Biographical note:

Joanna Simon is the award-winning wine correspondent of Britain's The Sunday Times newspaper and her weekly column in the Style section is avidly read by those who enjoy wine but want to know more. She is also a successful author and broadcaster and contributes to many publications worldwide on all aspects of wine, including matching wine to food. Joanna' Simon's previous books include the best-selling Discovering Wine, which has sold over 250,000 copies in 12 languages, and Wine with Food. She has been writing about wine since 1981 and has been editor of both Wine and Wine & Spirit International magazines. In 1999, she presented The Bottle Uncorked, BBC Radio series devoted to wine. When not tasting, writing, talking about wine or visiting the world's vineyards, Joanna spends as much time as possible in a remote part of France. Joanna Simon's awards include: 1992-Glenfiddich Drink Writer of the Year, 1992-Qantas Wine Writer of the Year, 1995-Winner of the Wine Guild of the United Kingdom's Book Award, 1995-Silver Medal from the Gastronomische Akademie Deutschlands, 1997-Premier Cru Wine Writer of the Year.

Main description:

From the grape to the glass -- a stylish, contemporary guide to experiencing the world of wine. Open the pages of this inspiring guide and you uncork the exciting world of wine. Award-winning wine writer Joanna Simon steers the reader through a tantalizing range of styles, grape varieties, and wine-producing regions and offers refreshingly down-to-earth advice on how to buy, taste, serve, and store wine for maximum enjoyment. Most of us would like to try a wider range of wines, but are reluctant to make an expensive mistake. Joanna Simon helps readers to experiment with confidence and taste new wines that are similar to those they already enjoy. So for instance, if you like Australian Chardonnay, you may also like white wines from Navarra in Spain, Chilean Semillon, or South African Chenin Blanc. Covering over 70 grape varieties, the typical flavors of key varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling are examined in depth. There are expert tips on buying, storing, and tasting wine along with advice on food and wine pairings, essential vintage charts, a glossary of terms, and a useful pronunciation guide. Sumptuous location photography of the vineyards, wineries, and cellars perfectly captures the miraculous process that turns the humble grape into something spectacular in the glass.

Table of contents:

Introduction Wine Styles Wine Grapes Tasting Wine Exploring Wines Food & Wine Growing & Making Wine Buying Wine Storing & Serving Wine The World's Wines Pronunciation Guide Index Acknowledgments