Product Description

The wide world of wine between two covers
"There is not another book that simultaneously serves both the public and the profession—Exploring Wine makes that leap with grace and style."—Martin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator, from a review of the first edition
"The nation’s most influential training school for professional cooks."—Time magazine
The experts who train today’s leading chefs and wine professionals take readers on a grand tour of the wines of the world. Written for culinary professionals, as well as experienced and beginning wine enthusiasts, this lively guide covers everything you ever wanted to know about the history, culture, romance, science, and business of wine. From the basics of wine production to the nuances of wine service, from the science of proper wine storage to the art of wine tasting, from the knack of reading wine labels to the subtleties of matching wine with food, from the compelling histories of the most renowned wines to the key personalities in the wine world today, it covers all the fascinating facts and practical knowledge to enlighten for food service professionals and novices alike. Revised to reflect the many recent changes in the worldwide wine industry, this Second Edition of the critically acclaimed guide features an expanded American wines section, with an entire chapter dedicated to California wines; coverage of the latest developments in Italian wines and the new face of the German and South American wine trades; an expanded wine and food pairing section; an updated wine and health section; additional vintage wine charts; and more.
Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith, and Michael A. Weiss (Hyde Park, NY) are leading wine educators at The Culinary Institute of America. They have traveled extensively in virtually every wine-producing region of the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #158780 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 880 pages

From Library Journal
Why another wine book? First, this one is by wine educators from the Culinary Institute of America, whose other fine works (The New Professional Chef, LJ 8/91) and outstanding reputation lend it gastronomical authority. Second, Exploring Wine has an unfettered clarity, whether explaining formulas to calculate a reasonable price range or steps to produce the most beneficial wine-tasting experience or ways to select from the deluge of international choices. Third, there is a superb chapter on matching food and wine, full of tables and menus, which simultaneously honors classical principles of experimentation and personal preference. If these reasons aren't sufficient, there's the concise background information on wine-making, the world tour of producers, the coffee-table-book photographs, the section devoted to collecting, appendixes of American appellations and official classifications of Bordeaux, and a 12-page glossary. Definitely not just "another wine book." Highly recommended.
Wendy Miller, Lexington P.L., Ky.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"...lively guide..." (New Yorker, 10 December 2001)

"...lively guide..." -- New Yorker, 10 December 2001

From the Inside Flap
Three renowned wine experts take you on a glorious and grand tour of the wines of the world in Exploring Wine. An essential and dynamic reference for wine lovers as well as seasoned professionals, this compelling volume penetrates the mystique surrounding wine, freeing you to explore with confidence.

Exploring wine demystifies wine as it follows the exciting path from the vine to the table. The book begins by focusing on the basics: grape growing and wine making, an ideal starting point–and compass–for your journey. Next, you will learn how to fine-tune your senses to develop your own approach to the pleasures of wine as the authors explain what to look for in the glass–appearance, aroma and bouquet, and, of course, taste.

Exploring wine visits the major and minor wine-producing regions in the Old World and the New World, providing a comprehensive working knowledge of the history, geography, wine laws, vineyards, producers, and styles of wines produced in each region. Featuring detailed, specially commissioned full-color maps and beautiful color photographs–mostly from the authors’ own archives–along with extensive highlighted interviews with the people who make up the modern global wine business, Exploring Wine brings complex subject matter to life with grace and style.

The authors provide sound strategies and logical guidelines for wine and food pairing to bring out the best in every dining experience, from a picnic to a once-in-a-lifetime meal. Next, they report on and examine important current research and trends in wine and health. Turning to professional issues, Exploring Wine covers worldwide trends, wine lists, wine service, and wine storage. Unique in the world of wine books, extensive quotes from internationally recognized sommeliers, chefs, and restaurateurs bring key issues "to the table" for consideration and discussion by both the professional and the consumer.

Exploring wine is a treasure of knowledge, clarity, and encyclopedic breadth. The authors invite you to join them in a great adventure, discovering the myriad messages in a bottle.

Customer Reviews

A Must Have For Wine Lovers/Learners
I cannot even begin to describe how fantastic this book is. I've been working in gourmet restaurants for about three years now and have checked out many books on wine to try and understand every nook and cranny of wines; most of the time I still felt a little confused. The way the book is organised helps you to easily understand every aspect of wine including the varietals (grapes), laws of appellations for each country and so much more. It's so easy and detailed to understand (studying is still required, trust me) and also uses graphs, maps and tables to make the information even more clear. Yes, the book can be considered a bit pricey, but if you are a student, in the industry or want to know more about your hobby, I can't think of a single reason why this wouldn't be a worthwhile investment. There are cheaper books out there, but the information they provide is no where near the quality you can get with this book; believe me, I've got a mini-wine library where most of the books will now be collecting dust because all the information I need is in this book.

Also recommended: The Oxford Companion to Wine (detailed definitions to wines, regions, etc...); Wine Lover's Companion (nice pocket guide for quick definitions to wine)

Encyclopedic, informative, and loads of fun.
If you're looking for a step-by-step guide to the winemaking process, or to the myriad types of wine the world offers, there's no better choice than "Exploring Wine." It's also a great resource for such arcana as the wine industry in Texas, the different estates of Pomerol or an exhaustive list of the prestige cuvees of the various champagne houses. "Exploring Wine" gives you all the minutiae of the history, business and esthetic properties of wine, without ever becoming dull. This being a production of the Culinary Institute of America, "Exploring Wine" even gives you detailed charts of recommended wine and food pairings, as well as sample menus pairing national cuisines with indigenous wines (including South Africa, South America and the Middle East as well as the different regions of France, Italy and California). There's also an informative chapter on the health benefits of wine. "Exploring Wine" is an invaluable resource for the dedicated enophile as well as the average reader with a casual, but real, interest in wine.

Liz
Excellent source for wine knowledge. Provides information from growing to making to regional information about diffrent wines. Very good for general information to the enthusiastic ameteur or the professional.