“Swirling Up With a Good Book”

“I really want to get into wine, but it’s a bit daunting”  “Where can I learn more”  “I should really learn more” Sound familiar?  These are regular comments I hear at my tastings. In my opinion the best place to start is a really enjoyable tasting with someone you “click with” and secondly with a good book! Confession time; after 13 years tasting and selling wine, a Wine Diploma I’m supposed to be a “wine expert”. In truth a goldfish has a better memory than I do. So here’s my list of 6 well thumbed “go to” wine books for all learning styles.  

You are a “Challenger” and question convention

"Why You Like the Wines You Like” By Tim Hanni (Chef and Master of Wine) My favourite wine book ever! This book will save you from being embarrassed and daunted by wine, and wine snobs.  An intriguing read that blows many wine conventions out of the water. You may even be curious as to why your mum’s morning sickness may have affected your palate?  If you are even slightly interested in wine get a copy and read it.

You are a ‘Visual Learner’ and like  “Looking at the Pictures” 

“The World Atlas of Wine” by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. The first wine book I ever bought long before Google maps existed. Includes very detailed maps, a little about the soils, labels and locations of quality producers in each wine region. If you like the maps, travelling and have an imagination, this is for you.  

You are a ‘Frustrated Graphic Designer / Artist’  

“Wine Folly” by Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack. Wine information presented in the most helpful visual way – diagrams, symbols, taste wheels serving suggestions, and links to the relevant page on their fab website winefolly.com (now my second favourite wine book ever and there is a new magnum edition out.) 

You like to ‘Know how things work’ - you took things apart and rebuilt them as a child

“Understanding Wine Technology” by David Bird. This is subtitled “A book for the non-scientist’ and it is.  What a fabulous reference book to have wine science explained in such a friendly, approachable manner. Written by a thoroughly friendly, approachable man with a great manner. 

You’re a ‘Sponge’ - Should have been on University Challenge 

“The Oxford Companion to Wine” by Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson. There are many editions of this book – it’s the “Encyclopaedia Britannica” of wine, (for those under 50 it’s the “Wikipedia of Wine”). An entry on nearly anything to do with wine, grapes, places, how its made, obscure grapes, wine faults, if you can think of it – it’s probably in there.   

You just like the Learning Process - Miss being at School/University? 

WSET Text Book(s) from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust® I use the Green Level 3 book (Level 2 Blue Book is really great too). A great reminder of factual things about the grapes / regions / how wine is made / how vines are grown.  Most important: a structured wine tasting process (sans airy fairy jargon). I recommend looking up their courses. The HQ is in Bermondsey with schools all over London / UK and in 68 counties. See wsetglobal.com. So there you have it; my personal go to books that keep me on track, remember things, appreciate a little more and keep learning.  Tasting and experiencing wine best, but having a good reference book as a back up is golden. 

Philip Morton

Holder of a WSET diploma and the brain of a goldfish 

Feb 2019