Smart Mouth - by Jordan Salcito (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A playful and approachable guide to discovering and embracing wine that you love, from the former director of Momofuku's lauded wine program and founder of Ramona wine spritzes"--

Book Synopsis

A smart, witty, and delightfully informative guide to discovering and embracing wine, from the lauded former sommelier of Eleven Madison Park and Momofuku and the founder of Ramona spritzes.

Jordan Salcito was drawn to wine from a young age (her father shared memories of making wine with his father in their basement in their Italian American community), but she didn't encounter great wine until she moved to New York and started working harvests at world-renowned wineries in Burgundy.

Over the years of sommelier exams, wine tastings, and creating award-winning programs at top restaurants, she honed her palate and her own criteria for choosing the perfect bottle for any occasion. Using her personal journey as a template, she demystifies this beloved beverage for everyone, sharing vital information so you can be confident in finding wines that you love, too.

Jordan starts with a framework for tasting wine (where it all begins), then leads you through the wine making process, from the importance of soil quality to the best harvesting practices, explaining how each decision influences the final wine. She offers invaluable advice on navigating restaurant wine lists and cultivating your own tastes so you can find your new favorites. Jordan also teaches you how to define a personalized criteria so you can identify what you love, and then drink it.

Full of practical advice on understanding your beverage arsenal, historical tidbits that make the world of wine make more sense, and illustrations and infographs, Smart Mouth gives you permission to feel smart about wine and then go forth with confidence, drinking what you love. You'll know what wine tools you actually need and what to get instead of Champagne when you're hosting on a budget.

The wine world is large, but figuring out what you love doesn't have to be overwhelming. The only expert in what tastes delicious to you is you. Smart Mouth will help you discover what that is.

Review Quotes

"This book is addressed to every new generation of wine explorer who needs to learn how to appreciate wine by understanding the basic styles from 'Old World' to 'New World.' I know Jordan's talent and knowledge very well, and she is the most talented coach to teach anyone the pleasure of a tasting adventure. Cheers to this approachable new book!"--Chef Daniel Boulud

"The book encapsulates the essence of wine for all of its drinkers. A creative and witty report on all you need to know about wine."--Rajat Parr, James Beard Award-winning author of Secrets of the Sommeliers and wine grower at Phelan Farm

"Smart Mouth is a brilliant wine memoir. Jordan finds herself in the top tier of the wine world and then reinvents it with humor and candor along the way. From the chalky soil of Champagne to the taste of each sip, Smart Mouth is soulful, fresh, and inviting."--Lisa Brennan-Jobs, author of Small Fry

"Engaging, deeply personal, educational, and fun!"--Pascaline Lepeltier, Meilleur Ouvrier de France and sommelier

"Jordan Salcito is one of the few people on Earth who I genuinely enjoy talking to about wine. She takes esoteric, intricate concepts and turns them into approachable, fun, relatable knowledge. Smart Mouth is Jordan in book form--a guide for anyone who loves wine and wants to love it more."--David Chang, chef, restaurateur, and author

"I LOVE this book. Jordan Salcito is a renaissance woman in wine. With intellectual rigor and genuine passion she brings the world of wine to life--making it an accessible, engaging, and joyfully unpretentious masterpiece. Smart Mouth is a refreshing guide for wine lovers at every level. Through stories, insight, and the creation of a personal wine value system, Jordan strikes a balance between authenticity and depth, capturing the journey from vineyard to table to glass with clarity, commitment, and heart."--Shelley Lindgren, co-author of Italian Wine and Wine Director/Founder of A16 Restaurants and Tansy Wines

"Smart Mouth is the textbook for anyone interested in earning a fast-track degree in wine. Whether you're just beginning your journey or are already a seasoned drinker, Jordan Salcito has assembled an engaging and masterful guide that is sure to pay dividends in vinous pleasure long after you've put it down."--Danny Meyer, author of Setting the Table

"Jordan Salcito has written one of the great modern manuals of pleasure. Smart Mouth is as authoritative as it is accessible, both deeply researched and immensely useful, an indispensable resource you'll find yourself reaching for again and again. Best of all, the whole book hums with joy."--Jim Nelson, former editor-in-chief, GQ

About the Author

Jordan Salcito is an award-winning sommelier turned entrepreneur. She founded Ramona, oversaw the beverage programs for David Chang's Momofuku restaurants, worked as a sommelier at Eleven Madison Park, and spent her vacations working at some of the world's most storied wineries, from Comte Liger-Belair, Mugneret-Gibourg, and Domaine Dujac in Burgundy, to Bodega Chacra in Patagonia. She is a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 honoree and a two-time James Beard Award semi-finalist for Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional, and one of a handful of individuals to pass her Master Sommelier "Blind Tasting" Exam on her first try.