Comments on: Does the World Need Another Wine Intro Book? (Book Review: Drink This)

By: @nectarwine

@nectarwine — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:21:36 +0000

1WineDude – thanks for the schooling! I know I can trust you for quick response and down to earth reporting.

By: 1WineDude

1WineDude — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:59:19 +0000

Duuuude – I'd love that!!!

By: 1WineDude

1WineDude — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:58:57 +0000

Thanks – hopefully I'm actually correct in what I wrote above… :-P

By: winehiker

winehiker — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:22:52 +0000

You should come hike with me sometime, Joe. :^)

By: 1WineDude

1WineDude — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:57:40 +0000

Sure can – here's how it works (to the best of my knowledge):

Correct: This is a varietal wine, consisting of 100% Chardonnay.
Correct: This Chardonnay wine displays typical varietal characteristics of tropical fruit and full body.
Correct: Winery X has just released a series of varietals (100% Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, & Cab Sauv wines).
Incorrect: Merlot ripens more quickly than other varietals.

By: @nectarwine

@nectarwine — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:51:12 +0000

At the risk of sounding dumb – I thought 'varietal' was a term to describe the different variety of grapes? I looked it up and the dictionary says:

–adjective 1. of, pertaining to, designating, or characteristic of a variety.
2. constituting a variety.
3. (in U.S. winemaking) designating a wine made entirely or chiefly from one variety of grape.

–noun 4. a varietal wine named for such a grape (distinguished from generic )

Can one of you boys educate me. I may not be a smart man, but I know what grapes are. ;)

By: 1WineDude

1WineDude — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:47:20 +0000

Yeah, but if you throw things they have a risk of flying off a cliff on a hike somewhere… :-)

By: 1WineDude

1WineDude — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:46:34 +0000

Good luck with Santa. And remember that my door is always open (virtually) as a resource for the oft-ignored! Cheers!

By: winehiker

winehiker — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:20:59 +0000

I've been reading the book too, Joe. Being a technical writer by trade (which means I've often sliced n' diced on meaning and nuance) I could also scream and throw things when observing Grumdahl’s use of the word 'varietal'. Instead, though, I've been chuckling with almost every other page turn. I agree: it's a beginner's wine lesson that's simply a good read.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:19:14 +0000

I love that it's a book geared to those in the "intermediate" camp. You're right, many wine books are geared to newbies, and for those intermediates like myself, it's great to have something for us "oft-ignored oenophiles." Gosh, like I need to buy another wine book, but maybe someone will "gift" me this one for Christmas!