Andrew Jefford's Wine Course

Wine, made and drunk locally, has been a part of life in the sunlit Mediterranean basin since ancient times. Now, all the temperate regions of the world produce wine. With that geographical expansion has come a new flowering of aromas and flavours. Socially, too, wine is now accessible to all. Its pleasures are no longer the preserve of a wealthy elite.

The first part of the book, The Tools, introduces you to the kit you’ll need for tasting and thinking about wine, including different glasses, the varying colours of key wine types and their smell and taste. You’ll learn how to choose wine and record your impressions of what you taste. The Elements explains wine’s components. Andrew profiles the Magnificent Seven grape Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Noir, plus many more from the extended vine family. He also pictures what happens in the earth and sky as the vine grows, and the role of the winemaker in shaping the finished product.

The final part of the book, The Journey, takes you on a tour of the world’s wine-producing countries, describing the characteristics of each.