Wine & beverages - France
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Books – Wine & beverages – France

Books 1 to 20 of 20 – France

Reflections of a Wine Merchant  by Neal I. Rosenthal
In the late 1970s, Neal I. Rosenthal set out to learn everything he could about wine. Today, he is one of the most successful importers of traditionally made wines produced by small family owned estates in France and Italy. Rosenthal has immersed himself in the culture of Old World wine production, working closely with his growers for two and sometimes three generations. He is one of the leading exponents of the concept of ‘terroir’ – the notion that a particular vineyward site imparts distinct qualities of bouquet, flavour, and colour to a wine. In “Reflections of a Wine Merchant”, Rosenthal brings us into the cellars, vineyards, and homes of these vignerons, and his delightful stories about his encounters, relationships, and explorations

Paperback,  272 pp,  $23.00. Buy now

When Champagne Became French  by Kolleen M. Guy
Scholars sharply disagree, not only over the nature of French national identity but also over the extent to which diverse and sometimes hostile provincial communities became integrated into the nation. Kolleen M. Guy offers a new perspective on this debate by looking at one of the central elements in French national culture – luxury wine. Focusing on the development of the champagne industry between 1820 and 1920, she draws on concepts from social and cultural history, and shows how champagne helped fuel the revolution in consumption as social groups searched for new ways to develop cohesion and to establish status.

Paperback,  280 pp,  $57.95. Buy now

La Vie En Rose  by Jamie Ivey
In Jamie Ivey’s sequel to the delightful Extremely Pale Rose he finds out whether it is possible to run a successful rose bar in France. France seems to be on the brink of a rose revolution. Red and white wine sales are stagnant but rose sales are booming. If Jamie can find a small bar in a pretty square and chalk up a daily selection of different roses, then a rose bar could be a great success. After a little persuasion, bars in Uzes, Aix en Provence and Nimes agree to help Jamie sell some rose, and by working in these bars, Jamie discovers what the French attitude to rose really is.

,  288 pp,  $39.99. Buy now

Judgment of Paris: California Vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine   by George M. Taber
Told for the first time by the only reporter present, this is the full story of the mythic Paris Tasting of 1976–a blind tasting where a panel of esteemed French judges shocked the industry by choosing unknown California wines over France’s best. 0743297342 This concordance for King’s epic Dark Tower series details character names, place names, and references to each

Paperback,  336 pp,  $22.95. Buy now

Oz and James’s Big Wine Adventure  by Oz Clarke and James May
Presents an introduction to French wine with a travel angle. Illustrated with over 80 landscape photographs and location shots, this work includes useful information on wine-making, wine culture, regions and tips on how to seek out the best the French vineyards have to offer

,  224 pp,  $52.95. Buy now

Champagne: How the World’s Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Ovver War and Hard Times  by Don Kladstrup and Petie Kladstrup
A history of champagne discusses its origins in verdant northern France, identifies such contributors to its development as Louis XIV and Napoleon, and traces how champagne evolved through periods of violence to become a symbol of celebration.

Paperback,   $32.99. Buy now

The Wines of the Northern Rhone  by Jonathan Livingstone-Learmonth
A significant reference work on the wines of the Rhone. Comprehensively discusses wine estates and wine makers of the region. Over 700 pages cover everything from the terroir to the wine making methods. The author spent ten years researching and writing this reference which will be of interest to French wine lovers as well as students and professionals.

Paperback,  704 pp,  $126.95. Buy now

Wines of Bordeaux, Vintages and Tasting Notes 1952-2003  by Clive Coates
An authoritative guide to one of the most important and complex wine regions. Clive Coates gives you the latest information on several hundred estates, which range from large Chateaux to small farmsteads. While there is plenty of information on the most famous Chateaux, it will also point you towards the up-and-coming estates with potential. Detailed information is given on the best vintages, tasting notes on the top wines and which ones give the best value for your money making choosing Bordeaux wines a pleasure. Visually attractive with stunning line-drawing illustrations.

Hardback,  800 pp,  $149.99. Buy now

The Ripening Sun  by Patricia Atkinson
For most people, giving up their job and moving to France to live off the vines is just a delicious dream. In 1990, Patricia Atkinson and her husband moved from Britain to the Dordogne. They bought a house with a few vines attached, planning to earn their living by financial consultancy. But a series of disasters followed: the stock market crash left their small holding as their sole source of income; the first harvest turned to vinegar; and Patricia’s husband returned to Britain, leaving her to salvage their life savings from the vineyards. What follows is a remarkable story. Her tiny 4 hectare plot has become a major estate of 21 hectares, and Clos d’Yvigne wines have won awards and been adopted by wine merchants throughout the world.

Paperback,  400 pp,  $27.95. Buy now

Mon Docteur Le Vin  by Gaston Derys
This volume, first published in French in 1936, extols the many joys and benefits of wine. Wine drinkers should take pleasure in Gaston Derys’s quaint appreciation of the grape, and art lovers can admire Raoul Dufy’s joyful watercolours

,  64 pp,  $27.95. Buy now

A Vineyard in the Dordogne  by Jeremy Josephs
The Ryman family arrived in the Dordogne to follow a dream – to live in France, make excellent wine in a vineyard of their own, and have an elegant chateau as a home. Though they succeeded in their quest, the family had not foreseen the passions and rifts that eventuated.

Paperback,  303 pp,  $21.95. Buy now

The Pleasures of Wine  by Gerald Asher
As wine editor of Gourmet magazine for more than 30 years, Gerald Asher’s unsurpassed knowledge of wine, wineries, and vineyards has earned him a legion of loyal readers. This elegant and enchanting volume collects his writing about wine and all of its pleasures, from vine to table. With an emphasis on the wines of France and California, and also including Spain, Italy, Germany, and Australia, Asher’s witty and personal essays tell the stories of the world’s outstanding vintages and the people and places that produce them. A joy to read, The Pleasures of Wine informs and inspires, offering both an introduction to wine for novices and fresh insights for the connoisseur.

Hardback,  320 pp,  $34.95. Buy now

The French Paradox: Drinking for Health  by Gene Ford
The book that has revolutionised our thinking about drinking wine. This explains how drinking can be good for your health. Includes 200 scientific references on wine and health.

Paperback,  288 pp,  $21.95. Buy now

The Wines of Chablis  by Rosemary George

Paperback,  184 pp,  $66.00. Buy now

Extremely Pale Rose  by Jamie Ivey
Presents an account of the travels of Jamie, his wife Tanya and their friend Peter Swift, as they take up the challenge to find France’s palest rose. They quickly discover that the French attitudes to pale pink wine appear to be changing. But is it too little too late to help them succeed in their quest?

Hardback,  304 pp,  $35.00. Buy now

Judgment of Paris: California Vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine   by George M. Taber
Told for the first time by the only reporter present, this is the full story of the mythic Paris Tasting of 1976–a blind tasting where a panel of esteemed French judges shocked the industry by choosing unknown California wines over France’s best.

Hardback,  327 pp,  $36.95. Buy now

Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse De Lalande  by David Haziot
To make an unforgettable wine – this was the dream and the lifework of Virginie de Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande, who lived in Medoc, France, in the 1700s. She named and presided over what would become one of Bordeaux’s greatest vineyards. This fascinating book tells the story of the vineyard, a tale that is tied to the very origins of the Medoc winemaking tradition. It is intertwined with the legacy of the great family of Pichon-Longueville, tinged with drama and romance. And it is the story of a grand cru that has had a strong female presence since its early days, being run by a number of remarkable women. Told through the eyes of the people who built Pichon-Longueville over centuries. Includes photographs.

,  208 pp,  $59.95. Buy now

The Heart of Bordeaux  by James Lawther and Hugh Johnson
This is the only book that covers the history and current production of the prestigious estates of Bordeaux’s Graves region. This beautiful and informative book reveals both the history and the distinctive characteristics of the 16 wines that comprise the Crus Classes (classified growths) of Bordeaux’s Graves region. Named for the area’s gravelly soil, Graves is known for its fine reds (primarily Cabernet Sauvignon) and whites (Sauvignon blanc and Semillon). With individual chapters on each of the chateaux, including Haut-Brion, Bouscaut, Olivier, Pape Clement, Smith Haut Lafitte, Domaine de Chevalier and 10 others, the book describes in detail the history of the estate and its wine production. Gorgeous photographs of the vineyards, the res

,  224 pp,  $90.00. Buy now

Yquem  by Richard Olney and Pierre Rival
The mere mention of Chateaud Yquem and its signature sweet white wine evokes an image of unparalleled luxury and the luminous golden essence of the finest and rarest of wines. This legend is the result of centuries of painstaking cultivation of the vines, a unique vinification process, and the exceptional site. Yquem has recently undergone a renaissance: the chateau and its gardens have been restored, and its status as the world’s greatest white wine has never been stronger. The rare nature of this fine wine, and its exceptional characteristic flavour, are honoured in this volume, which includes Serena Sutcliffe’s tasting notes from the November 200 Yquem vertical at Sothebys which spanned vintages from 1847 to 2003.

,  168 pp,  $83.95. Buy now

Distinctive Vintages: The Art of Winemaking at Moet Hennessy  by Alain Stella
To appreciate the most brilliant facets of the French wine-making culture, it is necessary to explore three prestigious regions: Cognac, Champagne, and Bordeaux. All three regions are home to one of the grandest wine-making companies in France’s exemplary tradition: Mo& #235 t Hennessy. Cognac is the ancestral birthplace of Hennessy Champagne is home to exemplary houses such as Dom P& #233 rignon, Veuve Clicquot, Mo& #235 t & amp Chandon, Krug, Ruinart, and Mercier and Bordeaux is graced by the magical ch& #226 teau Yquem. The Mo& #235 t Hennessy empire joins these fine labels into a single esteemed family. Distinctive Vintages offers a practical guide to the three regions as well as an explanation of the different vintages and results prod

,  232 pp,  $299.00. Buy now