French Wine: An Illustrated Miscellany

This handsome volume pays homage to the humble grape's revered nectar. This truly exceptional miscellany of anecdotes, facts, quotable quotes, and interesting stories celebrates wine in all its guises: from the origin of the toast (to prevent being poisoned at a dinner, it was customary for guests to tip part of their drink into their companion's glass) to the exact number of references to wine in the Bible (441) to the debate over whether Dom Perignon discovered bubbles, effectively inventing champagne, or simply started the tradition of blending the grapes in the drink he described as "like drinking stars." With references to world-class vineyards and favored grape varieties, the author covers the topic in a fascinating pastiche. Through quotes illustrating how traditions persist, such as Napoleon's "You drink champagne in victory, and you need it in defeat," this exquisitely produced volume is the perfect gift for the wine aficionado or bon vivant.“This book is guaranteed to bring long hours of reading enjoyment. This isn’t the type of book that picks your wines for you and tells you how to match food and wine. The illustrations are gorgeous. It will take you about five minutes of reading before you want to rush out to buy a nice bottle of French wine. Very highly recommended to anyone who loves vin Francais.” –The Austin Chronicle
 
“A charming and eccentric mélange of wine information...” –France MagazineBernard Pivot is a celebrated French television, radio, and newspaper journalist who has contributed to cultural programs for over thirty years.