Paperback
910 pages
$29.95
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It's a pretty gutsy move to call your book The Wine Bible. Karen MacNeil completed this monumental endeavour after labouring for 10 years or so, naming the world's best wines, deciding what wine producing countries to include, and more. The result is an informative, authoritative and entertaining 'bible' that belongs on every wine drinker's bookshelf.
A wine educator, wine program director at Napa's Culinary Institute of America, consultant and wine writer (phew), the eminently qualified MacNeil was wooed by a major publisher to create The Wine Bible. Refreshingly modest, MacNeil passes on plenty of credit to sources, producers and fellow wine scribes including Vancouver's Anthony Gismondi. The result is a remarkably easy-reading 910 pages, just the ticket for everyone from novices looking to get the best bang for their wine buck to enthusiasts with a thirst for more.
You can jump in anywhere and find informative anecdotes or get in-depth facts on myriad topics but do read the introductory sections on "mastering" wine. This lead-in has all the basics you'll need to get the most out of The Wine Bible or out of your next glass of wine. Find out where it all began, technical stuff like how grapes are grown, how they're made into wine and "how to taste like a professional". Most pages have a box with cool stuff in it like 'legs', hang time and the 'Twelve Truths Wine Pros Know'. Good too are the excellent maps, label illustrations and MacNeil's breezy, approachable style.
I judge any wine reference book on it's Canadian content and although we get just seven pages, it's fair, accurate and her wine picks are bang on.
Reviewed by Judith Lane, wine writer |
