Exploring Wine

In its previous editions, Exploring Wine has been called "a large jewel and a classic," "one of the most intelligent, most easily understood books on the subject of winegrowing," and "a must-have resource for the weekend novice drinker and the everyday tasting professional." This new edition includes even more practical, comprehensive information on wine regions, growing, purchasing, tasting, and pairing. Based on advice from professors and other wine professionals who use the second edition of Exploring Wine, we have included more balanced coverage of the various winegrowing regions, more tasting notes on international wines, a pronunciation guide for foreign words, and more basic, practical information in the business section. The third edition also includes more information on the health effects of wine and responsible drinking, as well as an improved guide to types of glassware and bottles. In addition, the food and wine pairing section will go beyond merely matching menus with wine choices, to show why certain flavors go together and teach students how to identify the best matches. Throughout the book, easy-to-use charts, tables, and maps help to simplify the subject for students and wine enthusiasts, and beautiful color photographs and personal interviews with winegrowers bring the encyclopedic content vividly to life. From the vine to the table, Exploring Wine encompasses all aspects of wines througout the world, and is an essential reference for any student, professional, or wine aficionado.

Foreword 1

Part 1 Fundamentals: Growing Grapes, Making Wine, and Tasting Wine 3

Chapter 1 The Right Stuff: Grape Growing and Grape Types 5

Chapter 2 How Wine is Made 51

Chapter 3 Tasting Wine 87

Part 2 Wines of the New World 109

Chapter 4 United States: California 111

Chapter 5 Beyond California: Wines of North America 185

Chapter 6 The Southern Hemisphere 207

Part 3 Wines of the Old World 255

Chapter 7 France 259

Chapter 8 Italy 351

Chapter 9 Spain 415

Chapter 10 Portugal 447

Chapter 11 Germany, Austria, and Switzerland 487

Chapter 12 Wines of Eastern Europe 519

Chapter 13 The Eastern Mediterranean and Asia 527

Part 4 Wine, Food, and Health 553

Chapter 14 Wine and Food 555

Chapter 15 Wine and Health 633

Part 5 Wine Service and Storage 647

Chapter 16 Wine Service 649

Chapter 17 Purchasing and Storing Wine 673

Chapter 18 Wine Lists 695

Appendix A: Conversion Tables 732

Appendix B: How to Read a Wine Label 733

Appendix C: American Appellations (AVAs) 746

Glossary 748

Bibliography 765

Index 771

Figure and Photography Credits 792

Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith (1952–2009), and Michael A. Weiss have been the leading wine educators at The Culinary Institute of America for the last twenty–five years. They have traveled to virtually every wine–producing region in the world and have trained more than 30,000 students to understand and appreciate wine. The authors are active participants and organizers of professional and consumer food and wine events, write for several wine and food publications, and lecture and teach extensively in educational programs, seminars, and conferences throughout the United States and other wine producing nations. Their book WineWise won the coveted James Beard Foundation Award for Best Beverage Book of 2009 and the Georges Duboeuf Award for Best Wine Book of 2009.

Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is an independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts as well as certificate programs in culinary arts and wine and beverage studies. A network of more than 40,000 alumni has helped the CIA earn its reputation as the world's premier culinary college. The CIA, which also offers courses for industry professionals and food enthusiasts, has campuses in New York (Hyde Park), California (St. Helena), and Texas (San Antonio).

In Exploring Wine, three renowned wine experts take you on a glorious tour of the wines of the world. An essential and dynamic reference for wine lovers as well as students and seasoned professionals, this compelling volume demystifies wine and frees you to explore with confidence.

Exploring Wine follows wine's fascinating path from the vine to the table. It begins by focusing on the basics: grape growing and wine making, an ideal starting point for your journey. Next, you will learn how to fine-tune your senses and develop your ability to appreciate the pleasures of wine as the authors explain what to look for in the glass—appearance, aroma and bouquet, and, of course, taste.

Exploring Wine visits the major and minor wine-producing regions in the Old World and the New World—including extensive tasting notes—providing a comprehensive working knowledge of the history, geography, wine laws, vineyards, producers, and styles of wines produced in each region. With updated full–color maps, charts, tables, and gorgeous full-color photographs, Exploring Wine brings complex subject matter to life with grace and style.

To help make every meal unforgettable, this new edition features updated and expanded guidelines for wine and food pairing, fully explaining which flavors pair well and why. The authors provide professionals and avid wine lovers with a complete education on the very latest in wine lists, wine service, and wine storage, and pre–sent a wealth of insight on important and practical wine business issues.

A unique feature in the world of wine books, extensive quotations from internationally recognized sommeliers, chefs, and restaurateurs bring key issues to the table for consideration and discussion by both the professional and the consumer. Practical, beautiful, and encyclopedic in scope, Exploring Wine offers greater depth and clarity than ever before, bringing the world of wine to vivid, vibrant life.

Join the authors on this inspiring adventure. Satisfy your thirst for knowledge in the pages of Exploring Wine.

"Exploring Wine is a grand tour. The writing is lively. The content is rich. It is a wine lover's guidebook, a wine professional's manual. It is highly opinionated, which makes it particularly entertaining. It contains many insights into wine lists, how wines are priced, and alternatives to Chardonnay and Cabernet, which make it extremely helpful for wine professionals and consumers alike. This is a great book. Drink it in."
—Joy Sterling, CEO, Iron Horse Vineyards, Green Valley, California

"A must-have resource for the weekend novice drinker and the everyday tasting professional."
—Joseph Bastianich, Restaurateur: Babbo, Esca, Lupa, Becco, Otto, Mozza, Del Posto, Bar Jamón, Casa Mono, and The Spotted Pig; Proprietor, Italian Wine Merchants; Owner, Bastianich Winery; coauthor, Vino Italiano

"A large jewel and a classic. I intend to use it as a reference and forinspiration. SALUTE!"
—Piero Selvaggio, Proprietor, Valentino, Los Angeles and Las Vegas

"One of the most intelligent, most easily understood books on the subject of wine growing that I have ever used."
—Scott McLeod, Winemaker, Rubicon Estate Winery, Napa Valley, California; Wine Enthusiast magazine 2009 Winemaker of the Year

"Kolpan, Smith, and Weiss received the 2009 Georges Duboeuf Wine Book of the Year Award for their book, WineWise, an award that is part of our ongoing commitment toward recognizing excellence in all aspects of the wine industry. Their new edition of Exploring Wine is for anyone with an interest in wine, from enthusiastic novices to serious wine lovers."
—Georges Duboeuf, wine producer, Beaujolais, France