hberg95's review against another edition
4.0
Great stuff! Some sections felt a bit like lists, which are helpful for referencing, but a little overwhelming for a beginner. Overall, an excellent introduction to the wine world!
ninareadingbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was a helpful little guide and can be read rather quickly and easily. The book sheds light on the intricate and vast world of wine that can be really intimidating to the average consumer, such as myself. From chemistry, geography, climate (and an ability to remember said awareness of climate on an annual basis), marketing, plant biology, and corking, I now know that the list of variables that impact the bottle of wine sitting on my table are seemingly unending.
I did give the book 4 stars, and it isn’t entirely the book's fault, but the reason is because all of the information was a bit overwhelming. That said, the authors did well to organize all of the information into more digestible sections. I was not able to read it in 24-hours, as the name suggests, because of the density of information in some parts of the book. More specifically, the cheat sheet section on the wine regions held me back because it was pretty dull to read compared with other parts of the book. It is more of a reference section than something meant to be read for enjoyment. I did appreciate that the authors wrote from a budget conscious perspective. They noted wines that are often overpriced or where the consumer is paying more for marketing than the drink itself and gave recommendations on finding good value wines.
The book makes wine vocabulary surrounding taste and bottle labels more accessible to the average person. Since reading the book, my daily and weekly wine intake has increased as a result of the wine list the book has inspired me to keep. It has encouraged me to purchase more wine and force the people around me to drink less responsibly so that I may move on quicker to opening and tasting a new bottle. Largely in response to this book, I now have a list on my phone of different wines to try; mostly in consideration of wine regions and varietals. Be forewarned this book does not encourage maintaining a thrifty wine budget or sobriety. Can I blame my recent late afternoon headaches on this book? Likely.
I enjoyed this book very much, so much so that I read it on e-reader and then decided to buy a paperback copy for reference. This book is for those interested in tasting and learning more about wine. If you are already in the know on the basics of wine or happy with a budget bottle of white or red, you will likely find this book superfluous. However, if you are an amateur interested in wine from an experimental perspective, then you will appreciate this book. For myself, the writing style and content will serve as a nice little guide as I continue to search for my favorite varieties and regions, not to mention the vast world of wine pairings to explore. With the realization that the subject matter required to understand wine is infinite, I can find joy and excitement in knowing that the opportunities to taste and find new wines to love is also never ending. This book has helped me better understand what I am looking for in wine and given me the tools to navigate how to find what I want.
I did give the book 4 stars, and it isn’t entirely the book's fault, but the reason is because all of the information was a bit overwhelming. That said, the authors did well to organize all of the information into more digestible sections. I was not able to read it in 24-hours, as the name suggests, because of the density of information in some parts of the book. More specifically, the cheat sheet section on the wine regions held me back because it was pretty dull to read compared with other parts of the book. It is more of a reference section than something meant to be read for enjoyment. I did appreciate that the authors wrote from a budget conscious perspective. They noted wines that are often overpriced or where the consumer is paying more for marketing than the drink itself and gave recommendations on finding good value wines.
The book makes wine vocabulary surrounding taste and bottle labels more accessible to the average person. Since reading the book, my daily and weekly wine intake has increased as a result of the wine list the book has inspired me to keep. It has encouraged me to purchase more wine and force the people around me to drink less responsibly so that I may move on quicker to opening and tasting a new bottle. Largely in response to this book, I now have a list on my phone of different wines to try; mostly in consideration of wine regions and varietals. Be forewarned this book does not encourage maintaining a thrifty wine budget or sobriety. Can I blame my recent late afternoon headaches on this book? Likely.
I enjoyed this book very much, so much so that I read it on e-reader and then decided to buy a paperback copy for reference. This book is for those interested in tasting and learning more about wine. If you are already in the know on the basics of wine or happy with a budget bottle of white or red, you will likely find this book superfluous. However, if you are an amateur interested in wine from an experimental perspective, then you will appreciate this book. For myself, the writing style and content will serve as a nice little guide as I continue to search for my favorite varieties and regions, not to mention the vast world of wine pairings to explore. With the realization that the subject matter required to understand wine is infinite, I can find joy and excitement in knowing that the opportunities to taste and find new wines to love is also never ending. This book has helped me better understand what I am looking for in wine and given me the tools to navigate how to find what I want.
jimmymac's review against another edition
3.0
It was great to find some writing that contradicts some of the myths I’ve heard in the past: “you must drink red wine with meat, white with fish” or “the better the bottle the better the wine”. The list of tasting terms is helpful too.
donutcome4me's review against another edition
4.0
Ultimately I'm going to have to taste rather than read about wine, but this is a nice little primer that should serve you (or me, rather) well when looking to buy wines or asking for wine in a restaurant.
eevoss's review against another edition
4.0
This book didn't offer a ton of new information for me, but it was a fast, fun read that I think would be helpful for someone who wasn't familiar with wine. Definitely something I'd like to flip through with friends when tasting something new, or perhaps while trying to find something interesting to pair with a meal.
hopegirl0727's review against another edition
3.0
A good little book. I knew some of the information already but learned some new things, as well. This book would be best to keep on a shelf for reference or tucked into a purse for a grocery shopping trip.