Wine For Dummies

By providing the context in which to begin exploring wine, Wine for Dummies can easily become the send-off for a lifelong education. McCarthy and Mulligan deflate many of the wine snob's attitudes; they assure us that most wine sold today is "good wine," and that any further distinctions made about wine are ultimately subjective. The practical, jovial mentoring the authors provide encourages readers to chart their own course toward drinking great wine (although the authors naturally recommend dozens of their own favorites along the way). In later chapters, McCarthy and Mulligan delve into more serious topics such as investing in and cellaring wine. Even these discussions seem appropriate, given that you'll probably find the allure of wine growing as its mystery subsides to the force of this superb introductory text. --Todd Gehman

The writing is clear and concise. The authors do not take a snobby attitude towards tasting; throughout the book, they emphasize that good wine is primarily determined by personal choice. They give you the tools to learn to taste and enjoy wine.

I read at an average rate. In about 2 hours, I was able to talk intelligently about the wine making process, understand how to taste wines, and navigate around wine shops. This book should be read over a period of several weeks so that you can actually practice what you've read. The only drawback with this book is that there are no colorful pictures and they weren't very explicit about which flavors to concentrate on while drinking different wine varieties.

Overall, this book is excellent for beginners. After reading the first few chapters, you'll go from beginner to an intermediate wine buff. I even purhased several of these books for my friends as Christmas gifts!


the best overall book on wine I've read   May 25, 2001
M. H. Bayliss
83 out of 90 found this review helpful

I'm not an expert oeneophile (in fact, I can't even spell it), but I am an interested amateur who has read about 5 basic books on wine ranging from Parkers famous one to lesser known tomes (the Windows on the World one is good too). I think this dummies book offers the least pretentious and most concise overall guide to wine. It does cover a lot of ground which is why the same authors have separate books on white and red wines. On the bright side, you'll learn about every major grape variety and region in the wine world and how to find great bargains. I really enjoyed the tone and attitude -- the authors clearly know a lot, but make it clear that you don't have to be a wine snob to really enjoy wine.


A Must-Have reference book   October 14, 2001
M. Smith (Pennsylvania, United States)
34 out of 34 found this review helpful

I was always intimdated by the thought of ordering and buying wine. Wine for Dummies opened the door to a whole new world of experiences. This book helped me understand the different types, vintages, and tastes of wine. It gives clear information and explanations, and answers most any question you could have on the subject of wines. With this book as your guide, you will have no problem navigating a wine list in a restaurant, or the aisles of your local wine shop. There is information on pairing wine and food, how to serve wine, and how to store it. It is the most complete book on wine that I have read to date.

I found that it was easiest to concentrate on one section at a time, rather than to try to read and understand everything at once. Also, it was kind of fun reading one section, then trying some of the wines suggested by the authors, or simply trying the different kinds of wine in the section. The authors really know their wines.

This book will easily become the one you refer to most. It is concise, well-organized and easy to follow.


Finally! A book on WHY wine snobs DO some of that stuff!   January 9, 1997
31 out of 32 found this review helpful

If your idea of a good wine means that it doesn't have ascrew top, but you genuinely want to learn more about thecorked types, this is the book for you! This books takes much of the mystery out of WHY wine snobs do some of that silly looking stuff while at the same time pointing out which of those things are worth the effort and which aren't.

Additionally, it turned out to be an invaluable reference for starting to look at the shelves in the local liquor store. The time prior to reading this book, I picked wines based on who had the prettiest label - while I did get one really good wine out of that batch, it wasn't a very dependable method. The next trip, I took a list I had made from this book and have been MUCH happier with the results.

In the end, this is an excellent reference book and a does a great job of demystifying the rites and ritual of wine. I highly recommend it!


A Great Entry into the World of Wine   October 26, 2000
Lisa Shea
32 out of 34 found this review helpful

Wine can be mystifying. There are countless names of wines, some indicating the grape used, some the place, some both. A Chardonnay is a wine made from that grape, unless it's being used in a region of France, in which case it's called Chablis. Some wine is ready to drink when you buy it, but others need 10-20 years of aging. The bottle doesn't have a "drink by" date on it! For people looking to travel this confusing landscape, and even for long-time drinkers who wish to learn more, Wine for Dummies is a fascinating way to delve into the world of wine.

What other manual has 5th Wave cartoons scattered throughout it, and sections named "Pinot Envy"? The tone of the manual is lighthearted but very informative. It starts with the basics of wine - what is a red, white, and rose wine, and a quick description of how each is made. It goes into tasting wine - how to best get the flavors out of a wine, and how to describe the wine to others in a way they might understand.

Next the various terms are discussed - blending, filtering, and so on. Grapes are described, with descriptions of how they have different flavors depending on where they are planted. Notes describe how organic farming, sulfites, and tannins are involved in grape-growing.

One section goes in depth into the whole wine-naming dilemma, describing various place names and what grapes are used there. Another section goes step-by-step through the normal process of ordering wine in a restaurant, and dealing with the waiter's presentation.

The language of labels is described, from Californian labels where usually the grape name and winery name are important, to European wines where typically the location and year are prominent. Varieties of labels are described, with notes on what to watch for.

The manual goes into each wine making region - France, Italy, Spain, the US, and many others - describing what wines are typical there, what makes the region unique, what to watch for. A special section on Champagne goes over the methode champenoise and how similar methods are used in many countries. Good Champagnes to try in the various styles are listed out for reference.

In general, Wine for Dummies covers just about any questions a newcomer to wine would have, and does so in an easy to understand and fun manner. I'd highly recommend this to all wine newbies!