The Wine Trials 2010: The World's Bestselling Guide to Inexpensive Wines, with the 150 Winning Wines Under $15 from the Latest Vintages

by Alexis Herschkowitsch, Alexis Herschkowitsch, Tyce Walters (Editor)

Updated for 2010 and covering 50 percent more wines, it's the breakthrough wine guide that enamored the media⎯"Devilishly delightful" (Dallas Morning News), "Everyday wine drinkers can rejoice" (Newsweek), rattled the snobs⎯"Malicious duplicity!" (Wine Spectator) ⎯and caught the attention of consumers looking to drink better wines for less.

Now the hardworking authors and editors, along with a double-blind panel of wine experts and consumers, blind-tasted wines under $15 that will be available to consumers in 2009 and 2010. The Wine Trials 2010 will reveal the 150 winners of this year's competition⎯the best wines on the market for under $15.

Genres: Nonfiction, Wine, Food and Wine, Food, Reference

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

#2 - 2010.

The basic concept behind this book is why I can get away with serving $8 champagne to people used to drinking Dom Perignon. Read my entire review here.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the second, and larger, half of this book is a reference book listing the winners of the 2010 Wine Trials, the first section is a few chapters on the authors' philosphy on wine rating, tasting, and other related subjects.

It reads as a manifesto of sorts sometimes. The authors rail against Robert Parker and the wine rating magazines such as Wine Spectator. They discuss the inherent problems in the fact that they rate wines while selling advertising to the same wine makers whose wines they rate. The authors are also firm believers in blind tasting, which they discuss at length. It's intelligently written and answers all the questions that were floating around in my head as I read it. It validates my belief that, if a wine maker (or spirits maker, for that matter) is spending money on advertising and marketing, you're paying too much for their product.

There is so much more inside that I won't elaborate on here.

The opening chapters of this book are a must read for anyone interested in wine and the evaluation of it. If you are an explorer and don't want to be told what to enjoy and why you enjoy it, read this.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

These authors have done their work! If you want to find a low-cost wine that tastes wonderful, no matter what the vineyard, this book is for you. The wines reviewed herein are all done by blind taste-testing. There are no kick-backs from sellers, growers, distributors, anyone. They are ALL moderately or cheaply priced. The authors are not attempting to discredit the expensive wines, nor the folks who love them. But this is the perfect book to have with me when I go into Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits, where the choices are numerous, to say the least. I have last year's version of this book, and the beer version of it also.

For all of you left-brained readers, the math and research involved, is explained. The wines listed are not just from our current year, but vintages that will still be on the shelves of the store. A great resource!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part I of this book begins explaining studies about blind wine tasting, and that cheaper wines are usually preferred. It then delves into wine magazine ratings, and comes across a bit like a conspiracy theory. It became repetitive and old by the end of Part I. Part II is an easy to use reference for the top wines under $15. I regularly use this before purchasing wine, and I even write the date in the book that I try the recommended bottle. I bought this book for my in-laws, and I am looking forward to hearing their reviews. Gave 4 stars because of Part II's excellence.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this to any wine drinker - of the casual and of the upturned nose type. Some interesting psychology at work in tasting wines in a social setting. This is my new favorite wine book. I am excited because I have not tried many of these. I read the 2008 version. I'd love a similar take on beer tasting. There is a great book on tasting food with categories that would be fun for anyone on a budget. OnceI find it in the lsit I will rate it. Can't remember the title.

[Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice; I like wine, I like science. Combine the two and I'm a happy man. This is a book about truly double-blind tastings of wines, and it confirms my belief that you can find great, relatively cheap wines -- and in fact, some of my personal favorites are on their list of 100 great value wines. Quick and easy read.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way this is written--a fresh, honest approach to the taste of wines. I'm a big fan of blind-tastings and these authors give us a candid approach on the best wines to buy. Their opinion is not skewed by kick-backs from the wineries. I plan to have this in my car at all ties, so when I am faced with too many choices at the liquor store, I will refer to this guide. Salut!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some good, insightful information for anyone who wants to learn a little more about wines, before going out to do wine tasting #2, or 3...

It's a little old (2008), ranked some wines that we can find and drink, but the rock bottom line is the year of the wines; the book ranks 2003, '04, and '05+ wines that are very hard to come by these days.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm almost done with this book and learned a lot about wine, and about human perception of what tastes good. The first few chapters cite lots of studies and statistics, and show how silly we are in determining what tastes best.

[Brent · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can you give a book no stars!? This is the shittiest wine book ever written. I have been in the wine business for 20 years and I can't stand this book. If you want my full review e-mail me at:

bclivingston@gmail.com

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good guide, brings up valid points about arbitrary wine pricing and rating systems among large magazines such as Wine Spectator or Wine Advocate. After all, they are a business attempting to sell ads, and it's more effective to sell to large wineries with larger advertising budgets.

[Cory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wine dorks unite. This is one for anyone looking for an excuse to pay less for wine. Easy short read with a great reference of 100 great cheap wines.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delicious and cheap wines?! A must have for my kitchen library.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read gives good cheap wine recommendations.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever -- and worth the purchase price if you are a wine drinker!