Customer Reviews

The Oxford Companion to Wine

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Thirty years ago this book could not have been written. With the increasing ascendancy of the New World wine makers and in particular the influence of the Davis campus of the University of California, viticulture and oenology are now rigorous, scientific and commercially oriented professions. This is reflected in the "Oxford Companion to Wine" which has to be the most comprehensive, authoritative and accessible resource dealing with all aspects of the world of wine.

Jancis Robinson who edited this encyclopedia of wine is a highly respected wine writer and educator. She is also very well credentialled, holding the prestigious title of "Master of Wine".

The real power of this book as an information source is the very effective use of cross-references. Its great fun to see how far one reference will take you on subjects of particular interest to the reader. It would be good to see this book published as a CD-ROM. Hyper-linking all the cross-references would make it even more powerful.

The changes in the wine business over the past generation have seen the previously exclusive, "clubbiness", almost snobby world of fine wine appreciation opened up to everyone. It is books like this that have provided the sources of knowledge which give people the confidence and curiosity to pursue their interest and enjoyment of wine.

France is the traditional home of fine wine. The French approach to wine making is still dominated by practices and methodologies that go back centuries. It is interesting to see in the "Oxford Companion" the strong contrast between the empirically rigorous New World (particularly USA and Australian) methods and the mystery (or mystique) that even today, shrouds much of the French industry.

One of the best illustrations of this dichotomy in the Companion is the entry on "Terroir". This French term encapsulates the mystique that defines a particular vine growing area. It goes well beyond the issue of soil and microclimate but instead embraces everything that makes a particular wine unique.

In the "Companion" the terroir debate seems to come down on the side which believes the term is used to cover vagueness and explain characteristics that are otherwise difficult to explain. This allows sometimes ordinary wine to be passed off as something special.

Compare this to the innovative, scientifically supported approaches used in the New World. A good example is the development of "Canopy Management" the varying techniques used to optimize the yield and ripening characteristics of a grapevine.

Similarly we have see the arrival of "flying winemakers" from Australia into regions like the Languedoc-Roussillon area of France. They have introduced stainless steel fermentation vessels, temperature control and meticulous cleanliness, to what was previously a very rough and ready local business. They are now producing some of the some best Merlots, acknowledged by even the French.

This book will no doubt become the definitive reference book on all matters to do with the world of wine. It will be of the highest value to both the wine professional and the enthusiastic wine lover.

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This is a great source of information for many aspects of wine. There is a lot of narrative information about wine producing countries, wine producing appellations, varietals, technical growing information, production (as in fermentation or grape crushing), storage, consumption (glasses, bottle aging, etc), and history (people, wineries, wine gods, folklore, myths, etc).

Other nice features: Articles frequently reference each other, with the article heading in bold for easy reference. There are great appendixes with wine stats (production, etc).

The only thing I didn't like about the book is that there is no pronunciation guide, which to me is a big negative. Overall, I doubt you will find a better (or even close to better) single source of wine information anywhere else. Why didn't I give it 5 stars? It's not exactly a classic, just a great data source.

Has Oxford ever published a dictionary that is anything other than great? No. Don't hesistate, it is wonderful. I'm studying wine and it is not my primary book however it does clear up any confusion I might incure between lectures and other books.

Some reference books sit on the shelf, forgotten, hoping to be used someday in the future when someone has a desperate need to know how to calculate the third log value of an arctangent.

This book is as far removed from that fate as a Petrus is from a White Zinfandel!

At least once a week I have opened up this gorgeous wine tome and looked up the answer to a question, or read more about a particular wine I was enjoying. With over 3,000 entries to choose from, you can explore the ancient roots of wine in Iraq and Egypt, or learn about new vine-growing techniques winemakers are using in Washington State. The information is clearly written, well illustrated, and not overly technical.

Jancis Robinson, the editor of the tome, is well known in the industry for her knowledge and fluency in wines of all types. Combine her amazing knowledge with fantastic photographs of each wine region, and even reviews of various personalities in wine, and you have a book that you'll keep on the coffee table and actually read often! Be warned - you can lose guests in its pages for hours.

The book is great for a beginner. Confused about Beaujolais Nouveau? Want to know how a White Zinfandel differs from a Red Zinfandel? The Oxford Companion to Wine has clear, concise descriptions of all wine types, explaining their histories, their characteristics, and where they're found now.

The Companion is also a boon for experienced drinkers. It goes into the fine details of how wines are grown, and how various winemakers use different techniques to bring out the best in their particular grapes. There are maps of wine regions, and insights into what makes certain wines unique.

Great as a gift for your favorite wine drinker, but buy one for yourself, too! The book is a wonderful reference tool to have around the house. With its lovely photos of France, Italy, and Spain, it serves as a wine-lovers guide to places to visit or dream about, and wines to drink while doing so. Highly recommended as the only wine book you should ever need.

I am a beginner in the world of wine. The Oxford Companion to Wine has already proven to be very helpful in answering some perplexing questions. The print is rather small and can be difficult to read, but the vast amounts of information make up for the font size. Had it been any bigger the book would have to be bound in volumes. Although I'm diving into a very detailed field, I feel confident with the Oxford Companion.

THis book is an absolute gold mine of knowledge about vinification, vitification and the art and science of wine wisdom. This book was recommended by my professor at Algonquin College as the key textbook for our sommelier program. I have been reading it every day for a month and the wisdom goes deeper and deeper every day. I strongly recommend it fr anyone interested in going deeper into wine appreciation.

Fantastic Index defining every wine term, type, region, and history you can dream of. All definitions are in fine and concise detail - Oxford style (ie. the best way). Every wine drinker should have one of these. The only thing I wished they had more of in this book was more pictures of regions and wines, but hey you can't expect to have it all, plus it is a dictionary after all.

This huge volume will make your bookshelf sag in the middle, and you'll have a heck of a time reading it in bed. But if you're ready to move on to serious wine appreciation, it's a must-have, a truly magisterial volume that covers the world of wine in a thorough, accurate and readable fashion

If you love wine you'll love this book! It has almost every answer and it will guide you through an enjoyable and informative read. Get it, you won't regret it!

This encyclopedia is extensive and very good. It is also very heavy. You may want to get a primer on wine (e.g., "Wine for Dummies") before getting this as a reference, but this is one for your shelves. It covers many aspects of wine and to a great deal of detail in some areas, which is welcomed. Almost all of the information is current. What little is not current is insignificant in size and importance. Take at a good look at this reference.