Want to know what books Randall Grahm recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Randall Grahm's favorite book recommendations of all time.
1
James Halliday, Hugh Johnson | 4.06
How wine is made, from field to cellar to bottle.
Great wine is a complex blend of nature, art and science. In this updated new edition of a classic book, the "how and why" of a wine's creation are examined in detail.
Acclaimed wine writers James Halliday and Hugh Johnson analyze the art and science behind the winemaking process. They start with the fundamental role of terroir the complex combination of characteristics that give a wine its personality. The latest developments in pruning and irrigation are then covered, along with the recent emergence of vineyards... more How wine is made, from field to cellar to bottle.
Great wine is a complex blend of nature, art and science. In this updated new edition of a classic book, the "how and why" of a wine's creation are examined in detail.
Acclaimed wine writers James Halliday and Hugh Johnson analyze the art and science behind the winemaking process. They start with the fundamental role of terroir the complex combination of characteristics that give a wine its personality. The latest developments in pruning and irrigation are then covered, along with the recent emergence of vineyards in cooler regions and the rise of organic wines.
Wine production in the cellar is detailed for nine specific styles, from light-bodied whites to full-bodied reds, along with sweet, sparkling and fortified varieties. The authors present the choices facing vintners at every step. The science of maturation is discussed, along with the industry's raging debate over the merits of natural cork, plastic cork and screw cap seals. The book also covers:
A year in the vineyard Quantity vs. quality National attitudes and regional characteristics Mechanization The chemistry and analysis of wine. The Art and Science of Wine is filled with full color photographs and illustrations. With text that reflects the latest winemaking technology and discoveries, this lively book is both accessible and highly informative. less 
Randall GrahmThere are other winemaking books, but if you have one wine book on a desert island this would probably be the one that you want or need. (Source)
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2
Kermit Lynch's recounting of his experiences on the wine route and in the wine cellars of France takes the reader through the Loire, Bordeaux, the Languedoc, Provence, Northern and Southern Rhone, and the Cote d'Or. more Kermit Lynch's recounting of his experiences on the wine route and in the wine cellars of France takes the reader through the Loire, Bordeaux, the Languedoc, Provence, Northern and Southern Rhone, and the Cote d'Or. less Randall GrahmIt is a funny book. What is best about Kermit’s writing is that he really captures the feel of a place. (Source)
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3
Roald Dahl's humor-tinged story begins as a dinner gathering and grows into a rivalry between home owner Mike Schofield and an arrogant, overbearing wine expert named Richard Pratt. Schofield challenges Pratt to a test of his expertise and their wager grows until the stakes are immense. Neither party can afford to lose but neither will call of the bet. more Roald Dahl's humor-tinged story begins as a dinner gathering and grows into a rivalry between home owner Mike Schofield and an arrogant, overbearing wine expert named Richard Pratt. Schofield challenges Pratt to a test of his expertise and their wager grows until the stakes are immense. Neither party can afford to lose but neither will call of the bet. less Randall GrahmIt is an amazing story. It is very funny and also captures how wine tasters can use language to assert cultural superiority. (Source)
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4
What is taste? Is it individual or imposed on us from the outside? Why are so many of us so intimidated when presented with the wine list at a restaurant? In "The Accidental Connoisseur," journalist Lawrence Osborne takes off on a personal voyage through a little-known world in pursuit of some answers. Weaving together a fantastic cast of eccentrics and obsessives, industry magnates and small farmers, the author explores the way technological change, opinionated critics, consumer trends, wheelers and dealers, trade wars, and mass market tastes have made the elixir we drink today entirely... more What is taste? Is it individual or imposed on us from the outside? Why are so many of us so intimidated when presented with the wine list at a restaurant? In "The Accidental Connoisseur," journalist Lawrence Osborne takes off on a personal voyage through a little-known world in pursuit of some answers. Weaving together a fantastic cast of eccentrics and obsessives, industry magnates and small farmers, the author explores the way technological change, opinionated critics, consumer trends, wheelers and dealers, trade wars, and mass market tastes have made the elixir we drink today entirely different from the wine drunk by our grandparents.
In his search for wine that is a true expression of the place that produced it, Osborne takes the reader from the high-tech present to the primitive past. From a lavish lunch with wine tsar Robert Mondavi to the cellars of Marquis Piero Antinori in Florence, from the tasting rooms of Chateau Lafite to the humble vineyards of northern Lazio, Osborne winds his way through Renaissance palaces, $27 million wineries, tin shacks and garages, opulent restaurants, world-famous chais and vineyards, renowned villages and obscure landscapes, as well as the great cities which are the temples of wine consumption: New York, San Francisco, Paris, Florence, and Rome. On the way, we will be shown the vast tapestry of this much-desired, little-understood drink: who produces it and why, who consumes it, who critiques it? Enchanting, delightful, entertaining, and, above all, down to earth, this is a wine book like no other.
less Randall GrahmWhat is amazing about the book, for me, is the quality of the writing, which is lovely and very funny. (Source)
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5
"The most useful single volume on wine ever published... If I owned only one wine book, it would be this one." - Andrew Jefford, Decanter
Few wine books can be called classic, but the first edition of The World Atlas of Wine made publishing history when it appeared in 1971. It is recognized by critics as the essential and most authoritative wine reference work available. This eighth edition will bring readers, both old and new, up to date with the world of wine.
To reflect all the changes in the global wine scene over the past six years, the Atlas... more "The most useful single volume on wine ever published... If I owned only one wine book, it would be this one." - Andrew Jefford, Decanter
Few wine books can be called classic, but the first edition of The World Atlas of Wine made publishing history when it appeared in 1971. It is recognized by critics as the essential and most authoritative wine reference work available. This eighth edition will bring readers, both old and new, up to date with the world of wine.
To reflect all the changes in the global wine scene over the past six years, the Atlas has grown in size to 416 pages and 22 new maps have been added to the wealth of superb cartography in the book. The text has been given a complete overhaul to address the topics of most vital interest to today's wine-growers and drinkers.
With beautiful photography throughout, Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, the world's most respected wine-writing duo, have once again joined forces to create a classic that no wine lover can afford to be without.
"The World Atlas of Wine is the single most important reference book on the shelf of any wine student." - Eric Asimov, New York Times
"Like a good bottle of wine, you'll find yourself going back to it again and again... Perfect for anyone who has a thirst for greater wine knowledge." - Edward Deitch, NBC/today.com
"The World Atlas of Wine belongs on your shelf... The essential rootstock of any true wine lover's library. A multi-layered snapshot of wine and how it has evolved." - Dave McIntyre, Washington Post
Winner Andre Simon Award Best Drinks Book of 2019
less Randall GrahmWhat’s so amazing about the book is its compendious nature. It really covers so much. It captures the depth and range of the wine world. (Source)
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6
Originally published in 1965, The Painted Bird established Jerzy Kosinski as a major literary figure. Called by the Los Angeles Times "one of the most imposing novels of the decade," it was eventually translated into more than thirty languages.
A harrowing story that follows the wanderings of a boy abandoned by his parents during World War II, The Painted Bird is a dark novel that examines the proximity of terror and savagery to innocence and love. It is the first, and the most famous, novel by a writer who is now discredited. more Originally published in 1965, The Painted Bird established Jerzy Kosinski as a major literary figure. Called by the Los Angeles Times "one of the most imposing novels of the decade," it was eventually translated into more than thirty languages.
A harrowing story that follows the wanderings of a boy abandoned by his parents during World War II, The Painted Bird is a dark novel that examines the proximity of terror and savagery to innocence and love. It is the first, and the most famous, novel by a writer who is now discredited. less Randall Grahm@jeromecharyn @BonnyDoonVineyd @bascove1 @lenoreriegel @flatironwines It was so honored that you saw your way to participate, and very glad that the event was not too onerous. Currently reading the Kosinski book and enjoying it immensely. Would love to get together again next time in NYC. (Source)
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