With 15 shopping days until Christmas, there is still time to consider gifts for your favorite wine enthusiast. Do you know a wine enthusiast who enjoys cooking? There are several books on the market and each vary with what they offer. I came across “The Gourmet’s Guide to Cooking with Wine” by Alison Boteler, published in September 2008.

Boteler’s introduction begins with a discussion of wines and names. One of the best parts is a description of wines that includes flavors, where grown and a relevant comment about the wine. Wines also include some of the more unusual wines such as Retsina, Sake, and Kosher wines. These five or six pages would make a perfect chart for your kitchen. Another aspect I enjoyed discovering in the Introduction is a chart for Alcohol-Burn-off. This is very handy for those who want to limit the effects of alcohol but enjoy the flavors the addition of wine adds to dishes.

Recipes take up much of the book with a number of colorful pictures. Sections are divided into Appetizers and Soups, Salad Dressings and Salads, The Great European Classics, Beef-Veal- Pork- Lamb, Poultry, Seafood, Pasta, Side Dishes, Brunch Dishes and Desserts. There is one recipe per page and at the bottom of each recipe page preparation time, cooking time and yield are noted. This would be a delightful book to have on my shelf.

Of course, you can always check out the wine with recipe section on Wine Trail Traveler.

What are some of your favorite wine related books that a wine enthusiast might enjoy?