Steven Kolpan

A decent introduction to the world of wine, WineWise covers all the basics. Wine is introduced by variety, then the major wine producing areas are covered individually. The best part of he discuss for newbies will be the "how to interpret the label" sections. The authors wrap up with chapters on wine-food pairing, interpreting wine lists, and recommendations for bargain and mid-priced wines.

My only complaint about the books is that the discussion is pretty favorable all the way around. The authors concentrate on good wines and good producers, and at times, it seems like they're trying not to offend anyone. This doesn't reduce the value of their advice - they're happy to tell us about the good stuff - but one expects a little snarkiness in wine writing.

Recommended for those wanting to learn about wine or try wines from a new area or of a new type.… (altro)