Search results for ""academie du vin library limited""
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Contemporary art rooted in urban culture
Monikermonicker / [ mon-i-ker ]a person''s name, especially a nickname or alias.In the street art world everyone is equal and they don''t wait for official approval. They are artists in every sense of the word, whether they are painting in their own backyard or a huge illegal mural on the street for all the world to see. Frankie SheaMoniker Art Fair has caused a stir internationally by providing an art fair environment for the sort of work normally overlooked by the traditional art world. Katie Antoniou, Run-RiotThis groundbreaking platform dismantles the elitist barriers prevalent in the art world, offering artists an unbiased space to showcase their creations.This book reflects on Moniker's impressive saga, from upstart art fair to critical support infrastructure for the urban art community. For that next generation of artistic outsiders, those who are pounding at the gates to be let in, Moniker
£90.00
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Story of Champagne
It is extraordinary enough that one small area in north-eastern France, on the northern edge of Europe’s wine-growing regions, should be capable of producing the finest sparkling wine in the world, one of the few worth discussing as a wine and not merely as a sparkling beverage. Yet Champagne fascinates not only wine lovers, but also historians – social, economic, political – linguists, physiologists, physicists and chemists. The long-awaited new edition of Nicholas Faith’s landmark The Story of Champagne tells the tale of Champagne from the winemakers’ point of view. This classic study of the world’s greatest wine is a masterpiece of storytelling and analysis that has for decades sent readers away with renewed excitement about the different types of Champagne and the landscape, geology and climate that inspire them. The story of champagne explores the history of Champagne from its origins in the seventeenth century to the high-tech industry of the twenty-first before examining the wine itself, how it is made, the crus, the vines and the harvest. Faith provides completely up-to-date statistics on wine production and consumption and finishes the book with an all-important evaluation of today’s most important producers. The Story of Champagne is essential reading for anyone interested in the world’s most celebrated wine.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Great Britain
Great Britain is a premium wine-producing region, with around 650 vineyards in England and Wales covering some 2,750 hectares and producing sparkling and still wines. English and Welsh wines have won many prestigious awards recently and Stephen Skelton is the leading authority on the wines of the UK. The Wines of Great Britain is a comprehensive survey of the history of UK wines, as well as of the current state of the wine industry and its future prospects. After a short introduction showing where UK wine is in 2019 and where it might go in the future Skelton considers the history of winemaking in the UK from King Alfred in the fifth century, through the medieval period to recent developments in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The Wines of Great Britain then takes us on a tour of contemporary viticulture and winemaking, examining trends in plantings and vineyard layout, varieties, rootstocks and clones, vineyard sizes, modern wineries and styles of wine. Skelton considers regional identities as well as the branding of UK sparkling wines and their market position. A substantial part of this important book is the 21 detailed biographies of the most important, exciting and innovative producers and the wines they create. Wine businesses profiled in detail include Breaky Bottom, Chapel Down, Nyetimber, Oxney Organic Estate, Sixteen Ridges Vineyard and Yorkshire Heart Vineyard. Shorter entries on other significant or up and coming producers also feature.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Oz Clarke on Wine: Your Global Wine Companion
"This book takes in his introduction to wine – at the age of three! – through his continued travels and championing of New World wines when they were less fashionable." — Matthew Nugent, The Irish Sun “You can feel Oz Clarke’s expansive, chatty presence in every sentence” — Telegraph "Frankly, it's the best and most entertaining wine read I've had in years." —Tom Doorley, The Irish Mail "You can never have too much of his captivating enthusiasm and rich knowledge and this is him at his best." — Waitrose magazine "A rollicking good read." — Sommelier India There have never been so many delicious and original wines in the world, and to discover them, all you need is a glass in your hand and Oz Clarke – the ideal wine companion. With his inimitable sense of adventure and fun, Oz explains how his fascination with flavour led him to abandon a promising acting career and follow his heart from Chablis to ‘the lost Himalayan valleys of Yunnan’ in pursuit new taste experiences and wine thrills. He found them! Oz Clarke On Wine takes us on a fast-paced, witty romp around the grape varieties key to the world’s major wine styles, then explores the vineyards and regions where a vast trove of wine treasure lies waiting for discovery. Oz’s passion for sharing, his deep wine knowledge, and his ability to conjure up the wine world’s most beautiful landscapes, make this book the most unputdownable wine read this century. Includes: How Oz fell in love with wine: from his first dramatic encounter on a river-bank (aged three), to his post-performance tasting tales (after ‘governing Argentina’ as General Perón in the hit show Evita Oz explains how global warming affects what we drink today, and the new styles we can expect ‘tomorrow’ Organic and Biodynamic wines, Oz’s favourite fizz The world’s best-tasting wines, from Aconcagua to Okanagan, from Patagonia to east Yorkshire…, and wines to enjoy, from budget to blue chip… For sipping and savouring now. Or to age and enjoy in 10, 20, 30-years’ time…
£18.00
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Wine: A Social and Cultural History of the Drink that Changed our Lives
Wine: A Social and Cultural History of the Drink that Changed our Lives is a wine history with a difference. Most histories of wine (like Hugh Johnson’s The Story of Wine, Paul Lukacs’s Inventing Wine, and Rod Phillips’s own A Short History of Wine) are chronological narratives that begin with wine in the ancient world and run through to modern times. Wine has been seen typically as the subject of broader historical trends and events – how, for example, economic and diplomatic conditions favoured or interrupted the wine trade, and how changes in taste affected wine styles. Wine departs from these approaches by organising chapters by theme and by focusing much more on how wine has been positively and actively implicated in broad historical changes. It looks at the way wine has been used to demarcate social groups and genders, how wine has shaped facets of social life as diverse as medicine, religion, and military activity, how vineyards and wine cultures have transformed landscapes, and how successive innovations in wine packaging – from amphoras to barrels to bottles – have affected and been affected by commerce and consumption. Wine neither sees the history of wine as the passive result of historical forces nor sees wine as a prime agent of historical change. Rather, it views wine as a critical actor in key trends in the histories of society, culture, and the environment. Each chapter takes a single theme and the material within each is organised chronologically. The book is formed of chapters that together provide a compact and theme-specific history of wine in its own right, enabling readers to consume chapters as self-contained units, rather than as parts of a longer narrative whole. This is a fascinating reference resource for wine enthusiasts and historians alike.
£27.00
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Bordeaux Club: The convivial adventures of 12 friends and the world's finest wine
"From a historical point of point, the book is fascinating... From a literary point of view, it’s eloquent ... If you’re a Bordeaux wine collector with deep pockets and a large cellar, it’s invaluable." —Tamlyn Currin, Jancis Robinson "Associations and societies such as the Bordeaux Club are the very acme of civilization. Botticelli and Bach were engaged in the eternal quest for truth and beauty in painting and music, and the Bordeaux Club did the same for viniculture." — Andrew Roberts "For lovers of claret - indeed, all wine - this can only be described as a drool-inducing book." — World of Fine Wine The story of 12 friends who gathered to share and celebrate the extraordinary wines of Bordeaux. Like-minded in their love of wine, they differed wildly (often alarmingly!) in their personal wealth, life and circumstances – their opinions, always voiced, had the power to ignite anger and divide friendships just as easily as they bound them together. Neil McKendrick, member and minute-taker for 57 of the Club’s 70 extraordinary years, weaves the tale of this convivial group with the rigour of a Cambridge academic (he is ex-Master of Gonville and Caius) and the humour of a born raconteur. Alongside the likes of Hugh Johnson, Steven Spurrier and Michael Broadbent, he celebrates the beauty of top-class Bordeaux and the splendour of each setting – from glorious country park to rickety Dickensian boardroom – in which these men were lucky enough to dine, serving up memories of vintages the like of which we will never see again.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED On California: From Napa to Nebbiolo… Wine Tales from the Golden State
"A standout among the drink books published this year, which ought to be on the Christmas list of every wine lover, even if they don't think they have much interest in American wine." —Victoria Moore, The Telegraph "This is a book for novices and geeks interested in the significance of California through America’s wine history, from the swashbuckling era of Agoston Haraszthy through modern Napa’s cult cabernets and today’s despair over wildfires and drought." —David McIntyre, Washington Post "New York Times picks On California for their "This Year’s Best Wine Books": ". Its short selections from nearly three dozen writers offer impressionistic, thought-provoking views of the state and its winemaking history."—New York Times "There is something for everyone here." —Sommelier India On California explores the grapes and the people who have made California wine great. The pioneers, the boffins, the whizz-kids and scientists, many of whom tell their stories on its pages – some in precious archive material, others have set down their thoughts mid-pandemic in 2021: Randall Grahm, Gerald Asher, Steven Spurrier, Paul Draper and Warren Winiarski take a bow…. Includes: California wine and the future: where will the ‘California spirit’ lead next? The ‘Hollywood Grape’: our authors chart the path of Cabernet Sauvignon, from the wish-list of Thomas Jefferson to the hallowed hillsides of Stag’s Leap and Screaming Eagle 1976? Of course it was a competition! Steven Spurrier and Patricia Gallagher look back at the motivations behind the famous Paris wine tasting Top New York sommelier Victoria James tells of her near-death introduction to the whacky world of winemaking in Sonoma Will the real Zinfandel please stand up? Paul Draper seeks out the true heritage of California’s versatile orphan grape Contributions from top California writers: Elaine Chukan Brown, Mary Margaret McCamic MW, Karen MacNeil, Esther Mobley, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Liz Thach MW, Clare Tooley MW, and Kelli White Hugh Johnson, Jane Anson and Fiona Morrison MW introduce California’s intrepid wine pioneers Rex Pickett’s Sideways heroes, Jack and Miles, clink glasses over the Central Coast’s finest Pinot Noir A–Z: from ‘Bob’ Mondavi to Xylem sap-sensors and pink Zinfandel – California wine in bite-size
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Steven Spurrier: A Life in Wine
The moment he was handed a glass of Cockburn 1908 vintage port by his grandfather at 13 years old, Steven Spurrier knew he would make wine his career. He travelled Europe in his red sports car (fitted with a compact wine fridge in the boot), working the vintage in Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne, before his first extraordinary move was to set up shop and sell wine to the French. As an Englishman in the heart of Paris, this seemed a remarkably bold (if not foolish) project, but the plan worked. Steven’s adventures in wine did not stop there. In 1976, he went on to mastermind the ‘Judgement of Paris’, the France v California blind tasting that changed the wine world forever. This memoir looks back on Steven’s life charting the incidents, adventures, ideas and discoveries that formed his wine journey. With tributes from Hugh Johnson, Miguel Torres, Oz Clarke, Jancis Robinson MW, Warren Winiarski and many more…
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED On Bordeaux: Tales of the Unexpected from the World's Greatest Wine Region
When things turn out right for Bordeaux, as they frequently do, its wines are sublime. They inspire many thousands of tributes, from Samuel Pepys’ succinct reviews to the most rhapsodic of Michael Broadbent’s tasting notes – in short, over 300 years of wine writing. On Bordeaux is a collection of the best bits, from our best-loved wine writers, critics and commentators, set around 10 of the themes that make Bordeaux tick. As Jane Anson writes in her introduction: “multi-layered, clear-eyed, moving and often extremely funny [this] collection of stories… celebrates, illuminates and renews our understanding of Bordeaux.” * Hugh Johnson, Fiona Beckett and Baron Elie de Rothschild discuss dining out on Bordeaux: how best to serve it, with what and who with. * Mathieu Chadronnier, Christian Seely and Joe Fattorini shed light on the way we see claret today. * Ian Maxwell Campbell extols the virtues of 1871 and 1875, the last great vintages before the phylloxera plague. * Fiona Morrison MW explores Bordeaux’s great bounce-back and how the vintage of 1982 changed everything. * John Salvi, Bill Blatch and Peter Vinding-Diers reveal the wines that lead the way to Bordeaux’s future. * Joe Fattorini serves up everything you need to know on running the iconic Médoc Marathon. * Hugh Johnson pays tribute to Bordeaux master Michael Broadbent.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Northern Spain: From Galicia to the Pyrenees and Rioja to the Basque Country
Although rightly famed for the wines of Rioja, the north of Spain has even more to offer the wine adventurer. Criss-crossed by rivers, its landscape ranges from the dramatic Pyrenees in the north-east to the low inlets of the Atlantic coast in the west. Growers – and consumers – can enjoy a diversity of terroirs and an exciting array of native varieties. This introduction to the wines of northern Spain explores the changes, starting in the west, where the wineries of Galicia – from Rías Baixas to Valdeorras – have multiplied, while Bierzo is building a reputation for aromatic, refreshing reds, and Castilla y León is home to a growing number of individual, top quality producers. Travelling east, the success of Ribera del Duero has attracted investors from outside the region, all eager to gain a share of the limelight, while Aragón is busy building an international reputation for its venerable bush vine Garnachas. Across the country, a new generation is joining established producers in a remarkable blossoming of fine wines. Extensive producer profiles and established and well-known estates mingle on the page with newer makers and small producers to provide a thoroughly up-to-date and indispensable reference. For all wine enthusiasts keen to explore this region – whether in person or from a favourite armchair – The Wines of Northern Spain is essential reading.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Luxury Wine Marketing: The Art and Science of Luxury Wine Branding
Wine has been considered a luxury product since the time of the ancient Egyptians, and today is coveted by collectors and wine enthusiasts from around the world. Yet little has been written about the world of luxury wine marketing, explaining how a wine brand can enter that special realm. This book helps to demystify the process by describing how to craft, implement, and maintain a luxury wine brand. Beginning with a definition and history of luxury wine, the authors then explain the unique business model and consumer segments for luxury wine, before outlining industry best practice in the building of luxury wine brands. Each chapter is supplemented with a vignette of a successful luxury brand producer, and provides beneficial advice on the long-term vision and passion that is necessary to create a successful luxury wine marketing strategy. This book also contains original research conducted by the authors on the size of the luxury wine market and analysis of its segmentation by region, allowing for new and unique insight into the world’s top wine regions. Written as both a practitioner’s guide and as a wine business textbook, Luxury Wine Marketing is a cornerstone reference resource for the business of wine.
£45.00
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Wines of the Rhône
Wines from Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Châteauneuf-du-Pape have made the Rhône Valley world famous. This may be a classic wine region, but as Matt Walls reveals in Wines of the Rhône that doesn’t mean it is set in its ways. Change here is not only driven by innovations in winemaking and fashions in wine, it is also an essential response to a rapidly shifting climate, which has seen temperatures rise significantly over the last 40 years and extreme weather events become more commonplace. Walls provides a rounded picture of this large and complex region, which varies greatly along the 200-kilometre stretch of river, from Vienne in the north to Provence in the south. Beginning with a vivid journey through the terrain, he explores one of the region’s constants, its varied geology, before moving on to the pressing issue of climate. A short tour through the Rhône’s winemaking history, from early Greek settlers to the modern industry, is followed by vignettes of all the AOC-permitted grapes and an explanation of the five levels of the region’s appellation system. Walls encourages readers to venture beyond the famous crus, making it easy for those eager to explore by detailing the terroir of every appellation and describing and assessing typical wines. Profiles of 200 key producers complete the picture. Boxes throughout the text provide interesting asides on current issues as well as key appellation facts, while an appendix on ageing wines offers a guide to the last 40 vintages. This comprehensive examination of a renowned region is an ideal introduction for those new to the Rhône, while providing fresh insights for long-time admirers of the wines.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Faugères
Faugères is one of the most individual appellations of the Languedoc. Although it produces white and rosé wines, the appellation is most famous for its rich, elegant reds. The Faugères wine appellation was created in 1982 and is now producing consistently excellent wines, the secret lying in the hills surrounding the village of Faugères where the schist, or decayed slate makes for wines with a distinctive freshness and minerality. Currently little-known outside of France, the wines of Faugères are rapidly becoming the stars of the Languedoc. Rosemary George’s The Wines of Faugères is a comprehensive guide to the wines of a remarkably compact and homogeneous area which covers just seven villages and a couple of hamlets but produces an intriguing variety of different wines within the framework of the appellation. The Wines of Faugères covers the history, geography and climate of the region, as well as its grape varieties and viticulture, before profiling the individual producers and their wines. It ends with an invaluable assessment of vintages going back to the creation of the appellation in 1982. The Wines of Faugères features the most up-to-date information on this beautiful region and its characterful wines, providing an indispensable guide to a small but fascinating appellation.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Sake and the Wines of Japan
Once brewed throughout Asia, sake has come to be inextricably linked with Japanese culture, tradition and society. In Sake and the Wines of Japan, Anthony Rose argues that, after decades in the doldrums, sake is well on its way to becoming the next big thing. Neither a wine nor a spirit, sake’s purity, centuries-old brewing methods and umami taste have gained it fans among the sort of younger drinkers who sparked the revolution in craft beers and artisan spirits. A return to quality, plus the modern outlook of today’s generation of sake makers is opening up sake, particularly premium sake, to the world. Exports have increased and sake breweries, some artisan, some offshoots of big Japanese names, have sprung up in destinations as far flung as Oregon and Australia, not forgetting England. To demonstrate how deeply woven into Japanese society this drink is, Rose first takes us through the history of sake production, from offerings to the gods made from rice chewed by priestesses, to the heyday of sake, when master craftsmen – tōjis – were instrumental in a brewery’s success or failure, to sake’s new wave, epitomized by Berlin techno DJ Richie Hawtin, founder of ENTER.Sake. Rose then details sake types, demystifies polishing ratios, explores the issues around ageing sake and discusses how best to enjoy sake. The four basic ingredients – rice, kōji (rice mould), yeast and water – are introduced ahead of a thorough explanation of the brewing process. Rose profiles a personal selection of sake producers and ends the sake section with a chapter on sake producers outside Japan. Japan’s wine industry is small and young but improving rapidly; here some of the best exponents are profiled alongside a history of wine production in Japan and details of grape varieties used. Sake and the wines of Japan ends with a guide to Japan, making it an essential tool for all those seeking a way into this enigmatic and enticing culture.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Southwest U.S.A.: A Guide to New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and Colorado
Although Vitis vinifera vines have been grown in the American southwest for nearly 400 years, its modern wine era only really began with the new pioneers of the 1960s and 1970s. All four states can boast growing wine industries, each with its own distinct identity. Although home to those first wine grapes, New Mexico may be the least experienced player, with a few major producers and many smaller, new arrivals. The Texas industry is bigger, more developed and more polished, with at least 350 wineries operating and plenty of room for growth. Arizona has perhaps made the most progress in the shortest time; some impressive growing conditions, educational initiatives, and a tight-knit band of producers have led to promising quality wines. Colorado, long known for its fruit orchards, is now home to vineyards too, with many producers also farming other fruit and creating wines from both. Taking each state in turn, Jessica Dupuy guides us expertly through its history before presenting a thorough summary of its climate and geology, discussing the grapes grown, explaining the sub regions (AVAs), and appraising the challenges wine growers face. Influential and innovative producers are profiled, and each section concludes with ideas on where to visit, dine, and stay. Boxes throughout the text supply asides on historical, geographic, and cultural points of interest. For anybody interested in discovering a truly up-and-coming wine region this book makes for fascinating reading.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Roussillon
The epithet ‘hidden treasure’ may be overused but it can truly be applied to the often-overlooked wine region of Roussillon. Tucked into the southernmost corner of France, Roussillon’s reputation was founded on the popularity of its Vins Doux Naturels, which were particularly celebrated in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries but have declined in popularity since the 1980s. Partly in response to this, over the last 20 years levels of production have shifted in favour of table wines, or vins secs, as they are known locally. Roussillon’s winemakers are still fine-tuning their talent for vins secs, but many have already created exciting, original and delicious wines; red, white and pink, as well as orange. In The Wines of Roussillon, Rosemary George MW takes us on a journey through the hilly landscape, revealing the huge variety of soil types and micro climates the region offers and explaining how viticulture is tackled in its rugged, sloping vineyards. Producer profiles make up the major part of the book; while some are continuing a long family tradition, the region has also seen an influx of winemakers from outside Roussillon attracted by the relative affordability of land or the excitement of helping to develop the region’s identity. Complete with vintage assessments and thorough appendices, this book is an eye-opening treat for wine lovers keen to make new discoveries.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Rosé: Understanding the Pink Wine Revolution
Rosé has seen a huge boom in sales over the last twenty-five years. Popular particularly with younger drinkers, its move into the spotlight seems to be part of a fashion for all things pink. The wines are often thought of as fresh and undemanding but while for many that is part of their appeal, here Master of Wine Elizabeth Gabay reveals the other side of rosé, discovering wines (some unavailable beyond the winery steps) that are every bit as complex and intriguing as their red and white cellar mates. After taking us through the history of rosé and discussing varieties and winemaking methods, Gabay turns her attention to the regions where rosé is made, first introducing us to historic wines such as Tavel, Cigales and Rosé d’Anjou. She next journeys to the heart of the revolution, Provence. The region’s pale-hued wines have become the height of fashion, with wineries owned by Hollywood stars and wines such as Garrus commanding premium prices. Unsurprisingly this has led to much emulation, but as Gabay continues her global rosé investigations she discovers that pale is not the only interesting form of rosé. Indeed, one challenge for rosé producers is persuading drinkers to look beyond the colour, for as Rosé demonstrates these wines come in a huge variety of styles. From traditional clairet rosés made using the saignée method to vins gris, natural wines and experimental styles, produced as far afield as British Columbia and Marlborough, California and Crimea, Gabay has tried (nearly) all of them. The result is a detailed yet conversational book that will provoke discussion among those in the industry, wine aficionados and students.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova
Eastern Europe is the last undiscovered gem of the wine world. Over the last thirty years three countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova have been working hard to escape the legacy of communism. For all three the regimes that took hold after the Second World War affected their wine industries profoundly, with state farms favouring mechanization and mass production over care and quality. Recent decades have seen a huge switch in attitudes following privatization, with more focus on quality and reconnecting people with the land to rebuild these historic wine industries for today’s wine drinkers. Bulgarian wine’s fall in sales in the West due to the rising popularity of New World wines, Moldova’s economic crisis at the hands of a Russian ban on Moldovan wine and Romania’s need to counter imports from foreign producers as tastes in wine change have forced wineries to rethink their approaches to viticulture and winemaking. Instead of production lines of anonymous wines, makers now focus on creating authentic regional wines using local and international varieties and modern techniques. In The wines of Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova, Eastern European wine expert Caroline Gilby MW presents the wine stories of these three connected but distinct countries as one who has witnessed the vast changes as they happened. The cultures of the three countries, their complex and troubled histories and their roads to recovery are profiled here along with details of the geography, climate, grapes grown and, most importantly, the producers working to revive and reinvent their respective wine industries. For those who seek something new beyond the traditional wines of Western Europe or who find New World wines losing their thrill The Wines of Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova is an inspirational introduction to a wine world waiting to be explored.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED A Contemplation of Wine
In this unique study of wine through the ages, journalist and World War I frontline reporter, Hubert Warner Allen (1881–1968) casts an observant eye over the way wine appears in literature, from the words of the Roman connoisseurs to the excesses of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales heroes, taking in the debatable wisdom of the 18th-century epicurean Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin and the sagacity of the legendary Edwardian wine-writer, George Saintsbury – and many more. Warner Allen’s observations are both fascinating and highly entertaining. As Harry Eyres, who introduces this book, says: "Literary, historical, discursive, personal: this is very much the opposite of modern wine writing, and presents another era seen through a glass darkly." The Classic Editions breathe new life into some of the finest wine-related titles written in the English language over the last 150 years. Although these books are very much products of their time – a time when the world of fine wine was confined mostly to the frontiers of France and the Iberian Peninsula and a First Growth Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy wouldn’t be beyond the average purse – together they recapture a world of convivial, enthusiastic amateurs and larger-than-life characters whose love of fine vintages mirrored that of life itself.
£14.99
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Cellar Collection No 1
The ultimate collection of your favourite wine books by your favourite writers, the Cellar Edition sits in a beautiful Wibalin cloth-covered slipcase with foil embossing. It is the perfect way to display and store titles that every good cellar or library should include. Enjoy Hugh Johnson’s exploration of the long and fascinating history of wine, along with the work of other writers including George Orwell and PG Wodehouse. The father of formal wine tasting, Michael Broadbent, guides you through the knowledge you need to get the most out of what you drink. Learn about glorious wines including sherries, clarets and the extraordinary Lebanese wines made by Chateau Musar. Meet the legendary wine commentators, including Steven Spurrier, and get to know some of the noblest winemaking families of Europe with Fiona Morrison MW. The titles featured this collection include: The Story of Wine 9781913141066 A Life in Wine 9781913141073 On Bordeaux 9781913141059 Chateau Musar 9781913141042 In Vino Veritas 9781913141035 Sherry 9781913141028 10 Great Wine Families 9781913141011 Wine Tasting 9781913141004
£247.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED In the Vine Country
"Hands down the wine book of the year." —David McIntyre, Washington Post "...paints a glorious picture of Bordeaux as seen through the skittish and mischievously observant eyes of Somerville and Ross - cousins and writing partners." —Victoria Moore, The Telegraph Journeying through the Medoc in the autumn of 1891, Anglo-Irish cousins and travelling companions, Edith Somerville and Martin Ross (aka Violet Florence Martin) bring their distinctive mélange of wry wit, acute observation and unabashed horror at the barefoot treading of Cabernet Sauvignon to this delightful account of vendangeurs lofty and low-born as they bring in the harvest in time-honoured fashion. Illustrated using Somerville’s equally delightful sketches, this is a story of two feisty ladies for whom anything remotely pretentious is fair game. Better known for their tales of an Irish R. M. (resident magistrate), Somerville and Ross outraged their respective families – who referred to them ‘the Shockers’ – by combining travel writing with the fight for Women’s Suffrage. The contrast between the emancipated pair and the largely unreconstructed characters they encounter on their travels only serves to heighten the charm of an already indelibly charming book. The Classic Editions breathe new life into some of the finest wine-related titles written in the English language over the last 150 years. Although these books are very much products of their time – a time when the world of fine wine was confined mostly to the frontiers of France and the Iberian Peninsula and a First Growth Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy wouldn’t be beyond the average purse – together they recapture a world of convivial, enthusiastic amateurs and larger-than-life characters whose love of fine vintages mirrored that of life itself.
£14.99
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Australia
Australia's wine history dates back almost 250 years, to the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. The first commercial wine region, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, was created a mere 40 years later, and by as early as the 1850s small amounts of wine were being exported to the UK. In the modern era, Australian wine became known for fortified wine styles modelled on Port and Sherry. These were the main wine styles consumed for several decades, but by the mid-1990s nearly all grapes were going into table wine and Australia was the sixth largest global exporter of wine. Vibrant, varietally expressive and affordable wines introduced new generations of drinkers to the joys of wine. The popularity of Australian wine has ebbed and flowed over the years but experimentation, innovation and the illumination of newer regions has created a quiet revolution, challenging preconceptions of what is possible. In The Wines of Australia, sommelier Mark Davidson tastes his way round this new Australian wine world. European immigration was an important factor in the development of wine but it also had a dramatic and negative impact on the indigenous peoples, an issue that Davidson addresses in a chapter on history and culture, explaining how the wine industry is taking steps to involve First Nations peoples in grape growing and winemaking. The growing environment, including the critical question of climate change, is tackled, and today’s most important grape varieties, along with those that can take Australian wine into the future, are profiled. This is followed by a chapter explaining why the country is home to some of the oldest vines in the world. Every region is clearly delineated, its key producers introduced and their wines assessed. The Wines of Australia captures the character of one of the most exciting wine-producing countries on the planet.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Life and Wines of Hugh Johnson
"Veteran wine books are by modern standards short on facts." — Decanter Magazine "This is an inspirational book well worth your time." — Eric Asimov on Instagram "If you want to learn about wine, switch off your phone, buy these two books and enjoy them with a nice glass of something." — The Critic "This is a don’t-miss book for people who plan their travels around vineyards." — Washington Post "This is one of the best books on wine ever written." — Sommelier India In this unique approach to understanding wine, Hugh Johnson, the world’s best-loved wine author, weaves the story of his own epic wine journey with an embracing view of everything he has discovered along the way. Almost without realising it, the reader is drawn into a fascinating world; with each page turned, knowledge is gained and wine wisdom absorbed. Hugh takes us from the teetering ledges of the Mosel and majestic châteaux of the Médoc to the sylvan slopes of Windsor Great Park with a spring in his step and a tasting glass at the ready. No one writes so infectiously on every aspect of wine, whether human or cultural, technical or historical. This book is peppered with anecdotes and personal recollections, infused with the sheer delight Hugh finds in his subject. It is a book with a story to tell and a mastery of wine to impart. Previously published as Wine, A Life Uncorked 2005, now updated with new chapters.
£27.00
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED In Vino Veritas: A Collection of Fine Wine Writing Past and Present
An elegantly bound collection of fine wine writing past and present – the perfect gift for wine lovers everywhere (or the wine lovers in their life). With contributions from Michael Broadbent on good and bad vintages, Ian Maxwell Campbell on Bordeaux vs Burgundy, George Orwell and PG Wodehouse on the complementary pleasures of wine and tea, Randall Grahm on the search for California’s ‘magic grape’ and Andrew Caillard MW on the art of the wine label, it brims with wit and wisdom from some of the most erudite wine writers ever to raise a glass. Also includes Steven Spurrier, Jason Tesauro, Jane MacQuitty, Giles MacDonogh, Philippe de Rothschild, Fiona Morrison MW, Dan Keeling, Charles Walter Berry and many more. Like Cyril Ray’s classic Compleat Imbiber before it, In Vino Veritas might rightfully be described as ‘the quintessential late-evening or bedtime book for those who like wine'. ‘Denied wine’s bridge to gregariousness, “cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in to saucy doubts and fears,” as Macbeth once complained, we need an antidote, and rummaging around in this anthology of wine writing is a good one: It’s a set of keys to open the windows and let some sun shine in.’ - World of Fine Wine
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of New Zealand
New Zealand’s wine industry has grown rapidly over the last thirty years, with the world’s wine drinkers falling particularly hard for the Marlborough region’s distinctive Sauvignon Blancs. But New Zealand wine goes far beyond the exuberant whites grown in the north of its South Island. In The Wines of New Zealand Master of Wine Rebecca Gibb takes us on a vinous journey through Aotearoa (‘land of the long white cloud’) and opens our eyes to the huge variety of wines created throughout the two islands of one of the world’s most southerly wine-producing lands. She begins by covering the history of winemaking in New Zealand – the first grapes were planted 200 years ago, but it has only recently realized its potential. There is then an introduction to the New Zealand climate and the leading grapes – including 10 ‘must-try’ wines for each variety. The major wine producing regions are detailed in turn, from Northland, the most northerly and warmest region, offering ripe Chardonnays and rich reds, to the cooler South Island, where bright whites and nuanced Pinot Noirs abound. Profiles, including recommended wines, are given for a selection of the country’s nearly 700 producers, providing an overview of the most exciting wineries and their differing approaches to viticulture and winemaking. For those readers seeking to complete their exploration of this breathtaking country in person, there is a useful chapter giving details on wine-related activities in New Zealand. This expert and accessible guide to New Zealand wines is a refreshing addition to the library of any wine enthusiast.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Cognac: The Story of the World's Greatest Brandy
This fully revised third edition of Cognac: The Story of the World’s Greatest Brandy provides an authoritative account of how the much-loved spirit is produced and matured. Nicholas Faith was the world’s leading authority on Cognac. Here he explores the reasons for the spirit’s complex character, and reveals its fascinating history. Cognac is an extraordinary and unparalleled collection of insights into the world’s finest brandy. The first edition of this book, published in 1986, won the Veuve Clicquot award in the US and the Deinhard/Wine Magazine award in Britain. In 2005 the second edition was awarded the André Simon prize, Britain’s premier wines and spirits writing prize. The most recent edition includes a fully updated directory of the top producers and their brandies – including the author’s tasting notes – and two new sections on tasting and mixing: a selection of Cognac cocktails and how to make them, and revelations on the associations made between brandy and food. This completely updated edition of Nicholas Faith’s classic guide is a thorough and engaging resource – the essential companion for every Cognac enthusiast.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Chateau Musar: The Story of a Wine Icon
Winemaking is never easy – but in the case of Chateau Musar, the most famous wine to come out of Lebanon, there have been times when it has been almost impossibly difficult. Serge Hochar would say ‘in Lebanon, difficulties are our habit. We are addicted to difficulties!’ and he famously continued to make his wines regardless of the bombing and shelling attacks going on around him. This is his story, and the story of Gaston, Marc, Ralph and Tarek, the new generation that follows him, carrying on the tradition of making wines of charisma and character with minimal interference. It is a tale of our times; winemaking at its most instinctive and natural, inspired by Mother Nature, and resonating powerfully with the spirit of survival that has sustained the Hochars’ troubled homeland, Lebanon. With contributions from Kevin Gould, Elizabeth Gilbert, Catherine Miles, Edward Ragg MW, Fongyee Walker MW, Jancis Robinson MW, Michael Broadbent, Steven Spurrier, Andrew Jefford, Bartholomew Broadbent and Susan Keevil, Chateau Musar, The Story of a Wine Icon is the perfect read for those who want to learn more about this incredible wine and delve into the multi-millennia-tradition of Lebanese wine.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Wayward Tendrils of the Vine
Writing in the immediate aftermath of World War II, wine merchant, gentleman soldier and cricketer Ian Maxwell Campbell casts an affectionate and occasionally wistful look back at the Golden Age of wine, when Bordeaux was affordable, Burgundy's finest vintages tended towards cannibalism and other wines could be... well, surprisingly attractive. Among the tales of convivial drinking and anecdotes involving Winston Churchill and WG Grace, the author paints a vivid picture of a pre-war (and pre-phylloxera) wine world whose horizons were about to expand beyond all imagining. Wayward Tendrils of the Vine, though, is much more than a collection of reminiscences. As Neal Martin points out in his Introduction: “The title alone is a perfect allegory for how we learn about wine, how knowledge grows organically over time, never knowing what the next bottle will teach us, how it might alter preconceptions or where it might lead.” The Classic Editions breathe new life into some of the finest wine-related titles written in the English language over the last 150 years. Although these books are very much products of their time – a time when the world of fine wine was confined mostly to the frontiers of France and the Iberian Peninsula and a First Growth Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy wouldn’t be beyond the average purse – together they recapture a world of convivial, enthusiastic amateurs and larger-than-life characters whose love of fine vintages mirrored that of life itself.
£14.99
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED On Burgundy: From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Wine Tales
"You might not be able to afford the top wines, but you can still read about them." — Decanter "It’s a book full of all the grand gestures – sweeping statements, effusive adoration, intense emotion, hyperbole and predictable clichés. Few authors have held back. But somehow, because it’s burgundy, it’s OK. Thank goodness for drunken wolves." — JancisRobinson.com "...a compilation that delivers on the title. Did you know there were once wolves in Burgundy?" — Bloomberg "Some anthologies preserve, some embalm; this one’s exuberantly alive, a divergent parliament, a busy talking place with no whispers." — World Of Fine Wine Burgundy is France's most prized and prestigious wine region today as well as being one of its oldest and most traded, if not always by the English. Its wines, to quote Jay McInerney who contributes, are "for lovers, lunatics and poets…" and are the textbook definition of what terroir is all about. Villages mere metres apart produce wines of startlingly different personalities, and it is one of the rare regions in Europe whose red and white wines are equally celebrated. For all of its precious history it is also a region at the forefront of vinous innovation, with many winemakers certified as biodynamic. It is home to some of the world's most famous wine estates, and its top wines are all made from just one red and one white grape, yet the range of wine styles across the region, from Chablis in the north to Beaujolais in the south is significant. On Burgundy explores all of these themes and ideas with contributions from many of the world's top wine writers, looking at the kings, popes, mavericks and pioneers who have made wine in this region for generations.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Wines of the Languedoc
The Languedoc is a land of mountains, sea and Cathar castles in the south of France. For much of its history the region has also been seen as the home of rustic table wines with no international reputation. However, over the last 40 years the wines have improved enormously, with innovations in both vineyards and cellars, helped by the development of appellations and IGPs recognising the individuality of its different areas. Now boasting more than 2,500 wine producers, the Languedoc has attracted interest from around the world, thanks to its affordable land and exciting creative possibilities. The Languedoc is best known for its spicy reds, often made from one or more of the classic quintet of varieties, Carignan, Cinsaut, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre and Syrah. However, it is also gaining a reputation for its whites, with the coastal appellation Picpoul de Pinet in particular seeing a rise in popularity, and for its rosés, producing twice as much as its fashionable neighbour Provence. The Languedoc is also home to the world’s oldest sparkling wine, Blanquette de Limoux, and to vins doux naturels in the form of delicious, sweet Muscats. It is in the twenty-first century above all that the Languedoc has really found its place among the great wine regions. Here, Rosemary George MW profiles a selection of those producers who have made and continue to boost the region’s reputation. Some are newcomers, while others are inheritors of family businesses, many of whom have studied oenology or learned winemaking elsewhere. All are passionate about what they do, continuing to improve their wines with every vintage. The Languedoc is one of the world’s largest and most exciting wine regions, making Wines of the Languedoc essential reading for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Drinking with the Valkyries: Writings on Wine
"An entrancing companion for wine lovers. Celebratory, discerning writing with all the variety and unexpectedness of the wines explored." — Michèle Roberts, author and Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia "This book is about feeling, tasting and describing the beauty of wine, as well as understanding the intensity of emotion that wine can engender." — Decanter Magazine "So precise and dancing, so chiselled and so free, as complex and delicious as your favourite bottle of wine, you will enjoy the world of wine differently after reading through Jefford’s words." — Pascaline Lepeltier on Instagram “A new sort of literary gumption arrived on the scene with Andrew Jefford; a powerful blend of science and poetry. Here is a writer who does his interviews, delves deep into motives and methods, and then lets fly with whatever imagery he finds winging by.” Hugh Johnson (2019) Poet, philosopher, author, radio presenter and journalist, Andrew Jefford lives in France; but buried deep in one wine country what does he miss most about the rest? The answer: “Drinking young port. It’s the wine drinker’s equivalent of zorbing, wing-walking, base-jumping … you won’t fully understand it unless you have tasted it young, in its ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ stage, when it comes hurtling out of the glass and puts the screamers on you...” Andrew is the ideal companion for anyone wine-curious. In this collection of his essays, opinions and articles he shares his fascinating observations from half a century of discovery. For Andrew, wine should be listened to and admired, wherever it comes from; old-school pretentions turned on their head; style-points disdained; stellar prices dismissed; questions asked...
£22.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Sherry: Maligned*Misunderstood*Magnificent!
“With over 3,000 years of history behind it, the future of Sherry lies in its past. Sommeliers admire it for its many varieties and Ben Howkins’ book will tell you why.” – Steven Spurrier "Here Ben Howkins approaches his subject with passion and flair, bringing to life the vineyards, the bodegas, the wines and the history of the region with a light and entertaining touch." – Matthew Nugent, The Irish Sun Made in a unique way, matured in cellars dating back to the age of the Conquistadores, and bursting with a panoply of sun-drenched flavours, Sherry has – due to a succession of scandals and bad luck in the 1970s – been maligned and misunderstood. But the Sherry scene is set for seismic change. With a series of new styles, new vineyards and a dynamic new crop of cellar masters, this wine is creating a revolution in the world’s restaurants that can’t be ignored. Ben Howkins, in colourful words and equally evocative pictures, delves deep into Sherry’s fascinating story and reveals why it is set to come back into our lives with a magnificent flourish!
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Wine Tasting
Michael Broadbent, wine critic, writer, auctioneer and much-admired expert revolutionised the wine trade with his first edition of Wine Tasting in 1968 and has continued to capture the magic of wine for over 50 years, bringing it to the page and to the public in compelling detail, always tinged with his uniquely wry sense of humour. Michael’s original text (from the 1975 edition) updated with the latest vintages and footnotes revealing Michael’s reactions to the changing wine scene. Personal tributes to Michael from Hugh Johnson OBE, Jancis Robinson OBE MW, Steven Spurrier, the late Gerard Basset OBE MW MS, and international wine auctioneers Paul Bowker and Fritz Hatton. “He had added what the wine trade had lacked; a veneer of scholarship, and a dealer of genius.” – Hugh Johnson “A must read” – Ian Harris, CEO of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of South Africa
South Africa is the eighth largest wine-producer in the world and its wine industry is among the oldest of the New World. Today it is one of the globe’s most dynamic industries, compact but diverse. In the past decade a new generation of winemakers has breathed life into centuries-old estates and new, boutique brands alike. The Wines of South Africa begins by introducing readers to the history of South African wine, starting with the arrival of the Dutch and the establishment of what would become Cape Town. Clarke then analyses South Africa’s industry today including the geological, geographical, and climatic conditions that create the parameters and potential of South African wine. He describes the major grape varieties and wine styles and outlines the broad range of wines being produced. The book the current infrastructure of the industry paying particular attention to the role of Black and coloured people in the wine industry since the end of apartheid. Key challenges facing the industry are explored, including profitability and the loss of vineyards as farmers switch to higher-margin orchards; environmental concerns, the effects of climate change, and water conservation; and the legacy of apartheid and continued imbalances in the socioeconomic structure of the Western Cape. The major growing areas of South Africa are described in turn, including an explanation of the Wine of Origin scheme, and the most important producers operating in each one.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Chablis and the Grand Auxerrois
Chablis has a distinct identity amongst the wines of Burgundy. The gently sloping vineyards of this small, scenic region produce a remarkably diverse range of wines, even though all are made from just one variety – Chardonnay. As in other parts of France, it was the Romans who introduced vines and the medieval Church which expanded the vineyard. By the twelfth century the wines of Chablis, were already being celebrated in poetry. However, over the centuries a considerable amount of everyday wine also found its way via the river Yonne to the cafés of Paris. In its heyday of production towards the end of the nineteenth century the region encompassed 40,000 hectares of vines. But that was before phylloxera and oidium ravaged the vineyards and the railways brought competition from further south to the capital’s wine drinkers. From a low point of 500 hectares just after the Second World War, the vineyard has now expanded more than tenfold, and quality has increased too. Wines in the appellation’s four categories – grand cru, premier cru, Chablis and Petit Chablis – are created by vignerons keen to work with the terroir to produce the elegant, mineral, long-lived wines for which the region earned its reputation. To this end, ever greater care is being taken in the vineyards and the routine use of chemicals is becoming increasingly uncommon. The region’s history, unique soil, geography and climate are all covered in detail, but it is Rosemary George’s lively and insightful profiles of those who make the region’s wines that form the body of The wines of Chablis and the Grand Auxerrois. Through the lives of these vignerons – from the lows of disastrous weather to their love of the land – she paints a unique picture of a much-admired region.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Adventures in the Wine Trade: Diary of a Vintner's Scholar
"A charming, entertaining, and illuminating read – not only for all those in or around the wine trade, but also for all those outside who want to see in to what makes it so special. " - Neil Beckett, Editor, World of Fine Wine The memoirs of a wine trade insider, from the heady days of 1960s to today. Quickly discovering that a knowledge of wine opened doors that were closed to lesser mortals, Ben had a front row seat as the wine trade grew from an elitist and rather amateurish profession into a multi-million dollar global business. This is the story of how it happened, and of the many remarkable characters he befriended along the way – people whose marketing genius was matched only by their desire to put a smile on everyone’s faces. In true vinous style, Ben’s book is sure to do the same. Plumbing the depths: - Ben’s valiant attempts to sell wine to beer-loving miners, which involved actually joining them at the coal face. - Englishman abroad: a jolly jaunt through French châteaux, Spanish bodegas and Portuguese quintas, where Ben forged many of the friendships that would last a lifetime. - Serious business: Ben’s career takes off during the golden age of wine and spirits marketing, when he played a part bringing many of the world-famous brands we know and love today into being.
£12.99
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Stay Me with Flagons
"Healy revelled in wine, wine in its proper place with good company and good food. Read this book and revel with him." —Sommelier India Stay Me With Flagons was Healy’s love letter to wine, and to the wines he enjoyed with friends during his long study of the subject. He takes you on a comprehensive tour of Europe, visiting all the key wine regions of the time, and sometimes commenting on the impact of the Second World War on wine production. Originally written in 1940, this edition was first published after Healy’s premature death in 1950 with notes from his great friend Ian Maxwell Campbell, including insertions when he disagreed with this friend! An elegiac and yet often humorous study of wine, which is as readable now as it was then. With a new foreword by winemaking and wine-writing expert, Fiona Morrison MW. The Classic Editions breathe new life into some of the finest wine-related titles written in the English language over the last 150 years. Although these books are very much products of their time – a time when the world of fine wine was confined mostly to the frontiers of France and the Iberian Peninsula and a First Growth Bordeaux or Grand Cru Burgundy wouldn’t be beyond the average purse – together they recapture a world of convivial, enthusiastic amateurs and larger-than-life characters whose love of fine vintages mirrored that of life itself.
£14.99
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Biodynamic wine
Wines are generally defined in one of three ways: by their country or region of origin, by their colour (red, white, pink) or by their style (still, sparkling, fortified). Only recently have wines begun to be defined by how their grapes have been grown and the wine made, with a clear distinction between modern ‘chemical’ wine-growing on one hand, and the chemical-free organic or natural approach on the other. Now the world’s most respected wine producers, from Bordeaux to the Barossa, and Chablis to California, increasingly see biodynamics as the method of choice for blue-chip winemaking. Biodynamic Wine explains concisely and clearly the theory behind biodynamics, how biodynamics differs from organics, and how the world’s winemakers – from high-end Bordeaux chateaux to under-the-radar family estates – use biodynamics in practice, often with significant and captivating variations according to wine style, local terroir, weather and even lunar cycles. Biodynamic wine is a comprehensive and absorbing guide to the most argued-about green winemaking phenomenon of recent years. It is both an ideal how-to manual for growers and a fascinating guide for wine professionals and wine enthusiasts.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Côte d'Or: The Wines and Winemakers of the Heart of Burgundy
The Côte d’Or may be small in size but its influence is huge and its reputation alone can intimidate even the most seasoned wine professional. Divided into two halves, the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune, it is little more than a 30-mile stretch of vineyard but some of the world’s best known – and most expensive – wines are produced here. Of all the world’s wine regions it is here that terroir pushes itself to the fore, explaining the eye-watering prices paid for even the most modest parcels of vineyard. Raymond Blake’s companionable Côte d’Or demystifies this notoriously complicated region, explaining succinctly the history of winemaking in this part of Burgundy, the complexity of the subdivided vineyards and the special role played by geology and climate in the creation of these wines. Visiting a selection of notable producers, Blake provides his take on each, along with a suggestion of that winemaker’s most distinctive or interesting wine for readers to try. After a rundown of the characteristics of each vintage from the last 30 years, and notes on some outstanding earlier vintages, Blake considers what the future might hold for the côte, including the challenges posed by premature oxidation, extreme weather and world events. He ends the book by providing some ideas to help those planning a trip to the region get the most out of their visit. This fresh take on one of the world’s most influential wine regions is an essential addition to the library of any burgundy enthusiast.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Germany
This historic wine nation at the heart of Europe produces a diverse range of wines – Riesling above all, but also compelling Spätburgunder, aka Pinot Noir, and Silvaner, amongst others. Yet in the minds of many it is still associated with mass-produced sweetish plonk. But following a bruising twentieth century, German wine over the past thirty years has experienced a renaissance. In The Wines of Germany, Master of Wine Anne Krebiehl takes us with her on a journey through vineyards clustered along the country’s many winding rivers to uncover this new world of German wine. She begins with a thorough explanation of German wine law – a subject so complicated that it can alienate all but the most dedicated wine enthusiast – taking a historical perspective and showing how current moves to review the law could considerably simplify it. It is only right that Riesling, the light and aromatic grape synonymous with this country, gets a chapter all to itself, as does Spätburgunder. Plantings of this grape doubled between 1990 and 2010 to make Germany the third-largest grower worldwide. As an enthusiast for Sekt, Krebiehl is keen to explain how far from the tank-produced wines of past decades this sparkling wine has come, with artisan winemakers across the regions returning to the old methods to create bottle-fermented Sekts of quality. Taking the thirteen regions in turn, Krebiehl explains the unique history, geography and climate of each, presenting a selection of some of her favourite producers. From the famed steep slopes of the Mosel, where Riesling reaches its pinnacle of expression, through the largest region, Rheinhessen, home of the infamous Liebfraumilch, to less well-known regions such as Saale-Unstrut and Sachsen, Krebiehl paints a vivid picture of each region’s unique offering, inspiring readers to begin their own explorations.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Georgia
Georgia has for the last 25 years been resurrecting its unique winemaking tradition and rediscovering the distinctiveness of its native varieties. A handful of producers in 1997 has now exploded to more than 1,300. Wine is arguably more important to Georgia than to any other country and its people firmly believe their country to be the birthplace of wine. Yet Georgian wines are still largely unknown in the West. Lisa Granik, who began visiting Georgia 30 years ago, starts The Wines of Georgia with a brisk tour through the history of the country and analysis of its complex geology, before moving on to consider Georgian wine culture. She explains not only winemaking methods and viticulture but also the centrality of wine to Georgian culture. Georgia can claim more than 400 native Vitis vinifera varieties; here Granik profiles the most commonly planted grapes, as well as the many 'lost' varieties being revived. The second half of the book details each of the major regions. Of Georgia's 20 PDOs, 15 are in the east, in Kakheti. With a history of wine education dating back 900 years, this prolific winemaking region is home to the qvevri, the conical clay vessel that for many represents Georgian winemaking. Stretching west, the regions become more sparsely populated; some places are still pioneer wine territory, with more amateur and self-taught winemakers. Granik provides details on the most significant producers, along with tips on sites of interest and places to eat and stay, for those visiting the country. This definitive book on Georgian wine is an essential text for anybody studying or making wine today.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Piemonte
The Italian region of Piemonte is rightly famed for the denominations of Barolo and Barbaresco. The area of vineyard given over to Nebbiolo, the sole grape variety of both DOCGs, has increased dramatically in the last half century (as plantings of other varieties have fallen). However, there is much to enjoy beyond the headline wines of the region. With a vast array of local varieties at the disposal of winemakers, no fewer than 60 denominations and a range of wine styles, Piemonte is a wine explorer’s dream. In The Wines of Piemonte, expert wine educator David Way challenges readers to deepen their understanding of the Piemontese wines they already love, such as Barolo and Barbaresco, and experience more of Piemonte’s lesser-known treasures. He begins by setting the wines in their context, giving an outline of the history, geography and climate of the region. He then introduces readers to the native varieties that make the distinctive wines in this region – including less familiar grapes such as Brachetto, Freisa and Grignolino. After a brief discussion of Italian wine law, he leads us in an exploration of the denominations themselves with a selection of producers. We begin in the Langhe and Roero, where we find denominations centred on the varieties of Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera and Arneis. The gentle hills of Monferrato are Barbera heartland but also yield wines made from interesting local varieties. Heading west, we visit the valleys of the western Alps, where producers are smaller and the varieties they grow more obscure. After exploring Colli Tortonesi and the white wines of its neighbour, Gavi, in the east, we look to the cooler regions of northern Piemonte. Finally, we are treated to Piemonte’s sparkling wines, made in a range of styles. Complete with colour photos and regional maps, whether you are looking for an interesting everyday wine or something to treasure and age, The Wines of Piemonte will enhance your enjoyment of the region.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED 10 Great Wine Families: A Tour Through Europe
Fiona Morrison, awarded the coveted Master of Wine in 1994, is a talented writer and winemaker who works closely with her husband, Jacques Thienpont, helping to make the wine and manage their three Bordeaux estates – Le Pin (Pomerol, home to one of the world’s most prestigious red wines), L’IF (Saint-Emilion) and Château L’Hêtre (Côtes de Castillon). Fiona has over 30 years' experience in the fine wine trade on both sides of the Atlantic. “Fiona Morrison Thienpont has written a book from a viewpoint no other writer, as far as I know, has ever possessed: a seat at the heart of the action.” – Hugh Johnson "It all comes down to succession: how a family can hold together over the course of generations, continuing to build on the success of their vines and their ancestors. Wine is one of the rare businesses in which this level of international fame and internal family politics plays out over centuries—unless you consider royalty a business. So, it makes for an unusual sociological study and compelling prose." – Joshua Greene, Wine & Spirits
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Story of Wine: From Noah to Now
“Who better to supply us with our first comprehensive historical survey than the wine writer with the magic pen, Hugh Johnson?” - Jancis Robinson MW Hugh Johnson has led the literature of wine in many new directions over a 60-year career. His classic The Story of Wine is his most enthralling and enduring work, winner of every wine award in the UK and USA. It tells with wit, scholarship and humour how wine became the global phenomenon it is today, varying from mass-produced plonk to rare bottles fetching many thousands. It ranges from Noah to Napa, Pompeii to Prohibition to Pomerol, gripping, anecdotal, personal, controversial and fun. This new edition includes Hugh’s view on the changes wine has seen in the past 30 years. In his Foreword the celebrated historian Andrew Roberts writes: "The genius of The Story of Wine derives from the fact that it is emphatically not a dry-as-dust academic history – there are dozens of those – but an adventure story, full of mysteries, art and culture.’
£27.00
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Madeira: The Islands and Their Wines
Madeira is unique among wines. While heat and air cause most wines to deteriorate, they are instrumental in the ageing of Madeira, producing distinctive and enthralling wines. Decades (in some cases over a century) of ageing result in a wine that is virtually indestructible and which remains stable for many months, even years, once opened – a great advantage with an expensive old wine. More than thirty years ago Richard Mayson was seduced by the romance of tasting history through these wines. Since then he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, enabling him to write a truly authoritative book on the modern world of Madeira wine. Historical sources are also invaluable when discussing wines being released today, since many were actually created in a bygone era. Madeira begins by looking at the history of the islands and their wines and examining the geographical and climatic influences. The chapters covering the vineyards and winemaking techniques have been updated for this edition as knowledge of this enigmatic wine continues to be revealed. To the profiles of the producers, with notes on their typical wines, Mayson is pleased to add a new shipping firm, founded in 2012. A chapter on the shippers provides background information and tasting notes on more than 400 wines, many re-tasted since the first edition. Mayson then provides an insightful chapter unravelling the language of tasting Madeira and explaining how to buy, keep and serve the wine, and concludes with a guide to visiting the islands. The book is completed with detailed appendices. This thoroughly updated text makes essential reading for Madeira aficionados and will inspire newcomers to sample the delights of these singular wines.
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Steven Spurrier's Académie du Vin Wine Course: The Art of Learning by Tasting
"Steven had a unique perspective, and he wanted to open people’s eyes to the variety and quality of wine available throughout the world " - Tim Modavi Académie du Vin's founder, the late Steven Spurrier, wine connoisseur, critic extraordinaire and instigator of the famed 1976 Judgement of Paris, was a man who in the immortal of words of Hugh Johnson, ‘was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and never stopped stirring’. Back in 1972, Steven founded the Académie du Vin – a series of classes that blended factual information with practical tasting experience, and which were structured so that students could build their knowledge in a gradual, orderly way without becoming ‘swamped’. In the 1980s his Académie du Vin Wine Course became a best-selling book. Now, the Académie du Vin Library is delighted to honour Steven’s legacy by publishing an all-new commemorative edition, handsomely bound in a linen slipcase, and fully revised and updated to reflect the wine world of today. True to the spirit of the original, Steven Spurrier’s Académie du Vin Wine Course takes the reader logically through every aspect of wine appreciation: how to taste wine like the professionals; why the ways grapes are grown and wines are made have such a profound impact on the final taste; the characteristics of the most popular grape varieties and the world’s wine-growing regions; and last, but certainly not least, how to store and collect wine so that you can appreciate it in years to come. Whether you’re a newcomer to fine wine or already an aficionado, there is no more enjoyable, concise way to take your learning to the next level.
£67.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED Port and the Douro
Richard Mayson's award-winning Port and the Douro, first published in 1999, has become a classic over the last 25 years. In this comprehensively updated fifth edition he reminds us why Port is a drink that continues to fascinate wine-lovers and win new fans. The last 50 years, since the end of the dictatorship in 1974, have seen vast transformations in the Port world, from labour-saving technology in field and cellar, to advances in sales reach, especially since Portugal's formal entry into the EU in 1986, and ongoing changes in the way the industry is managed and regulated. To begin with, Mayson provides a history of Port, from the beginnings of viticulture in Roman times to the present day. The vineyards and their vines as well as the quintas where they are cultivated are thoroughly explored, followed by an explanation of Port production, both traditional and modern. A short introduction to Port types prepares the reader for a detailed assessment of vinta
£31.50
ACADEMIE DU VIN LIBRARY LIMITED The Wines of Canada
Wine has been made commercially in Canada since the mid-1800s but Canadian wine has only really begun to register with professionals and consumers outside the country in the last few decades, as quality has dramatically improved. Canadian wine is now being exported in meaningful volumes to the USA, Asia and Europe and since the beginning of this century the number of wineries has increased more than 250 per cent. In recent years wine regions have been demarcated (with some divided into sub-appellations), provincial wine laws have been adopted and indigenous and hybrid vines have largely been replaced by Vitis vinifera varieties in the main wine regions. After taking readers through the history of winemaking in Canada, The Wines of Canada provides an overview of the country’s wine regions, their climate, soil and other geographic conditions, and explains noteworthy viticultural and winemaking techniques, such as the practice in some regions of burying vines to protect them from extreme winter temperatures. Phillips details key producers of the main wine-producing provinces (British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia), assessing their wines and providing relevant details for those planning winery visits. The book concludes with appendices covering vintage reports, Canadian wine festivals and provincial wine-selling laws. As the first comprehensive guide to one of the wine world’s rising stars, The Wines of Canada is an eye-opening book for scholars, students and wine aficionados alike.
£31.50