US Passes France In Wine Consumption

[kwilkinson]

So, regarding Matt Kramer, I'm about to get some of his books on interlibrary loan. Would "Making Sense of Wine" do me any good? Or should I go straight for the Burgundy book?

 

[Cary Grant]

China has grown from 40million cases per annum in 2004 to 126 million by 2009.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

So, regarding Matt Kramer, I'm about to get some of his books on interlibrary loan. Would "Making Sense of Wine" do me any good? Or should I go straight for the Burgundy book?

I think the first will be too basic for you.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by Manton

I think the first will be too basic for you.
I've been thinking about his question. It will be too basic for him in most ways, but if you are going to sell wine, it helps to be able to talk to your customers at that level.

 

[foodguy]

Originally Posted by Manton

I think the first will be too basic for you.

i'm not so sure i'd agree. i think it's important for someone considering these books to understand that these are not your typical wine primers. most of that stuff is covered, but Kramer does a good job of undertaking wine in a cultural context ... kind of like the difference between Flusser's rules and that other guy who wrote that book about the suit. if you want strictly nuts and bolts, maybe zraly's books are better. but if you want to know why they're important, then kramer.

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by foodguy

... kind of like the difference between Flusser's rules and that other guy who wrote that book about the suit.

you mean "The suit" by Mr. Antongiavanni. He seems knowledgeable, I wish he would join StyleForvm.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Manton

I think the first will be too basic for you.

Originally Posted by iammatt

I've been thinking about his question. It will be too basic for him in most ways, but if you are going to sell wine, it helps to be able to talk to your customers at that level.

Originally Posted by foodguy

i'm not so sure i'd agree. i think it's important for someone considering these books to understand that these are not your typical wine primers. most of that stuff is covered, but Kramer does a good job of undertaking wine in a cultural context ... kind of like the difference between Flusser's rules and that other guy who wrote that book about the suit. if you want strictly nuts and bolts, maybe zraly's books are better. but if you want to know why they're important, then kramer.

Okay, cool. I guess I'll pick it up and give it a try at least. I assume that I'll understand/already know most if not all of the technical information in there, but I do kind of need to find a way to relate to people on a more personal level with wine. It's pretty easy in the shop to get me talking about yields and vine age and trellising, and sometimes I can see people's eyes gloss over when all they wanted was basic info on the wine.

In that regard, another good book on wine is "Wine and Conversation." It was recommended to me by holymadness.

 

[NorCal]

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

For you serious wine drinkers... How good is the quality of wine coming out of California?

Best in the world. Duh.

 

[eg1]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

You sir, have lost the right to refer to yourself as "Canadian."

I, sir, am Irish-Canadian. None of that sassenach-collaborating lingo for me ...

 

[kwilkinson]

Picked up Making Sense of Wine and Making Sense of Burgundy yesterday. About halfway through the former, and I absolutely love it. His writing style is great, very easy to read. His bare-bones, no bullshit approach is really refreshing (even though written 22 years ago). I like it a lot. I can't wait for his surprisingly huge Burgundy book.

 

[foodguy]

matt knows as much about burgundy -- and understands as much -- as anyone i've ever met. that's a good thing and a bad thing.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

Picked up Making Sense of Wine and Making Sense of Burgundy yesterday. About halfway through the former, and I absolutely love it. His writing style is great, very easy to read. His bare-bones, no bullshit approach is really refreshing (even though written 22 years ago). I like it a lot. I can't wait for his surprisingly huge Burgundy book.
If more people took his approach to wine, I truly believe that the wine we drink would be better.

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by eg1

I, sir, am Irish-Canadian. None of that sassenach-collaborating lingo for me ...

You got that one back-asswards!

 

[gomestar]

damn it, just as I took a "put the book down" approach, a book comes along about wine that everybody must read

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by gomestar

damn it, just as I took a "put the book down" approach, a book comes along about wine that everybody must read

This book goes along pretty well with a general "put the book down" approach to wine, if by "put the book down" you mean stop intellectualizing everything, step back, and just enjoy.