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Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book 2003
Now in its twenty-sixth year of publication, this book offers up-to-date news on more than 6,000 wines, growers, and regions. With comprehensive vintage information and recommended wines for current drinking, this is the only annual wine guide anyone really needs. It has all the information necessary to help you select anything from a weekday wine for supper to a prestige vintage for investment. Also included are vintage charts, maps, and unique insider tips on where to buy and consume wine when travelling. Expert tasting notes and hints on serving wine and matching wine with food complete the picture.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
About the author
Hugh Johnson
221 books44 followersHugh Johnson, younger son of a London lawyer, began his life-long passion for wine in all its variety as a member of the Wine & Food Society at Cambridge University, where he gained an Honours Degree in English literature. When he left King's College in 1961 he became a feature writer for Vogue and House & Garden, writing, among other articles, travel and wine columns for both magazines and their sister-papers in New York.
In 1963, as a result of his close friendship with the octogenarian André Simon, the founder of The International Wine & Food Society, he became General Secretary of the Society and succeeded the legendary gastronome as editor of its magazine Wine & Food. At the same time he became wine correspondent of The Sunday Times and started work on his first book, Wine, whose publication in 1966 established him as one of the foremost English gastronomic writers. There are now over 800,000 copies in print in seven languages and the book is still regularly reprinted. After a year as Travel Editor of The Sunday Times he became editor of Queen Magazine, in two years doubling the circulation of the fashionable glossy. It was 1969 when James Mitchell of the newly-founded publishing house Mitchell Beazley invited him to write The World Atlas of Wine. The research involved took Hugh Johnson all over the world; the result was a best-seller that might justly claim to have put wine on the map. Its publication was described by the Director of the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine in his Foreword as "un événement majeur de la littérature vinicole".
In 1963, as a result of his close friendship with the octogenarian André Simon, the founder of The International Wine & Food Society, he became General Secretary of the Society and succeeded the legendary gastronome as editor of its magazine Wine & Food. At the same time he became wine correspondent of The Sunday Times and started work on his first book, Wine, whose publication in 1966 established him as one of the foremost English gastronomic writers. There are now over 800,000 copies in print in seven languages and the book is still regularly reprinted. After a year as Travel Editor of The Sunday Times he became editor of Queen Magazine, in two years doubling the circulation of the fashionable glossy. It was 1969 when James Mitchell of the newly-founded publishing house Mitchell Beazley invited him to write The World Atlas of Wine. The research involved took Hugh Johnson all over the world; the result was a best-seller that might justly claim to have put wine on the map. Its publication was described by the Director of the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine in his Foreword as "un événement majeur de la littérature vinicole".
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 23, 2023
This is the “standard” for annual books on wine around the world. Margaret Rand is a welcome voice. The book has long abandoned the ability to fit in most pockets*
*unless it is a pocket that holds the electronic version on your mobile phone
It’s mission is set out below:
"We can’t hope to drink great wines every day. But for every unaffordable burgundy from the Côte d’Or, there is an affordable challenger from Australia, or New Zealand, or California, or Chile, or numerous other countries. How to find them is what we hope to show in these pages."
I think that it achieves a great deal and it is my one guide that I carry with me when I travel (or even go out for a special meal).
*unless it is a pocket that holds the electronic version on your mobile phone
It’s mission is set out below:
"We can’t hope to drink great wines every day. But for every unaffordable burgundy from the Côte d’Or, there is an affordable challenger from Australia, or New Zealand, or California, or Chile, or numerous other countries. How to find them is what we hope to show in these pages."
I think that it achieves a great deal and it is my one guide that I carry with me when I travel (or even go out for a special meal).
August 16, 2021
The 2021 edition is the 44th annual publication and this edition is a bit more substantial (in thickness and weight) than previous editions. Wines of Belgium are included for the first time!
I haven’t reviewed an edition in almost a decade but reading another book recently reminded it might be a good time to note what has changed and what has stayed the same.
I stand by my key observations from previous editions:
In the trade-off between information and portability, this perennial wins hands-down. Why?
Easy to read
Quick ratings of both the success of a wine crop generally, and
The success of any particular winery
Reliable background information
A basic guide to pairing wine with various foods, and in this edition
And
No better bargain for anyone interested in the beverage.
It explains everything necessary to make an informed decision whether at the wine shop or in a restaurant.
Johnson has been around long enough to know the individual vineyards and his personal tastings are reliable.
Johnson is not a fan of the “statistical nonsense of the 100-point score.” He will identify good and great vintages of individual vineyards and provide some guidance as to what can be held versus what should be consumed before it declines. While noting that more vineyards have benefitted than suffered from our planet’s warming he does offer a new comment on this topic:
“Whoever thought we should be discussing vineyards as firebreaks, or the effects of smoke on wine? There’s no avoiding the topic of the large animal in a small space: Global Warming. All farmers will be affected, but of all farmers wine-growers are the most sensitive, the most finely poised. The great wines of the world are the result of fine equations of land, weather and vines chosen to ripen grapes at the right speed and the right moment. Because the equation is precise it is inevitably marginal, and marginal means fragile. Great vintages have always been exceptional – and always associated with fine weather…”
For my purposes this compendium satisfies and I find that I only need to pick-up a new edition after several years have gone by. 4.5*
PS: Here is a nice alternative - the ebook edition is cheaper and fairly easy to search. If you have the app on your phone, you can readily consult Johnson at the store or while looking at a restaurant's wine list.
I haven’t reviewed an edition in almost a decade but reading another book recently reminded it might be a good time to note what has changed and what has stayed the same.
I stand by my key observations from previous editions:
In the trade-off between information and portability, this perennial wins hands-down. Why?
Easy to read
Quick ratings of both the success of a wine crop generally, and
The success of any particular winery
Reliable background information
A basic guide to pairing wine with various foods, and in this edition
And
No better bargain for anyone interested in the beverage.
It explains everything necessary to make an informed decision whether at the wine shop or in a restaurant.
Johnson has been around long enough to know the individual vineyards and his personal tastings are reliable.
Johnson is not a fan of the “statistical nonsense of the 100-point score.” He will identify good and great vintages of individual vineyards and provide some guidance as to what can be held versus what should be consumed before it declines. While noting that more vineyards have benefitted than suffered from our planet’s warming he does offer a new comment on this topic:
“Whoever thought we should be discussing vineyards as firebreaks, or the effects of smoke on wine? There’s no avoiding the topic of the large animal in a small space: Global Warming. All farmers will be affected, but of all farmers wine-growers are the most sensitive, the most finely poised. The great wines of the world are the result of fine equations of land, weather and vines chosen to ripen grapes at the right speed and the right moment. Because the equation is precise it is inevitably marginal, and marginal means fragile. Great vintages have always been exceptional – and always associated with fine weather…”
For my purposes this compendium satisfies and I find that I only need to pick-up a new edition after several years have gone by. 4.5*
PS: Here is a nice alternative - the ebook edition is cheaper and fairly easy to search. If you have the app on your phone, you can readily consult Johnson at the store or while looking at a restaurant's wine list.
November 20, 2011
In the trade-off between information and portability, this perennial wins hands-down. Why?
Easy to read
Quick ratings of both the success of a wine crop generally, and
The success of any particular winery
Reliable background information
A basic guide to pairing wine with various foods, and in this edition
a wonderful discussion about a the ever more interesting wines of Languedoc-Roussillon
Easy to read
Quick ratings of both the success of a wine crop generally, and
The success of any particular winery
Reliable background information
A basic guide to pairing wine with various foods, and in this edition
a wonderful discussion about a the ever more interesting wines of Languedoc-Roussillon
February 1, 2009
No better bargain for anyone interested in the beverage.
It explains everything necessary to make an informed decision whether at the wine shop or in a restaurant.
Johnson has been around long enough to know the individual vineyards and his personal tastings are reliable.
He offers guides to vintages, explanations of the various types of grapes and what are nice "pairings" of wines and foods.
All of that and it easily fits in a pocket or bag.
I find that his updates are useful but I only need to get a new edition every 2 to 3 years.
It explains everything necessary to make an informed decision whether at the wine shop or in a restaurant.
Johnson has been around long enough to know the individual vineyards and his personal tastings are reliable.
He offers guides to vintages, explanations of the various types of grapes and what are nice "pairings" of wines and foods.
All of that and it easily fits in a pocket or bag.
I find that his updates are useful but I only need to get a new edition every 2 to 3 years.
May 23, 2020
Useful handbook for those into wines
June 14, 2020
Para conocer las diversas características de las regiones vitivinicolas de un vistazo, es este un gran apoyo, ordenado y de fácil lectura.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2021
Outstanding guide for wine geeks. Includes latest vintages.
January 5, 2025
HUGH JOHNSONS POCKET WINE BOOK 2025
THE WORLD'S MOST TRUSTED ANNUAL WINE GUIDE
Book Description
Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book is the essential reference book for everyone who buys wine - in shops, restaurants, or on the internet. Now, in its 48th year of publication, it has no rival as the comprehensive, up-to-the-minute annual guide to wine.
Providing clear succinct facts and commentary on the wines, growers and wine regions of the whole world, the book also reveals which vintages to buy, which to drink and which to cellar, as well as the best growers to look for and why. Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book 2025 gives clear information on grape varieties, local specialities, and how to match food with wines that will bring out the best in both.
This latest edition of Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book includes a colour supplement on Pinot Noir, the world's most highly prized grape, discussing everything from variety and food pairings, to Pinot Noir sparkling wines and how climate change has affected the production of this grape.
An interesting read, I still don't think I could afford between £600 and £1200 for a bottle of wine, though! 😅
THE WORLD'S MOST TRUSTED ANNUAL WINE GUIDE
Book Description
Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book is the essential reference book for everyone who buys wine - in shops, restaurants, or on the internet. Now, in its 48th year of publication, it has no rival as the comprehensive, up-to-the-minute annual guide to wine.
Providing clear succinct facts and commentary on the wines, growers and wine regions of the whole world, the book also reveals which vintages to buy, which to drink and which to cellar, as well as the best growers to look for and why. Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book 2025 gives clear information on grape varieties, local specialities, and how to match food with wines that will bring out the best in both.
This latest edition of Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book includes a colour supplement on Pinot Noir, the world's most highly prized grape, discussing everything from variety and food pairings, to Pinot Noir sparkling wines and how climate change has affected the production of this grape.
An interesting read, I still don't think I could afford between £600 and £1200 for a bottle of wine, though! 😅
September 2, 2013
For anyone with a wine collection, this little book is an essential reference. Johnson updates it annually, and I buy a new edition every two years, just to keep tabs on how my modest number are progressing. It is good for anyone just starting to collect, as well. (No, that 1978 Baby Duck behind your rec room bar is not still improving with age). Loads of info in a small format book.
December 19, 2018
This yearly wine “pocket book” is an absolut favorite in Kindle edition. Use it for restaurant visits on your iPhone to check producers and vintages. The search function is particularly useful. Tap in your wine producer and bang, you have the information you need. Also covers wine & food pairing, which can be useful trying to find the right bottle for a diverse group of dishes in a restaurant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2025
Unparalleled. In a genre of one.
The quantity of information, its currency by annual update and the care and expertise with which it is documented make this a most valuable and convenient resource for anyone interested in choosing better wines to drink, at whatever level.
The quantity of information, its currency by annual update and the care and expertise with which it is documented make this a most valuable and convenient resource for anyone interested in choosing better wines to drink, at whatever level.
January 12, 2009
The one and only pocket wine book I buy every year!
August 23, 2009
Be sure to pick up the latest edition - 2009.
Currently Reading
June 29, 2013If you need some guidelines about wine this is it.
August 28, 2022
Not as useful as I had hoped. It's on my phone. Use it rarely.
June 6, 2023
A great guide for wines from around the world. The book is a good basis of how to shop for them, whether in the country of origin or not.
May 23, 2023
Like the previous editions, extensively documented and full of relevant info.
March 15, 2025
Always an excellent quick reference guide.
December 28, 2012
Worth a read
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews