Re: Newbie Requesting Info

Hi John,

About two months ago I was listening to a radio station and there was a guest speaker on promoting their book; Clueless About Wine by Kitowski and Klemm. I had made a lot of my own wine but was 'clueless' about many of the wines one sees in the stores both vintage and other. I've read it and continually open it up to find something new and informative.

Getting less clueless as the weeks go on,

Larry Stumpf, S. Ontario, Canada

You've already gotten a couple of good suggestions. Here are some that I found helpful.

In simple, beginner's terms, one commonly available book that is easy to read and understand is "Wine for Dummies." It's in the same vein as the now familiar computer guides. It's good generic information on regions around the world, written in an accessible and understandable style.

My favorite for years has been Hugh Johnson's pocket wine guide. Johnson has written some coffee table books about wine, but his pocket guide is just that. It fits in a shirt pocket (and won't rip it out!). The book is organized by country and lets you take it out to dinner to help deciphering a wine list. You'll find brief guidance on the countries and regions and then a concise listing of labels with vintage recommendations. You'll find it invaluable as a beginner, and if you're like me, you'll still rely on it years from now when you've become more knowledgeable. The book is updated annually, relatively inexpensive and a good resource.

Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (ret) ***"When Thunder Rolled: *** An F-105 Pilot Over N. Vietnam" *** from Smithsonian Books ISBN: 1588341038

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com (J Derby) asks.....

And after you've hit a couple websites and picked up one of the many recommendations here, including Wine for Dummies (funny and a good start for about the price of a good bottle), then the next advice is.......Pick a price point your budget is comfortable with and buy!

Sampling is the most staying education you can have. It's forever. And if you back it up with notes "that make sense to you", notes that stand the test of a months time. Notes that you refer back to and they mean something "to you". IOW, avoid all the esoteric BS that can overwhelm a new wine nut, you'll do OK. Get to work on developing your own styles and likenesses.

Personally, while most Starbucks is a "decent" cup of coffee, it always reminds me of drinking a fresh cut lawn, it's generally a one note tune. But others go whacky for it. There is no right or wrong with that impression, just the way I'm wired.

OTOH, I find wine is forever a sensory orgasm, dependent on so many of lifes daily variables (diet, mood, partners), that you'll never grow tired of trying to reach the boundaries of all that's out there.

Have fun.......!

Always here for my fellow syngraphist or oenophile.

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I left out another great source -- the people working at local wine stores. Some of them don't know anything but most of them know a real lot about wine. If you talk with them they'll give you all sorts of information, general and specific. Over the last few years I've found several people who I would trust to recommend just about any type of wine, at any price. I've run into people who are really great with low priced recommendations. They get me to try a lot wines I never would have considered.

Rob Adelson

Not that it disqualifies the workers, but I live in a Mormonic community...Utah's only "wine stores" are government operated. The problem, of course, is that competition and variety are effectively eliminated. However, that gives me an idea for another (non-troll) post.

John

I'd agreee with Ed. Andrea Immer's "Great wine made simple" is a good guide with comparative tasting suggestions.

Dale

Dale Williams Drop "damnspam" to reply

Very good advice, Jim. It serves the dual purpose of educating your mind and your palate.

I agree here, too. What I appreciate about Starbuck's is that they buy top quality arabica beans and take good care of the brewed coffee. What I don't like is that they (IMO) overroast their beans and eliminate some of the character that they've gone to such lengths to find. To me, it's like playing a piece of fine music at high volume: the nuances go and you're left with a very "monolithic" impression. OTOH, I'm a product of my upbringing (on Peet's coffee in Berkeley) so that's my "wiring" as well...

Indeed!

Mark Lipton

Hi John, I found my book "The Everything Wine Book" by Danny May and Andy Sharpe very helpful and simple enough. One of the best ideas I got from the book, you can put into practice right away, is keep a wine journal. Write down every wine you buy and rate it. Explain why you like or dislike the wine. Whether it was better if you had cheese or etc.. with it. This will help immensely as you continue to try different wines. It is easy to forget which ones you preferred. I used a five star rating system. I felt this helped. The book I mentioned gives lists from bargains to classic vintages. I did not like all their preferences, but I did get a few great inexpensive wines out of it. I love the Australian Cabernet Shiraz blennds. They are mostly inexpensive and consistent. We have started having wine tastings on the weekens with our friends. They are now into wines also. It is a great way to socialize. Enjoy Linda

I would agree on "The Everything Wine Book". My wife purchased this book for me several years ago and I think it is very good. She mentioned that she had looked at "Wine for Dummies", but it seemed too elementary. There are many good wine books available, but this is a good book for the novice.

IMHO, Dick