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Wines of Italy: Il Gusto Italiano Del Vino
Italy claims more grape varieties than any other 350 have been codified and more than 1,000 others are being catalogued and studied. This extraordinary range of grapes and wine styles means that Italy's potential as a source for diverse and distinguished wines has barely been tapped and is little understood. Now Patricia Guy brings together the most comprehensive collection of current information about Italian wine today. In addition, Ms. Guy combines wine information with a host of complimentary food pairings and recipes for delicious meals with each wine. For those interested in touring Italian vineyards, "Wines of Italy" includes locations and maps that make planning a tour convenient. With more than 100 full-color photographs, this indispensable guide is the first book designed to help everyone from consumers to sommeliers explore and understand the kaleidoscopic range of contemporary Italian grape varieties and the wines made from them. Salute!
300 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
December 26, 2009
Fabuloso! This is one of the best-formatted wine books I've encountered. There can be no wine-producing country more complicated than Italy, but for the first time I think I might have a handle on it.
Guy divides the book, not by the impossibly-complex wine regions, but alphabetically by varietal. With a deft hand at editing, you are presented with the varietal's history, its aroma and flavor profiles, where in Italy it's grown, which wines it is used to make, tasting notes, synonyms, food pairings and a recipe or two and a photo of the grape in cluster. All in 2-3 pages per varietal.
My only beef is lack of good maps. There is a wee map of Italy on each varietal page with its growing region(s) colored in, but not one map of the country with place names, regional boundaries, etc. So, Hugh Johnson's Wine Atlas is a necessary reading companion.
You'll find me, nestled between Nebbiolo and Negroamaro, plotting my next sips and trips!
Guy divides the book, not by the impossibly-complex wine regions, but alphabetically by varietal. With a deft hand at editing, you are presented with the varietal's history, its aroma and flavor profiles, where in Italy it's grown, which wines it is used to make, tasting notes, synonyms, food pairings and a recipe or two and a photo of the grape in cluster. All in 2-3 pages per varietal.
My only beef is lack of good maps. There is a wee map of Italy on each varietal page with its growing region(s) colored in, but not one map of the country with place names, regional boundaries, etc. So, Hugh Johnson's Wine Atlas is a necessary reading companion.
You'll find me, nestled between Nebbiolo and Negroamaro, plotting my next sips and trips!
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review