Red Wine - by Kevin Zraly & Mike Desimone & Jeff Jenssen (Hardcover)

About the Book

This definitive compendium tells the story of red wine through the world's 50 essential varieties and styles, from Agiorgitiko to Zinfandel. The introduction explains how red wine is made and how the winemaking process affects taste, and each chapter profiles a variety or style with comprehensive at-a-glance information covering tasting notes, food pairings, and recommended wines from bargains to splurges. Companion essays detail origins, typical characteristics, popularity, and other notable countries that produce each grape or style. Winemakers appear in their own words alongside gorgeous photography that brings red wine to life.

Book Synopsis

Winner of the Gourmand International Award for Best Drinks Book!

The definitive compendium for all lovers of red wine, written by bestselling authors Kevin Zraly and the World Wine Guys.

Award-winning authors Kevin Zraly and the World Wine Guys tell the story of red wine, grape by grape, revealing the vast world of the 50 essential varieties and styles--from Agiorgitiko to Zinfandel--that you should know. All your favorites are here: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, and Syrah, covered in fascinating, eye-opening detail. You'll also discover little-known gems, such as Amarone, Baco Noir, Xinomavro, and Zweigelt. The helpful introduction explains how red wine grapes evolved and spread, how red wine is made, and how the winemaking process influences the taste of the final wine. Peppered with engaging facts and figures, each chapter profiles one variety or style, featuring comprehensive at-a-glance information that provides color and tasting notes, what to expect in the glass, suggested food pairings, and recommended wines at a variety of price points from bargain to splurge. In-depth essays offer capsule histories of each grape or style, including their origins, typical characteristics, popularity, and other notable countries that produce them. Winemakers and other industry experts appear in their own words alongside gorgeous photography that brings the regions, vineyards, grapes, and wines to vivid life.

Review Quotes

"This new, definitive resource for all things red wine covers 50 essential varieties and styles from around the world, plus facts about wine that everyone deserves to know... perfect for wine newbies and experts alike." -- Marie Claire

"Red Wine isn't a book made to collect dust on your shelf, it's a book made to be used. ... brief and engaging narratives . . . make the book super user-friendly and a must-check before running out to the wine store." -- HuffPost

"Red Wine is, simply stated, an exceptional book." -- Wineormous

"With eye-catching photography and engaging anecdotes from winemakers the world over, Red Wine is . . . a great, easy-to-read resource with tasting notes, food pairings and more . . . which makes it a great gift for the novice and geek alike."--Wine Enthusiast

"This user-friendly guide is organized by grape rather than region. All the better for big Cabernet Sauvignon fans read up on global offerings and the authors' specific wine suggestions ranging from bargain options to special occasion options for each varietal. Bundle this book with a nice bottle of red wine for the oenophile in your life. It'll be a hit. Oh, and Zraly is the founder of Windows on the World Wine School; DeSimone and Jenssen are the World Wine Guys--wine, spirits, food and travel writers, educators and hosts. The combined expertise of the three wine minds behind this guide is equal to almost a century's worth of wine education and experience." -- Forbes.com

"It's a great introductory book for a new wine lover -- the chapters are short and punchy but thorough--and also a very solid reference text for true experts as well." -- Santa Barbara Independent

About the Author

Kevin Zraly is the founder and teacher of the Windows on the World Wine School which ran for over 40 years, graduating 25,000 happy students. He still teaches wine classes both live and virtual. Zraly is the youngest person to be honored with a James Beard Lifetime Award; his other honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the European Wine Council and the James Beard Award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year. He has been featured in The New York Times, People, The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek, and many other publications. He is also the editor of the highly acclaimed The Ultimate Wine Companion.

Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, the World Wine Guys, are wine, spirits, food, and travel writers, educators, and hosts. They are the entertaining and lifestyle editors at Wine Enthusiast magazine, and their articles and photographs have appeared in numerous publications. They are the authors of Wines of the Southern Hemisphere: The Complete Guide (Sterling), which won the Gourmand International Award for Best Wine Book, and Wines of California (Sterling). The duo are members of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, the Society of Wine Educators, and the James Beard Foundation. They have received the prestigious Golden Pen Award for food, wine, and travel journalism and have been inducted into the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin at the Château du Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy. Visit them at worldwineguys.com.