Eric Asimov

"Veteran wine books are by modern standards short on facts." — Decanter Magazine ?"This is an inspirational book well worth your time." — Eric Asimov on Instagram ?"If you want to learn about wine, switch off your phone, buy these two books and enjoy them with a nice glass of something." — The Critic "This is a don’t-miss book for people who plan their travels around vineyards." — Washington Post "This is one of the best books on wine ever written." — Sommelier India In this unique approach to understanding wine, Hugh Johnson, the world’s best-loved wine author, weaves the story of his own epic wine journey with an embracing view of everything he has discovered along the way. Almost without realising it, the reader is drawn into a fascinating world; with each page turned, knowledge is gained and wine wisdom absorbed. Hugh takes us from the teetering ledges of the Mosel and majestic châteaux of the Médoc to the sylvan slopes of Windsor Great Park with a spring in his step and a tasting glass at the ready. No one writes so infectiously on every aspect of wine, whether human or cultural, technical or historical. This book is peppered with anecdotes and personal recollections, infused with the sheer delight Hugh finds in his subject. It is a book with a story to tell and a mastery of wine to impart. Previously published as Wine, A Life Uncorked 2005, now updated with new chapters.

For many people, wine is an anxiety-inducing mystery as arcane as quantum physics, and with so many varieties, it's difficult to know what to choose. As New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov argues, that puzzling uncertainty often prevents people from buying and ordering wine, depriving them of an exquisite, deeply satisfying experience. In How to Love Wine, Asimov examines why the American wine culture produces such feelings of anxiety and suggests how readers can overcome their fears and develop a sense of discovery and wonder as they explore the diversity and complexity of the world of wine. With warmth, candor, and intelligent authority, Asimov interweaves his professional knowledge and insights with engaging personal stories of his love affair with wine, a lifelong passion that began when he was a graduate student on a budget. In a direct, down-to-earth manner, Asimov discusses favorite vineyards, wine's singular personalities, the tyranny of tasting notes -those meaningless, over-written wine descriptions that often pass for criticism today-and current wine issues. Throughout, he incorporates in-depth discussions of beautiful wines, both easy to find and rare, and pays special attention to those that have been particularly meaningful to him. Thought-provoking and enjoyable, How to Love Wine will help diminish readers' anxiety, bolster their confidence, and transform them into true wine lovers.

Pairing wine and food can bring out the best qualities in each. But how do you hit upon the right combination? Do you fall back on the old rules: red with meat, white with fish? Or do you decide by cuisine, flavor notes, or season? The choices can be perplexing and constantly changing. Florence Fabricant and Eric Asimov have spent much of their careers grappling with this most delicious dilemma. For almost a decade Asimov has been writing The Wines of the Times columns accompanied by Fabricants' Pairings recipes. There are few hard-and-fast rules. Instead, Wine with Food offers guiding information to instill confidence so you can make your own choices. The goal is to break the mold of many traditional pairing models in the hopes of opening up new possibilities. Asimov focuses on wines of distinction and highlights certain producers to look for, without getting into specific vintages. Fabricant offers one hundred dishes, each carefully crafted to let the wine shine. They cover every course and draw from diverse global influences - Clams with Chorizo, Eggplant Croque Monsieurs, Smoked Trout Frittata, Autumn Panzanella, Duck Fried Rice, Black Cod on Wilted Radicchio, Coq au Vin Blanc, Peppers Stuffed with Oxtail, Short Ribs with Squash and Shiitakes, Osso Buco Portobello. Along the way, sidebars explore fascinating issues related to the entire experience at the table - such as sweet with savoury, the right kind of glass, and decanting. Wine with Food is both an inspiring collection of recipes and a concise guide to wine.