Kathryn, my lovely wife, sometimes gives me a hard time about the pile of books I have collected over the years that sit by my bed side. She thinks that rather than buy these books, I should better utilize the libraries we fund so generously here in Berkeley (a topic for another entry) and she decries the sheer numbers of wine books we have. I need your help. Am I being unreasonable in my obsessions? Collecting and reading so many wine books? Or is this a realistic number of wine books a reasonable wine lover and winemaker would have?
Adventure on the Wine Route, by Kermit Lynch. This is a tale of Kermit’s travels throughout the wine regions of France in search of the best wine to import. Kermit Lynch, besides being our favorite local wine merchant for the last 25 years, is formidable figure in the wine world. He is also one of the few Americans to receive France’s highest honor: the Légion d’honneur. This was in recognition of his influence in bringing about some changes for the better in French wine making. He is also one of the first importers to start shipping wine in refrigerated containers. Some of his stories are funny and some are sad (buying wine in Burgundy was no picnic 20 years ago.) Once we got turned on to Chevillon’s Nuits St Georges, there was no turning back. A must read.
Romanee Conti by Richard Olney
What can I say that hasn’t been already said about DRC or Olney? Just read Olney’s book and you’ll understand what all the fuss is about. Olney’s description of the Vendanges alone is well worth the book’s price. The description of the Pinot Noir grapes, the vineyards and the wine making methodologies of the most celebrated domain of Burgundy are pure poetry; the description of the food procession during the harvest, mouthwatering.
The Botanist and the Vintner by Christy Campbell
About how a Texan, T.V. Munson, saved the French wine industry, no really! In 1869 France, as well as most of Europe was devastated by the Phyloxra bug. You see this habit of saving France started way earlier than you think. The book reads as good as any mystery novel.
Knowing and Making Wine, by Emile Peynaud. A very technical book that is at times a bit dated, but never the less a superb, thorough enology manual by one of the most renowned wine educator in France. A classic.
I could go on….
Winery Technology and Operations by Yair Margalit
The House of Mondavi by Julia Flynn Siler
The Heartbreak Grape by Marq De Villiers
Techniques in Home Winemaking by Daniel Pambianchi
The Way to Make Wine Nicely written by our neighbor and fellow winemaker Sheridan Warwick
Vineyard Simple How To Build And Maintain Your Own Small Vineyard by Tom Powers
The Grape Grower by Lon Rombough
Pacific Pinot Noir by John Winthrop Haeger
What’s your vote? Overboard or reasonable? Any titles I have forgotten that you recommend? Please feel free to comment.
November 9, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Great blog and I like your reading choices! I’d love to hear your suggestions for wine and food pairings for my online matching tool:
http://www.nataliemaclean.com/matcher
Cheers,
Natalie
http://www.nataliemaclean.com
Editor of Nat Decants Free Wine Newsletter
Author of Red, White and Drunk All Over
November 9, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Nice list – I have the Winery Technology and Operations by Yair Margalit. I only read through the first 2 chapters but have not been back since then, I shall be revisiting again now that you mention it here.
Nice blog!
November 9, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Natalie,
Thanks for the nice comments. Your book is on my wish list! I have to work harder on my wife, maybe she will give me a bigger book budget.
Uzi
November 9, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Thanks for the comments, online book review!
Margalit’s book has been a very good technical reference book. It comes in very handy when you need to understand some of the chemistry in details, which is also the part that makes it a very good bedside table book, no disrespect to my fellow countryman, Mr. Margalit, but it is a sure fire way for me to fall asleep, pronto!
Uzi
November 11, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I’d add one of the best wine books I’ve read (and I read it recently so it’s fresh on my mind), “The Billionaire’s Vinegar” about the highest price paid at auction for a single 750ml bottle of wine supposedly belonging to Thomas Jefferson. A very interesting and quick read…
November 11, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Good one, thanks for adding it! I’ll add to my birthday wish-list.
Kathryn, are you reading this? the list is getting bigger, not shorter.
January 15, 2009 at 2:51 pm
[…] to my in-laws, Kathryn and the Berkeley Public Library. (By the way, re: Kathryn’s and my friendly disagreement, I agreed to only purchase books I consider as reference books, or a classic must haves, and use […]
March 4, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Let us not forget Judgement of Paris by George Tabor. A factual account of the blind tasting with historical notes about Californa winemakers Mike Girgich, Mondavi etc.
March 4, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Thanks for the addition! Better than the movie too!