If you've always wanted to gain a greater understanding of the world of wine, here are some books to get you started
Reading and wine are two of life’s greatest pleasures. As we find ourselves on the brink of what looks like a third wave of the pandemic here in Hong Kong, I’ve found the best antidote to severe disappointment has been to stock up my Kindle with wine tomes, order takeout from one of the many gourmet options that have recently cropped up, pop a cork and envision myself worlds away, ambling among verdant canopies on some distant hillside. And for anyone who’s always wanted to deepen their understanding of this endlessly fascinating subject, here’s your big opportunity! A couple of titles to get you started:
For the Wine Newbie
The 24-Hour Wine Expert, Jancis Robinson MW
From Master of Wine and lauded wine critic Jancis Robinson, this doesn’t quite do what it says on the tin (I’m loathe to disappoint, but expertise in a bottomless pit of a subject like wine just isn’t possible in 24 hours or, frankly, 24 months), but it will certainly make you feel much more comfortable navigating a wine shelf or list. It will also give you the tools to inform yourself further if you so choose. Though interspersed with quick tips and delightful illustrations, the body of the text is written with Jancis’ Oxford English polish and reading it is much like having a long chat with Grande Dame of wine herself.