The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia A Comprehensive Reference Guide to the Wines of the World

Authoritative, international and up-to-date, "The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopaedia" is arranged geographically and combines maps and photographs with information on all wine-growing areas, profiles of distinguished producers and assessments of individual wines. The book's easy-reference style and wealth of practical advice make it an unrivalled source of information for all lovers of wine - from the occasional drinker to the connoisseur.;Taking each wine-making country in turn, Tom Stevenson examines its viticultural history, its wine-producing regions and the current reputation of its wines. He analyzes the factors affecting the taste and quality of each region's wines - location, aspect, soil, microclimates, grape varieties and methods of viticulture and vinification -before assessing its appellations, the individual wine producers (chateaux or wineries) and, of course, the wines themselves.;Tom Stevenson provides practical guidelines on wine tasting, while an "author's choice" chart at the end of each section lists the very best wines. A star-rating system identifies the finest producers and highlights those offering the best value. A "taste chart" explains how to identify the flavours in a wine and a "troubleshooter's guide" spots common wine faults.