Reading Between the Wines, with a New Preface - by Terry Theise (Paperback)

About the Book

"There is only one reason that the American wine enthusiast is now completely enamored with German and Austrian wines: Terry Theise! This glorious book not only brilliantly showcases one man's love affair with all the beauties that can flow from the bottle, it definitively makes the case for the wines that are the most superbly suited to be served with food."--Chef Charlie Trotter
"Terry Theise's humane, subtle and engaging book illustrates the superiority of wisdom to mere knowledge. Read and be richer."--Andrew Jefford, columnist for "Decanter" and "The World of Fine Wine"
"Impassioned, insistent, and inimitable, Terry Theise is America's foremost wine philosopher. Lots of writers can explain the "what" of wine. Terry, uniquely, inspires us with the 'why'. I devoured "Reading Between the Wines"; it's the single best book I've ever read on why wine matters."--Karen MacNeil, author of "The Wine Bible"
"If you think you know something about wine, try Terry Theise's "Reading Between the Wines" because until you do, you haven't really started."--Tom Stevenson, author of "Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia"

Book Synopsis

Acclaimed importer and wine guru Terry Theise, long known for his top-notch portfolio and his illustrious writing, now offers this opinionated, idiosyncratic, and beautifully written testament to wine. What constitutes beauty in wine, and how do we appreciate it? What role does wine play in a soulful, sensual life? Can wines of place survive in a world of globalized styles and 100-point scoring systems? In his highly approachable style, Theise describes how wine can be a portal to aesthetic, emotional, even mystical experience-and he frankly asserts that these experiences are most likely to be inspired by wines from artisan producers.

From the Back Cover

"There is only one reason that the American wine enthusiast is now completely enamored with German and Austrian wines: Terry Theise! This glorious book not only brilliantly showcases one man's love affair with all the beauties that can flow from the bottle, it definitively makes the case for the wines that are the most superbly suited to be served with food."--Chef Charlie Trotter

"Terry Theise's humane, subtle and engaging book illustrates the superiority of wisdom to mere knowledge. Read and be richer."--Andrew Jefford, columnist for Decanter and The World of Fine Wine

"Impassioned, insistent, and inimitable, Terry Theise is America's foremost wine philosopher. Lots of writers can explain the "what" of wine. Terry, uniquely, inspires us with the 'why'. I devoured Reading Between the Wines; it's the single best book I've ever read on why wine matters."--Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible

"If you think you know something about wine, try Terry Theise's Reading Between the Wines because until you do, you haven't really started."--Tom Stevenson, author of Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia

"I read it almost in one gulp: he writes beautifully, uninhibitedly . . . almost, one might say, drunkenly . . . a man after my own heart."--Hugh Johnson

Review Quotes

"Reading Between the Wines is less about [Theise's] discoveries and his adventures with growers than it is about wine itself. How should wine be tasted? How should it be described? Appreciated? Mr. Theise is articulate and impassioned on such topics. . . . Even at his most intransigent, he remains himself quite charming, especially when he readily admits that his judgments have not always been right, something wine writers and wine merchants rarely do."-- "Wall Street Journal"

"A broad, insistent and eloquent meditation on wine in general and why it matters. 'Passion' is one of the world's most overused words, 'commonsense" is unfortunately not, but both apply equally here. . . . Not many wine books make you think, or laugh out loud; this does both."-- "Decanter"

"A consequential book, rich in ideas and powerful in feeling."-- "New York Times"

"A terrific read, between the wines, so to speak, and one of the books of the season."-- "JancisRobinson.com"

"A wine book that's so stunning, your glass will never look the same."-- "Serious Eats"

"As thoughtful of a rumination on wine and the beauty of being human, in all of our fragility, that you are ever likely to find in a wine book or any book for that matter."-- "Forbes"

"For someone with a true passion for wine, Theise's book is an affirmation and a joy to read."-- "San Jose Mercury News"

"For years, importer Terry Theise has written catalogs that are impassioned manifestos for the sort of wines he admires, notably grower Champagnes and German rieslings. This is his first book, and it packs all that passion and opinion into a wide-ranging look at the beauty and aesthetics of wine"-- "Seattle Times"

"In this inspiring and superbly written book, acclaimed importer Terry Theise muses on what constitutes beauty in wine and how to best appreciate it. Wine connoisseurs will savor his enthusiasm for answering the question, Why does wine matter?"-- "Fine Cooking"

"Like most of the best wine writing, Terry Thiese's new Reading between the Wines is a small, personal book that can be read in an evening with a bottle alongside. . . . Thiese is a true wine writer, not a compiler of notes and numbers, so he can extol the character and nuances of a wine in a way that the oenophile can really appreciate."-- "Bloomberg News"

"Might contain the year's most literate wine writing. Theise, well-known for his lyrical wordsmithing, avoids the usual memoir take and instead pens a rhapsody to the wines he loves, and to the very beauty of wine itself."-- "San Francisco Chronicle"

"Should be required reading for wine aficionados and also for newcomers who might not yet have put voice to their appetites for new and interesting wines. "-- "Washington Post"

"Terry Theise isn't just an acclaimed importer of Teutonic wines and French Champagnes. He's a philosopher, a dreamer and an inspiring writer whose catalogs have a following among lovers of the written word. . . . Reading Between the Wines is a chance to wallow in Theise's delicious world, a place in which the love of wine is both cerebral and profoundly intimate."-- "The Oregonian"

"The book is a compelling read. . . . It draws you in as a thinker, makes you wonder and even compels you to argue back at times."-- "The Kitchn"

"The book is meandering, heartfelt, cogent. Ideas froth over fancifully, artfully, unheard of in our climate of sucking up to celebrity or the deity of the next wine guide."-- "Feiring Line"

"The most uplifting wine book of the year is also one of the shortest, Terry Theise's heartfelt ode to the liquid to which he has devoted his professional life, Reading between the Wines. . . . The book's opinions may sometimes be cranky but it is a wonderful antidote to the points-and-lifestyle wine coverage that predominates in the U.S."-- "Financial Times"

"Theise first demystifies how to experience wine, then remystifies it by reinstating pleasure as what it's all about." STARRED REVIEW-- "Library Journal"

"Wise and funny, committed and sincere, but never dogmatic. . . .A passionate defense of the importance of wine."-- "World of Fine Wine"

About the Author

Terry Theise, winner of the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional, is an importer of boutique wines from Germany, Austria, and Champagne. His articles have appeared in The World of Fine Wine magazine. He was Wine & Spirits magazine's Man of the Year in 2001 and Food and Wine magazine's Importer of the Year in 2006.