It’s no secret that wine is my favorite hobby and my true passion. I’ve been fortunate enough to learn a lot about wine through our travels and wine tastings. While most of my wine knowledge has come from these types of experiences, I also spend a fair amount of time reading books on wine. There are TONS of books that offer great information on wine. You can read more on how to properly taste wine, what temperature you should serve your wine at, what regions are best for growing certain varietals and so much more. It’s an ever-changing topic, so there’s always something new to learn.
Today, I want to share ten different books on wine that would be helpful and informational for almost anyone. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced sommelier, these books contain a wealth of knowledge and provide TONS of good information on wine.
Wine Folly
This is a great reference book to have on hand. It’s great for beginners, and it has amazing graphics. This book covers hundreds of different grape varietals and different wine regions throughout the world. It isn’t really a book you would read front to back, but rather a book you would pull out on a Saturday night while sipping on a glass of wine with friends.
Cork Dork
This is a book that you would read front to back. I’m not a big reader, but I really got sucked into this one. This book follows the journey of Bianca Bosker (the author) as she attempts to learn more about wine from some of the world’s most elite sommeliers. She joins different tasting groups, works in fine-dining restaurants and makes connections with several different people in the wine industry. It’s a really interesting read if you’re wanting to have a bigger insight into the wine industry and what goes on “behind the scenes.”
Wine All the Time
This is another book that I would suggest reading front to back. It’s a great book for beginners, and it covers a lot of the basics of wine. She talks about how to find the best bottle for your budget and occasion, how to read and understand what is written on wine labels, and how to describe what you’re drinking and understand your preferences.
The Wine Bible
This is more of a reference book to have on hand. Even if you think you know a lot about wine, you’ll probably learn something new from this book. The author goes into great detail on different wine regions throughout the world, even some of the lesser known regions/countries like China. There are several maps included and even some bottle recommendations.
Windows on the World
Similar to the book listed above, this is another great reference book to have on your coffee table. This book features maps of each region, best value bottles from each country, hundreds of labels to help you find the right wines, and guided tastings. He also includes some recommended food and wine pairings and answers to frequently asked questions. This is a great book to have on hand if you plan to study for a wine certification course like WSET or Court of Master Sommeliers.
The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste
This wine book is an amazing reference book, and it contains an in-depth study of some of the world’s greatest wine regions. One of the authors, Rajat Parr, is one of the most respected people in the wine industry, and he has travelled to many of these regions numerous times. This book goes into the details on terroir, soils, appellations and the subregions of each major wine region. I would say this book is geared towards a true wine nerd, but anyone could read it. If you only care about the basics of wine, this book may not be for you.
Wine Simple
This is a great book if you’re wanting to know the basics of wine. You could read it front to back or treat it more like a reference book. The author starts by covering the fundamentals of wine including wine tasting basics, the most important regions, varietals, etc. He also teaches you how to take your wine knowledge to the next level and evolve your palette. I’d recommend this book to anyone starting out on their wine journey.
Secrets of the Sommeliers
This book is more geared towards someone who is “wine-obsessed” and a major wine nerd. This book contains interviews with some of the world’s most elite sommeliers and shares some of their stories. It talks more about the wine profession and how to secure hard-to-find bottles at a good price. This book has an emphasis on the wines of Burgundy, so if you’re wanting to learn more about those wines, this might be the book for you.
The World Atlas of Wine
This is another amazing reference book for wine. In this book you’ll find detailed maps for each wine region and several other geological details. It covers the history of wine, descriptions of vines and grape varieties, and wine production methods. It is one of the most detailed wine reference books that I’ve ever seen. This is something that every wine lover should have in their library.
The New Wine Rules
I don’t have this book yet, but it’s next on my list to purchase. It sounds like it’s a book you could read front to back or browse through. This book is meant to be simple and make wine more approachable. It’s basically an abbreviated guide to the basics of wine including drinking, buying and sharing. It’s meant to be the “anti-snob” wine book.
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