The Auswine Forum

I read the review on here the other day about Campbell Mattinson's book and it got me thinking whether there are any good books anyone would recommend for someone who is interested in learning about wine, from a fairly basic starting point. I mean, I have drunk a lot of wine and know some of the basics about grape growing, how wine is made and so on, but I am really not even at an intermediate level of knowledge. Preferably nothing toooooo technical to start with, I will need to build up to that.

Cheers
Scott

This is ok
http://www.amazon.com/The-University-Wi ... 0932664695

If you come to an Offline I can bring it in for you to borrow, and I have a few others. (The Vintners Art, The Science of Wine etc)

Thanks Dave, if appreciate that. Very keen to make the next offline so sounds like a plan.

I think both the Campbell Mattinson books are an excellent read. The Wine Hunter is an amazing insight into the early days of the Hunter Valley region with some legendary names popping up. It also provides an interesting description of the Sydney wine drinking scene in the early days especially up around the Cross. The Why the French Hate Us should be mandatory reading for any forumite: embrace your pointy-headedness

Billionaires vinegar
Adventures on the wine route by kermit lynch

Must reads

Why the French Hate Us was a great read.
I loved the story of Chris Ringland's fax machine going berserk in the wee hours for orders following RPJ's 100 points for his 98 Three Rivers Shiraz.
Or the one about Maynard James Keenan paying 64K for a 98 imperial of Grange over the phone.
I found Campbell Mattinson's writing style quite entertaining and I appreciated his honesty.

Occasional poster Tyson Stelzer has written some excellent books on Champagne that cover not just the labels but issues wine nerds such as many of us would be interested in.

Have a read of Philip White's blog:- http://drinkster.blogspot.com/

Agreed, Philip White's blog is well worth reading.

I enjoyed reading through Oz Clarke & Margaret Rand's "Grapes & Wines" when I was first learning about wine. It has a lot of good, basic information.

I also like Andrew Jefford's "The New France", and "The Winemaker's Dance: Exploring terroir in the Napa Valley" by Jonathan Swinchatt & David G Howell. I'd add "The Future Makers" by Max Allen too.

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If you're interested in Burgundy...

Cote D'Or by Clive Coates....or the more recent version Wines of Burgundy by Clive Coates..

They're both good but they've replaced some information in Cote D'Or w/ Tasting notes in the newer book which you may or may not like...and even then, it only goes to 2008...

A new book just out.
Jura Wine by Wink Lorch
Read it with a bottle of Dom. Macle from Gavin!

Polymer wrote:If you're interested in Burgundy...

Cote D'Or by Clive Coates....or the more recent version Wines of Burgundy by Clive Coates..

They're both good but they've replaced some information in Cote D'Or w/ Tasting notes in the newer book which you may or may not like...and even then, it only goes to 2008...

I have Cote d'Or, but I find him a bit pompous at times...

Mike Hawkins wrote:

Polymer wrote:If you're interested in Burgundy...

Cote D'Or by Clive Coates....or the more recent version Wines of Burgundy by Clive Coates..

They're both good but they've replaced some information in Cote D'Or w/ Tasting notes in the newer book which you may or may not like...and even then, it only goes to 2008...

I have Cote d'Or, but I find him a bit pompous at times...

Well that puts him along with everyone else that covers Burgundy

Polymer wrote:

Mike Hawkins wrote:

Polymer wrote:If you're interested in Burgundy...

Cote D'Or by Clive Coates....or the more recent version Wines of Burgundy by Clive Coates..

They're both good but they've replaced some information in Cote D'Or w/ Tasting notes in the newer book which you may or may not like...and even then, it only goes to 2008...

I have Cote d'Or, but I find him a bit pompous at times...

Well that puts him along with everyone else that covers Burgundy

Good point !

Depending on your level of geekiness I'd also include
Wine Wars by Mike Veseth

Wine Bible by Karen McNeil

Vino Italiano by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch

Understanding Wine Technology by David Bird

Secrets of the Sommeliers by Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay

Taste Buds and Molecules by Francois Chartier

and three I've ordered on recommendations but not received
Tasting and Grading Wine by - Clive Michelsen
Wine Tasting by Micheal Broadbent
Wine by Style by Fiona Beckett

If you want to have a look at a great piece of work done by J.C. Viens over at grandepassione.com check this out http://bit.ly/NyNPYw