General Information Book Reviews
Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology
When the Rivers Ran Red: An Amazing Story of Courage and Triumph in America’s Wine Country
History of Wine Words: An Intoxicating Dictionary of Etymology and Word Histories from the Vineyard, Glass, and Bottle
Heard it Through the Grapevine
Wine Trail Traveler 2009 Wine Journal
Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass
Educating Peter:How Anybody Can Become an (Almost) Instant Wine Expert
Wines & Spirits Looking Behind the Label
Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology
Author: Randall Grahm
Publisher: University of California Press
Price: $34.95/hardcover
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 336
Forward By: Hugh Johnson
Reviewed by Kathy Sullivan at Wine Trail Traveler, LLC
Randall Grahm, author, winemaker and owner of Bonny Doon Vineyard brings a decidedly different type of writing to the wine world. Grahm is a prolific writer and includes in Been Doon So Long many articles that he has composed over a number of years.
Been Doon So Long is divided into several sections including: “The Etiquette (and History) of the Bonny Doon ETIQUETTE, Ficciones/Viterature, and Posey Galore, Taking it Doon-Tune, Enough Rope/Extracts from the Nooseletter, Connerie/Schtick, and Earnest Speeches and Sober Essays.” At the end of the book, a glossary lists numerous familiar and unfamiliar words with brief descriptions.
Grahm uses a variety of writing styles and includes parodies, operas, newsletters and essays in this book. The author has contributed a piece of literature to the wine world that is unique. This book will delight the wine enthusiast and word lover who enjoys wine, parody, humor and music.
Readers may well want to sit down in the evening with a glass of wine and enjoy Grahm’s writing style.
About the Author: Randall Grahm studied at the University of California at Davis and is the owner of the well-known Bonny Doon Vineyard winery.
For a more detailed review, see my full article review at Suite101.
When the Rivers Ran Red: An Amazing Story of Courage and Triumph in America’s Wine Country
Author: Vivienne Sosnowski
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Price: $26.95/hardcover
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 248
Reviewed by Kathy Sullivan at Wine Trail Traveler, LLC
The author, Vivienne Sosnowski, shows readers in detail the affects of Prohibition in the United States on winemakers and vineyard owners. This is an unusual viewpoint and deserves to be recognized. Winemakers and vineyard owners suffered during those awful almost 14 years of Prohibition.
Much of the book is based on interviews that Sosnowski had with those who remember what was like during those trying Prohibition years. Another frequently mentioned resource for Sosnowski was news articles. The author used innumerable resources to validate the information she provides to the reader. Resources Sosnowski used included Sonoma County Wine Library, Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Special Collections at UC Davis and the Library of Congress in Washington.
Reading the dramatic Prologue is necessary as it immediately shocks the reader. The intense prologue for When the Rivers Ran Red is presented so dramatically that the reader can’t wait to get started, quickly turning to the first page. The final sentence of the Prologue, “And now Healdsburg’s citizens headed to bed as they always did in recent times: uneasy, and still struggling to comprehend how Prohibition was changing their town, their economy, and their lives.”
When the Rivers Ran Red is a portrayal of Prohibition from the eyes of the families who were forced to abandon their way of life due to the 18th Amendment. How were these families, who depended upon their wineries and vineyards to provide a living, able to cope? Sosnowski includes the tactics of the Drys and Wets, the political fighting and nastiness (will politicians ever change?) and the Prohibition agents, many of whom were unqualified.
Pros and Cons for Readers
Sosnowski has written a book that is detailed and colorful. Both historians and wine enthusiasts will appreciate learning about Prohibition from the side of the winemakers of Sonoma and Napa Valley. The particular approach the author uses gives readers a fascinating close-up look at winemakers shortly before Prohibition started and includes the years Prohibition was in effect.
While some readers have suggested that the book is too bogged down with details, it must be remembered that this is a nonfiction book and should have relevant details.
At the end of the book 28 pages include chapter notes, bibliography and index.
Author, Vivienne Sosnowski, a photographer has also been an editorial director for numerous newspapers including the San Francisco Examiner and the Washington Examiner.
History of Wine Words: An Intoxicating Dictionary of Etymology and Word Histories from the Vineyard, Glass, and Bottle
Author: Charles Hodgson
Publisher: P2Peak Press
Price: $17.95
Date: March 25, 2009
Pages: 208
Reviewed by: Kathy Sullivan
This 208-page paperback book written by Charles Hodgson explores the origins of wine-related words. Hodgson is an electrical engineer whose passion is discovering the origins of words. Since Charles Hodgson enjoys wine, it must have seemed natural for him to research and write History of Wine Words.
In his introduction, Hodgson writes, “Instead of the bouquet, the rim color or the length of finish on the palate that you might appreciate in a wine, in these wine words I’d like you to look for the personalities of the words.”
With a good size print and the key words in bold, it is easy to quickly find a word and read the etymology of the word. Wine enthusiasts will note that there is a limit to the number of words in this dictionary. Hodgson chose three types of categories related to wine: locations/regions, grape varieties and wine/winemaking terms. Due to the constraints of space, Hodgson chose to include locations and grape varieties that he believes are relatively common. Among the 400 plus entry words, he includes aroma, Burgundy, château, grape, tannins and wine.
I was disappointed in the description of “toast.” Hodgson describes “toast” as drinking to someone’s health. No mention of oak barrel toast is made. However, one will still learn the origin of the word “toast.” Despite this small detail, the book offers a wealth of information that for some may be too trivial but others will delight in.
People who will enjoy reading this book will be most likely be interested in etymology and enjoy wine. The more I perused the book, the more I wanted to discover the origins of wine words with which I am familiar. Those who are experts in the world of wine may find “wine” words missing but may still enjoy discovering the evolution of 400 plus wine words included in the book.
This is the type of book you can pick up, read one word and say, “I didn’t know that.”
About the author: Charles Hodgson’s passion is etymology. He spends his spare time outside of electrical engineering career investigating the history of words.
Hodgson is the author of Global Wording: The Fascinating Story of the Evolution of English and Carnal Knowledge: A Navel Gazer’s Dictionary of Anatomy, Etymology, and Trivia. He also is the creator of Podictionary: The Podcast for Word Lovers.
Heard it Through the Grapevine: The Things You Should Know to Enjoy Wine
Author: Matt Skinner
Photographs: Chris Terry
Publisher: Mitchell Beazley, an imprint of Octopus Books USA
Price: $24.99/hardcover
Date: April 15, 2009
Pages: 176
Reviewed by Kathy Sullivan
The author, Matt Skinner, takes readers on an enjoyable journey through the world of wine by using photographs and introducing concepts in an enjoyable and easy to understand format.
Matt Skinner from Melbourne, Australia is a wine consultant, educator and writer. Prior to writing Heard it Through the Grapevine, Matt wrote Thirsty Work. According to Matt, “With out spending a fortune, or years of study, there are dozens of ways you can improve your wine experience. This book is about making more of an effort: what you put into wines is largely what you can expect back.”
Heard it Through the Grapevine is divided into four main sections. The first section is “Shopping.” According to Matt, “But the real aim of this chapter is to make you a better shopper: to arm you with a little bit of knowledge, confidence, and enthusiasm, which should help take some of the guesswork out of buying wine.” He delves into what to expect when shopping for wine including the pros and cons of shopping for wine in grocery stores, on the Internet, and at independent wine stores or vineyards. Matt easily includes discussions of wine bottles, enclosures and the cost of wine.
The next section, “Drinking”, explains what to look for when tasting wines. Matt makes it easy to understand many of the common descriptors of wine. In addition, he provides information about wine faults, decanting as well how to open a bottle of sparkling wine/Champagne.
The third section is “Eating.” “Food and wine matching combines a little art, a little science, and a lot of trial and error,” according to Matt. Here the reader will discover the many attributes of wine and food and how they affect each other. Included in the discussion are acidity, weight, tannin, and sweetness. Matt concentrates on providing information about matching different types of food with wines and gives the reader the information he/she needs to decide for themselves what to wine to match with what wine..
“Sleeping” is the last section of the book and is about storing wine, wine cellars and investing in wine.
Readers with eye problems may have difficulty reading some of the pages that are overprinted on vibrant colors. The black font on vibrant colors is not easy to ready. Fortunately, this occurs infrequently.
Matt has written a book about wine that is delightful for anyone looking for an easy to understand entrance into the world of wine. With bright colors and a relaxing method of getting his information across, I believe that many readers will enjoy this book.
Wine Trail Traveler 2009 Wine Journal
by Terry Sullivan
pdf file
Price: free
It may be a daunting task to remember the wines you drink. The 2009 Wine Journal is ideal for home use. Each month provides spaces for notes about wines you drink. Print multiple copies of the last two pages for extra entries.
This 27-page journal is a pdf file that will download to your computer. You can view it on your computer and print it. If you view it on your computer, click above a line or in a space and add the information. Note: you can then print the page. You will not be able to save the data you filled into the form. If you decide to print the 2009 Wine Journal use 8 1/2 by 11" paper.
Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass
Author: Natalie MacLean
Publisher: Anchor Canada
Canada
Price: $22.00/paperback
Date: 2007
Pages: 320
Reviewed by Kathy Sullivan
If you haven’t heard about or read Natalie MacLean’s book, Red, White and Drunk All Over, it is a delightful book. This is a non-fiction book that reads as easily as fiction. Throughout the book Natalie MacLean brings her passion for tasting wine and learning about wine from the inside out. The author takes the reader from wineries in Burgundy to California, from Robert Parker to Janis Robinson, to a discussion of wine glasses and the final chapter on matching difficult foods. Each chapter is as informative as it is entertaining. MacLean definitely has a way with words. Her descriptions, quotes and passion bring the book alive. She takes the reader with her in her exploration of the world of wine. I continually felt as if I was with Natalie while she talked with winemakers and wine enthusiasts. With just over 300 pages and available in paperback, this is a great book to read on your lunch break or on the beach.
Educating Peter: How Anybody Can Become an (Almost) Instant Wine Expert
Author: Lettie Teague
Publisher: Scribner, 2007
Pages 256
Reviewed by Kathy Sullivan
Lettie Teague takes it upon herself to educate Peter, a film critic, about the world of wine. With frequent references to films and people in the film industry, this book is entertaining and easy to read. Teagues’ entertaining style is humorous, conversational and factual.
Starting with Peter who has very limited wine experience Teague introduces Peter to wine tasting, six prominent grapes, old world wines and new world wines. Finally, the author takes Peter into the public arena including a wine auction, restaurants and wine shops. At the end of the book is a self-checking quiz to take. Consider taking the quiz before reading Educating Peter and after you read the book.
If you are looking only for factual wine information this may not be the book to choose. Educating Peter: How I Taught a Famous Movie Critic the Difference Between Cabernet and Merlot or How Anybody Can Become an (Almost) Instant Wine Expert is an entertaining wine book that informs with an informal tone.
Wines & Spirits Looking Behind the Label (Paperback)
Author: Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET)
Publisher: Wine & Spirits Education Trust
Pages 100
Reviewed by Terry Sullivan
The 100-page book is a crash course covering classic grape varieties, wines by region, other styles of wines, spirits and liqueurs, and factors that effect style, quality and price. This book is used as a textbook for the Intermediate class for WSET.
The book is a disappointment. It seems that the publishers wanted to create a text with around 100 pages. A tremendous amount of information is presented in the text, however, there is a lack of explanation and development of this information. Some may find the text rather insulting with one page devoted to the wines of the United States. It seems that the authors were unaware of the results of the Judgment of Paris 1976 and again in 2006.The text could easily be 200 – 300 pages with detailed explanations. An alternative is The Oxford Companion to Wine. This is an in-depth encyclopedia on wine for about the same price.
