Customer Reviews

Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine Soaked Journey From Grape to Glass

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are countless wine books, some historic, some novels, some technical and some instructional. Yet, in Red, White & Drunk All Over, Natalie MacLean shares her discovery and experiences of the different facets of wine with an enlightening twist. Each chapter is intoxicating, written with MacLean's wit and humble perspective that makes her indeed 'The World's Best Drink Writer.' This book gives you fascinating first-hand experiences by Natalie and stories about the personalities in the wine world that you can share with friends at your next dinner party. Enjoying wine is lighter and more refreshing after devouring this book.

Natalie MacLean's elegant prose allows us to lose ourselves in a world that any aspiring sommelier or the most casual of wine drinkers can appreciate. Her book is an inspired passion through rich and engaging language and emotion that is at one stage, humourous, and another, comforting.

It is a triumph and a must for those of us whose evenings may be seduced by a fine wine.

Wine a dry subject? Often, yes. But not this book. No wine snobs prattling on here. It's a thoroughly entertaining read and a great way to learn more about wine and regions without feeling like you're plowing through a textbook. I really liked the way it's written as a series of personal experiences, rich with characters, anecdotes and geography. Natalie's writing style pulls it all together into a humourous informing blend that makes it hard to put down.

Natalie MacLean has really created something here. Her book addresses many questions and issues I was too timid to ask of an "expert". She doesn't talk over my head; however, the more-informed wine drinker will have plenty to think about when reading. The best part is, Red, White, and Drunk All Over is funny and entertaining as well as informative. What more could you ask?

Excellent. Nothing like most other wine books which are incredibly dull and boring. I have only been getting into wines in the last few years, so I needed help. I wanted to know more about paring wines with foods. Now, I experiment with, and try wines, that I may have overlooked or knew nothing about. A very helpful, and informative wine guide infused with humor and easy to read. I loved it!
... cheers, Verlaine

Just enough information to add texture, and the added personal notes give a bountiful body.

I imagine that it must be more than a little difficult to be the person who writes those little blurbs describing wines on the backs of the labels and in the weekend papers. Having said that, I suppose it's even more difficult to write a comprehensive book on the subject. Being the sort of reader and information junkie that Natalie Maclean makes fun of at the beginning of her book who actually likes to read the Oxford Companion for so much intoxicating information, I'm glad of the occasional pieces of work of writers like his who can offer up so much information while at the same time writing and weaving it into so many thoughtful, witty and charming stories about the subject.

Natalie Maclean writes like the love child of Peter Mayle and Jancis Robinson, who has trained as a stand-up comic. It's fun, funny, humble and very informative. I've always wondered as to the origins of the Kir Royale and what makes Riedel the leader in wine glass technology (I figured that if it didn't leak from the bottom, it'd do!). The author clearly has not only the talent of the palette, but that wonderful sommelier's vocabulary that is so different from mine that allows her to communicate what she's tasting, when she slows down to taste it :-)

Simply put, I love the book. In fact I found it hard to put down. I confess I love wine, so was already interested in the subject matter. But let's face it, on the subject of wine, many of the books on the market these days are what I view as Car and Driver style manuscripts that list the facts - sometimes all of them - in excruciating detail. While the facts are useful, they are neither entertaining nor inspiring, and that's where Natalie's book is so different.

Red, White and Drunk All Over reminded me immediately of Architectural Digest with exceptional writing substituting for the glossy images of fantastic places. Right from the beginning, I found myself immersed in the world of wine. The writing is so good, I could imagine myself in Natalie's shoes as she traipsed around the world of wine. While evoking these images, Natalie very stealthily weaves in necessary and, in many cases, little known facts about wine that are critical to active participation in any dinner party conversation on the subject. In fact that's one of the best things about the book - you learn more than a few things about wine - no matter how expert - while having a great time in the process.

Natalie makes reading about wine not only enjoyable but sippable through chapters that are whole and complete unto themselves.
Really happy I picked this up - makes me really want to pop the cork on her new one!