Category Archives: Books

George Rose: Wine through a camera’s lens

A shorter version of this article was published on WashingtonPost.com on March 30, 2023. This version includes some anecdotes from my interview with George that didn’t make the shorter piece. When social media algorithms take a break from pushing cleaning … Continue reading

Posted in Books, California, Canada, Oregon, Organic, Sustainable, Terroir, Washington Post, Wine | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What do wine lovers really want?

When preparing yesterday’s rant about the current existential dread in the wine industry over the indifference of younger consumers to our favorite tipple, I came across this piece I wrote just more than 10 years ago. It still rings true … Continue reading

Posted in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bargain Wines, Books, Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Champagne, Chile, China, DrinkLocalWine.com, Eastern US, Local Wine, Maryland, Riesling, Sustainable, Weblogs, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The End Times for wine?

The wine community has been abuzz lately about its difficulty attracting young consumers. It’s a bit like drug pushers hanging around the school yard wondering where the kids are. Okay, that’s unfair. Every consumer industry wants to attract new consumers … Continue reading

Posted in Books, California, Current Affairs, Navel Gazing, Wine, writers | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Failed Tea Party with Hugh Johnson

When I first fell in love with wine, Hugh Johnson’s Vintage series ran on PBS stations here in the United States. I was enthralled by his presentation of wine’s history, its place in Western civilization and culture, and its romanticism. … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Rants, Uncategorized, Wine, writers | Tagged , | 17 Comments

The World Atlas of Wine: Essential Reading for Wine Lovers

This article appeared in The Washington Post in slightly different form on November 6, 2013. Coming next: My full interview with Hugh Johnson. There are books that teach you how to taste wine and books that describe how to make … Continue reading

Posted in Books, China, Jancis, Terroir, Virginia, Wine, writers | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Wine Curmudgeon’s Guide to Cheap Wine

Regular readers of this blog know my buddy, Jeff Siegel, aka The Wine Curmudgeon. We are co-founders of DrinkLocalWine.com, the website that became a movement (or at least anticipated one). Jeff is the Eugene Debs of wine consumers, always championing … Continue reading

Posted in Bargain Wines, Books, Cheap Wine, DrinkLocalWine.com, Wine | 1 Comment

Another tour de force from Jancis Robinson

When I wrote my column for today’s Washington Post Food section on books to buy the oenophiliac on your list, I left out the most imposing one. Primarily because of space, but also because I couldn’t bring myself to recommend … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Wine, writers | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Inventing wine through the ages

Today marks another first for me – my first appearance in the Book World section of The Washington Post. I review two books: Divine Vintage: Following the Wine Trail from Genesis to the Modern Age, by Joel Butler and Randall … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Religion, Wine | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Book Review: Alice Feiring’s “Naked Wine”

When I wrote a column last year expressing some skepticism over the “natural wine” movement, I inadvertently became a poster child for industrial wine, earning public opprobrium from Alice Feiring (though we made peace) and a slap on the wrist … Continue reading

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Book Review: Evan Dawson’s “Summer in a Glass”

This is the fourth in a series of short reviews of wine books worthy of putting under the Christmas tree for the vinophiliac on your list this year. Anyone who has traveled the Finger Lakes – or even enjoyed one … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Eastern US, New York, Riesling, Uncategorized, Wine, writers | Tagged , , | 4 Comments