Good Read

[Innkeeper]

Be ye a novice or a seasoned "wine guy", don't miss the special edition of Wines & Spirits, now on the stands. Don't normally go gah gah over magazines, but the W&S folks have outdone themselves this time. It is entitled: "Guide To Understanding Wine (Wine Style; Which Wines Are Right For You)" It covers the whole world of wine from the point of view of style, versus region or type. It gives guidance of choosing wines for weddings, romantic dinners, business gifts, and parties.

New senior editor Ray Isle organized the whole thing and wrote the narrative that ties the whole 104 pages together. His prose is engaging. He also interviews and gets contributions from some folks you may know; including Andrea Immer, Joshua Wesson, John Thatcher, Vanessa Wong, Michael Doodan, Randall Graham, Michel Chapoutier, and others.

As you travel along with these folks you examine the world of white wines by style, then red, then chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, wine & seafood, vintage port, riesling, syrah, Tuscan food & wine, and sparklers. If your favorites are merlot, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, or others; they are covered in the general areas. The concept of looking at wine by style was popularized by Wesson in his now expanding Best Cellars wine stores. This entire issue is organized as Wesson would his store. For $4.95 I honestly don't know where you could get more wine knowledge for the buck.