Wine and Place - by Tim Patterson & John Buechsenstein (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The concept of terroir is one of the most celebrated and controversial subjects in wine today. Most will agree that well-made wine has the capacity to express "somewhereness," a set of consistent aromatics, flavors, or textures that amount to a signature expression of place. But for every advocate there is a skeptic, and for every writer singing praises related to terroir there is a study or a detractor seeking to debunk terroir as a myth. Wine and Place examines terroir using a multitude of voices and multiple points of view--from science to literature, from winemakers to wine critics--seeking not to prove its veracity but to explore its pros, its cons, and its other aspects. This comprehensive anthology lets the reader come to one's own conclusion about terroir"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

The concept of terroir is one of the most celebrated and controversial subjects in wine today. Most will agree that well-made wine has the capacity to express "somewhereness," a set of consistent aromatics, flavors, or textures that amount to a signature expression of place. But for every advocate there is a skeptic, and for every writer singing praises related to terroir there is a study or a detractor seeking to debunk terroir as myth. Wine and Place examines terroir using a multitude of voices and points of view--from winemakers to wine critics, from science to literature--seeking not to prove its veracity but to explore its pros, cons, and other aspects. This comprehensive anthology lets readers come to their own conclusions about terroir.

From the Back Cover

"For me, the construct of terroir has always been the big pumping heartbeat of wine. Unhinged from it, wine would be dead--a hollow shell emotionally and intellectually. And yet do any of us spend enough time thinking about terroir, the very lifeblood of what we love? With Wine and Place, Tim Patterson and John Buechsenstein have given us a great gift--a fantastic book that explains why wine moves us and reminds us why wine has meaning. I could not put this book down."--Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible and editor of WineSpeed

"Wine's magic appears to be closely tied to its place of birth. In this tasty volume, the subject inspires passionate writing from some of the best of our wine writers."--Kermit Lynch, author of Adventures on the Wine Route: A Wine Buyer's Tour of France

"Patterson and Buechsenstein's book presents a detailed compilation of some of the finest writing on terroir, the concept that's at the heart of fine wine. As such, it's a vital distillation of thinking on this important topic, thoughtfully arranged and interestingly presented. It's an important contribution to the wine literature."--Jamie Goode, author of I Taste Red: The Science of Tasting Wine

"What a bonus to find a book about the taste of place compiled by two actual winemakers--Buechsenstein, an accomplished professional, and Patterson, a passionate amateur--who made wines from scores of different terroirs in their careers. This scholarly and often witty compilation of viewpoints is the best there is."--Jim Gordon, editor of Wines & Vines
"Where something comes from is always intriguing. With wine, all the more so. Finding words to describe all that goes into that elusive bugaboo, terroir, is tough. Patterson and Buechenstein have worked every angle to help us understand--and hey, any book that includes magma is worth one's time. Site matters."--Virginie Boone, contributing editor for Wine Enthusiast
"I am so sad that I did not have hours and days and years to spend with Tim Patterson, talking about the subject dearest to us both, the mysterious, vexatious question of terroir. Thankfully, he--along with coauthor John Buechsenstein--has left us Wine and Place. This is a must-have volume for both terroirists and counter-terroirists alike, curious to understand how a wine might most profoundly express itself."--Randall Grahm, author of Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology

"In their chosen roles as compilers and contrarians, the experts behind Wine and Place have initiated a crucial dialogue about terroir. They have assembled, with erudition and wit, the perspectives of scholars, journalists, and winemakers, and they have created fruitful and engaging juxtapositions as to the definition, the construction, the meaning, the analysis, and the power of terroir. Everyone will learn something new, from wine aficionados to scientists to students of wine history and culture."--Amy Trubek, author of The Taste of Place: A Cultural Journey into Terroir

Review Quotes

"...if you're looking to read a wide and diverse body of text about what terroir is and where it comes from, you'll find few books on par with this one." -- "Edible East Bay"

"I cannot emphasize enough how important this book has been to me and should be to the fine-wine community. It should be required reading for all students of vine and wine." -- Brian Croser -- "JancisRobinson.com"

"This anthology shares characteristics with fine wines: complex, nuanced, and well-balanced. . . . If you want a whirlwind exploration of a vast, complex topic, buy this book: there's nothing else out there like it."-- "EuropeNow"

"This book is essential for your library if you are at all serious about wine. As the authors advise, use it as a reference book when you need information about a topic or just a few pithy quotes. The authors have performed a real service cataloging and connecting a well-selected multitude of writings and presentations about terroir."-- "Journal of Wine Economics"

About the Author

Tim Patterson was an award-winning home winemaker and author of several books including Home Winemaking for Dummies and Concannon: The First One Hundred and Twenty-five Years. He was also a columnist for Wines & Vines and a contributor to numerous books, magazines, and websites.

John Buechsenstein is a winemaker and wine educator. He is past president of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and coauthor of the Standardized System of Wine Aroma Terminology, among other titles.