The ultimate guidebook for wine lovers who want to understand how their favorite wines are grown, how they are produced, and how best to savor them. Wine expert Jens Priewe has revised his acclaimed guidebook to wine, providing his readers with the most up–to–date information on this topic. Tailor–made for the contemporary wine consumer who drinks what he or she likes, this vividly illustrated text discusses not only awe–inspiring vintages, but also unknown wines from countries only recently included on the wine maps of the world. Priewe provides a key to the complex language of wine and illuminates the science of wine making while honoring the art behind its creation. Half the book is devoted to the wine–making process itself; the other half examines the best wines of the world, country by country, and guides the reader to an understanding of the intricacies of wine tasting and appreciation. Illustrated with more than 1,000 color images, including computer graphics that explain the invisible processes of wine making; satellite maps and aerial photos of the world’s most important wine regions; and photographs of individual vineyards by the world’s best wine photographers, Wine: From Grape to Glass will quench the thirst for knowledge experienced by a true wine lover when uncorking a bottle of fine wine. "Some might think this a coffee–table book, and it is. But it is loaded with solid information, in lay terms, about the world of wine —winemaking, wine grape varieties, wine regions, and the storing, enjoying and serving of wine. There are many other books that offer the same approach but From Grape to Glass, is a “mid–palate” compromise and the perfect anchor to your wine library." — Wine–Flair Blog "The ultimate gift for any wine lover." — Touring & Tasting magazine A journalist covering politics and economics for twenty years, Jens Priewe began exclusively writing about wine over fifteen years ago. His books include Italy's Great Wines and Journey into the World of Wine. A regular contributor to culinary magazines, he lives in Munich. Excerpt from: Wine Introduction Wine and the Thirst for Knowledge If a hundred years from now someone happens to be writing the history of wine in our times, he will have no choice but to call the end of the twentieth century the golden age of wine. What characterizes the last two decades is an astonishing improvement in quality, unfaltering ambition among producers, and a seemingly infinite demand for fine wines in the marketplace. We are encountering an undreamed of enthusiasm in many parts of the world for the drink that—except for water and milk—is the oldest in the world. Grape growing has expanded into new regions, and winemaking has undergone significant innovations, quickly absorbing and applying the discoveries of modern oenology. All these new developments need to be absorbed into our thinking as well. We need a new, comprehensive reference work to understand what it is we are drinking and to appreciate the work that goes into offering our senses pleasures they never enjoyed before. Wine: From Grape to Glass was written to quench the exquisite thirst for knowledge that lovers of wine feel arising within whenever they uncork a bottle of fine wine. Fabled Vintages and Other Good Libations Wine: From Grape to Glass was written not for those who exclusively love French, German, or Italian wines, or for that matter, any other particular wines. It is for those who will drink this today and that tomorrow, but are always reaching for the best. And what is best? That depends on each eclectic wine lovers mood. Yesterday it was a simple country wine brought back from a vacation. Today you go through the ceremony of opening one of the grand, awe-inspiring vintages. Tomorrow it might be a completely unknown wine, maybe from a country only recently added to the worlds wine atlas. All of these wines have their own personalities. On the wine merchants shelf, they stand side by side. What differentiates them is their prices. This book helps to explain why one wine may cost a hundred dollars, another only ten. It tries to provide a key to the complex language of wine, and to illuminate the science of winemaking while honoring the art that creates great wines. Take Part in the Wine Revolution Drinking wine is an experience. For this reason, a wine book should not be dry reading. Wine: From Grape to Glass is a book that presents the reader with the visual experience of the nature of wine, of the way it grows, of how it is made out of grapes. You will learn about whole–bunch pressing and find out what is meant by bâtonnage. Your eyes will see where great taste comes from and where the famous vineyard of Romanée–Conti is located. You will be shown why wines age faster in small barrels than in large ones and why it is sometimes a good idea to decant even a young wine. The book goes into its subject deeply enough to ensure that while you taste t