit from.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e–\u003ci\u003eBon Appétit\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“An essential primer on food's favourite companion, Bianca Bosker's incredible book offers an investigation into taste, smell, and restaurant culture any foodie will appreciate.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003eBuzzFeed\u003c\/b\u003e, \"27 Books Every Foodie Needs In Their Library\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Incredibly well written, intelligent, witty, and highly entertaining.”  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Eater\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“As fresh and fun as a Wachau Riesling…packed with helpful information, wrapped in honest inquiry, and slathered with humor and wit.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Terroirist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“One of the most entertaining drink-related memoirs in years.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003ePunch\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A page turner . . . I heartily recommend [it].”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Martin Moran, \u003ci\u003eThe Sunday Times \u003c\/i\u003e(UK)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Refreshingly accessible...It’s delightful and informative to see a subject as potentially stodgy as wine appreciation refracted through the perspective of someone young, female, and very smart.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePortland Mercury\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A] must-read wine book.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSan Jose Mercury News \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You’ll never feel lost in front of a wine list again.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eCynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley of  “Gastropod,” via The Atlantic\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I loved this book. It’s not just about wine. It’s about learning how to listen to your senses, to more deeply experience and appreciate the world around you, and everyone could use another glass of that.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eMary Roach, author of \u003ci\u003eGulp\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In this smart and sharply observed book, Bianca Bosker takes us on a marvelous journey through the mad, manic, seductive subculture of wine and wine lovers. It’s also a deeply felt story of her own experience, told with great heart and wit.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eSusan Orlean, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Orchid Thief\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eCork Dork\u003c\/i\u003e is a brilliant feat of screwball participatory journalism and Bianca Bosker is a gonzo nerd prodigy. This hilarious, thoughtful and erudite book may be the ultimate answer to the perennial question of whether or not wine connoisseurship is a scam.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJay McInerney, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Juice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “In this delightfully written and keenly observed book, Bianca Bosker helps us become connoisseurs not only of wine but also of people whose passions would more aptly be described as obsessions.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eWalter Isaacson, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Innovators\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Speaking as someone who barely knows a good Bordeaux from a bottle of Boone's Farm, I was charmed and entertained by this book.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJohn Jeremiah Sullivan, author of \u003ci\u003ePulphead \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “The \u003ci\u003eKitchen Confidential\u003c\/i\u003e of wine: Read this book, and you’ll never be intimidated by wine—or wine snobs—again.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eMadeline Puckette, co-author of \u003ci\u003eWine Folly \u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Fascinating…Thanks to Bosker’s sensory descriptions, we get to taste and smell alongside her, without dealing with the thousands of hours of study and endless flashcards first.” \u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eBustle\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An informative yet funny examination of wine.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eBrightly, \u003cb\u003e“\u003c\/b\u003eThe Best Books of Early 2017”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A quest—both hilarious and horrifying—to understand the nature of taste.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eImbibe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“An entertaining read.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePhoenix New Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Reading Bianca Bosker is like sitting down with a brilliant, curious friend for an after-work drink, and suddenly finding it’s midnight and the table is littered with empty bottles. Between her hilarious exploits and thoughtful meditations on wine and life, you’ll want to stay for just one more.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eLauren Collins, author of \u003ci\u003eWhen In French \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A joyful journey of discovery into the ‘soul’ of wine, filled with wit and insight at every step.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eMaria Konnikova, author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Confidence Game \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“If you have wondered about the mysteries of wine, and the airs of people who claim to know something about it, \u003ci\u003eCork Dork \u003c\/i\u003eis essential reading. Read it\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eand you will never look at wine in quite the same way again. This is reportage of a high order.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eRoger Cohen, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Girl from Human Street\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Rollicking and lively...I gulped down this book with enormous pleasure.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJulia Flynn Siler, author of \u003ci\u003eThe House of Mondavi\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"I have read many 'wine books,' some casual, some pedantic, and many happily informative. But Bianca Bosker’s book stands out as being spectacularly successful in teaching us about wine, in making us love wine, and in presenting a tone of unfailing good humor.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eRichard E. Quandt, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Journal of Wine Economics\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Always perceptive, curious, and entertaining, the author describes her experiences with precision and a wry sense of humor...Readers will certainly come away from the book knowing more about wine and likely eager to explore it further, but even those less inclined to imbibe will be intrigued.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An interesting look at those with an unquenchable thirst for those unique bottles of vinicultural perfection.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A page-turning and fascinating memoir.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48864191971671,"sku":"9780143128090","price":14.8,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780143128090.jpg?v=1722270826","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/cork-dork-a-winefueled-adventure-among-the-obsessive-sommeliers-big-bottle-hunters-and-rogue-scientists-who-taught-me-to-live-for-taste-9780143128090","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}