The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia : A Comprehensive Reference Guide to the Wines of the World (EYEWITNESS TRAV)

Authoritative, international and up-to-date, "The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopaedia" is arranged geographically and combines maps and photographs with information on all wine-growing areas, profiles of distinguished producers and assessments of individual wines. The book's easy-reference style and wealth of practical advice make it an unrivalled source of information for all lovers of wine - from the occasional drinker to the connoisseur. Taking each wine-making country in turn, Tom Stevenson examines its viticultural history, its wine-producing regions and the current reputation of its wines. He analyzes the factors affecting the taste and quality of each region's wines - location, aspect, soil, microclimates, grape varieties and methods of viticulture and vinification -before assessing its appellations, the individual wine producers (chateaux or wineries) and, of course, the wines themselves. Tom Stevenson provides practical guidelines on wine tasting, while an "author's choice" chart at the end of each section lists the very best wines. A star-rating system identifies the finest producers and highlights those offering the best value. A "taste chart" explains how to identify the flavours in a wine and a "troubleshooter's guide" spots common wine faults.