The Concise Guide to Wine and Blind Tasting

by Neel Burton, James Flewellen

This book is for all those seeking to acquire a deep and systematic understanding and appreciation of wine, whether for exams, work, or pleasure. It outlines a simple and yet robust framework for analysing wine as objectively as possible, and provides all the background knowledge that you need to interpret and evaluate your findings—covering everything from grape varieties and vineyard management to winemaking techniques and the world’s most important wine styles. Neel Burton and James Flewellen aim to provide you with a strong foundation in wine, which you can then build upon with your own, unique tasting experiences.

From the back cover: This clear and concise primer provides detailed coverage of all the major wine styles and regions, together with notes on the history of wine, viticulture, winemaking, and blind tasting. it seeks throughout to examine in what ways a given wine is unique and different from other, similar wines. For example, why and in what ways is Pauillac, in Bordeaux, different from Pomerol, also in Bordeaux? Why and in what ways is Mosel Riesling different from Riesling from the Rheingau, or the Nahe, or Alsace, Austria, or Australia? This book is dedicated to all wine lovers, and should prove particularly useful to competitive blind tasters, higher level and diploma students, winemakers, wine traders, and sommeliers.

About the authors: Neel Burton is a psychiatrist, philosopher, writer, and wine-lover who lives and teaches in Oxford. James Flewellen is a biophysicist at Oxford University. While still a student, he led the university’s blind tasting team to victory in several competitions, most notably the Sciences Po International Tasting (SPIT) and the Varsity Match against Cambridge University. Reporting on the 58th Varsity Match in the Financial Times, Master of Wine Jancis Robinson described him as ‘the most impressive taster of the lot’.

Genres: Wine, Nonfiction

386 pages, Hardcover

First published February 20, 2014

About the author

Dr Neel Burton is a psychiatrist, philosopher, and wine-lover who lives and teaches in Oxford, England. He is a Fellow of Green-Templeton College in the University of Oxford, and the winner of several book prizes including, the feather in his cap, a Best in the World Gourmand Award. His work features regularly in the likes of Aeon and Psychology Today and has been translated into several languages. When he is not reading or writing, or imbibing, he enjoys cooking, gardening, skiing, learning languages, visiting museums and gardens, and travelling, especially to wine regions.

His books include:

- The Meaning of Myth (Ancient Wisdom 1)
- Stoic Stories (Ancient Wisdom 2)
- The Gang of Three: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle (Ancient Wisdom 3)
- The Meaning of Madness (Ataraxia 1)
- Hide and Seek: The Psychology of Self-Deception (Ataraxia 2)
- Heaven and Hell: The Psychology of the Emotions (Ataraxia 3)

www.neelburton.com

Reviews

[Kjetil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the Norwegian edition.

[Gaby Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good wine review, doesn't go that deep into details and is not very focused on blind tasting. But still, a good book to review wine knowledge.

[Jonell Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Concise Guide to Wine & Blind Tasting is destined to become a modern classic. Written by Neel Burton, psychiatrist and Oxford professor, and James Flewellen, biophysicist at Oxford – together founders of the Oxford Wine Academy -- the book is well stocked with vital information about all aspects of wine, from soil and vine to drinking for pleasure and blind tasting.

Its clear, detailed information will appeal to serious amateurs and experienced professionals alike. The first three chapters tackle the history of wine as well as the principles of viticulture and winemaking, using an approach unique to the authors, reflecting their methodical way of thinking and scientific backgrounds. This section serves as a comprehensive, accessible introduction for less seasoned wine drinkers, giving them a firm technical basis and the curiosity to want to continue learning.

The ensuing twenty-three chapters address the world’s geographic regions, including three dedicated to notable French appellations, sparkling wine and fortified wine, respectively. Chapters are well structured, dealing with the lie of the land, climate, soil, grape varieties, appellations, and wine styles, and give thorough attention to each of these components. The authors explain how to differentiate wines based on the interplay of these factors, and address the effect of appearance, palate and nose and how these interact with one’s senses and perceptions. This section serves as a reference for even the most seasoned wine drinker.

For those interested in blind tasting, the appendices explain how to set up a blind tasting, and include crib sheets by grape and terroir -- a most useful reference for those interested in honing their skills -- along with international classification systems and food and wine matching.
This is both a user's manual and a connoisseur’s guide, and its clear and fluent exposition sets it apart from other guides. You’ll keep this reference book on your shelf; its pages will yellow (and possibly purple) and show their wear and tear. You might even pass it on to your grandchildren. That’s how good it is.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a textbook, really. Very technical (like, thank goodness I took biochemistry before I tried to read it). Tons of interesting information, though! The sections on dessert wines were particularly interesting.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but dry.