TOASST Wine Reading Guide: From Jancis Robinson’s 24-Hour Wine Expert to Jura Wines

With some extra time on our hands (and hands on our wine glasses) these days, what better time to dive deeper into the world of wine? Whether you’re a newbie wanting to dip your toes in the great ocean of vino, or vintage taster looking to explore areas of interest in more detail, here are our top picks for some great reads to take your wine journey to the next level. Pop a bottle from this month’s Toasst box and dive in. 

The Technical Stuff

BEGINNER

The 24-Hour Wine Expert: When the daughter of legendary wine expert Jancis Robinson asked for wine guidance suitable for her non-expert friends, this compact manual was born. All the basics, none of the fluff - the perfect primer for millennials to mature learners. 

Wine for Dummies: There is a good reason the ‘For Dummies’ books have been around so long! Learn to pronounce Haut-Brion (oo-bree-ohn) and finally understand what it means when a wine is “tannic”. Co-authored by the first female American Master of Wine, Mary Ewing-Mulligan.

Wine all the time: Funny, breezy and easy read by Bon Appétit wine editor Marissa Ross on the basics of wine for the purposes of buying and drinking. 

GOING DEEP

World Atlas of Wine, 8th Edition, Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson: If you’ve ever wondered where exactly Barossa is in Australia or what exactly Right Bank vs Left Bank in Bordeaux looks like, this is the guide to everything that you’ll ever want to know about the origins of what’s in your bottle. Pro-tip: As much as we love the real book (if you can, splurge on the gorgeous new edition that should have pride of place on a coffee table) the iPad version is a must-have for anyone looking to have helpful visuals at their fingertips on wine trips.

Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste, Jordan MacKay and Rajat Parr: This is a reference book for somms and wanna-be somms to geek out to. Go on a virtual travel through sub-regions, soils and appellations that one should taste across famed wine regions in Europe. Not a book for the wine faint-hearted yet it’s an eye opener for those who are interested in understanding how sommeliers train and craft their stories for wine.

DEEPER STILL

Wine Grapes, Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz: If ever there was a labor of love for the grapes themselves, this book is surely it. Meticulously researched with cutting edge DNA analysis, this book chronicles the history, etymology, synonyms, and growing behaviors of over 1,400 distinct grape varietals. Learn why Cot from France became Malbec in South America and why we should probably all be calling Grenache, Garnacha, as they do in Spain, the most likely place of its birth. 

SUPER CORK DORK

Jura Wine and Wine of the French Alps, Wink Lorch: If you have a taste for obscure Alpine grape varietals, as Amy does, then these are the books for you. Complete with profiles of nearly every producer in these regions, Lorch goes deep in her love of these wines, if unsparing in her criticism where deserved. Bonus points for giving reader essentials on eating in these parts including details on the wonderful cheeses produced by happy cows and sheep living high on these mountain slopes. 

Champagne: The Essential Guide, Peter Liem - Champagne odyssey on steroids. Travel through time and across the sub-regions to learn about the origins of the wines, terroirs and key producers in this iconic region. As one of the preeminent authority figures on champagne, Liem’s prose and writing style elevates the reader from the couch to traversing time and place. While the Kindle version is obviously far more convenient, it does not do the book justice (Christina of course has both). We highly recommend the hardcover version with its beautiful stark photos and coveted pull-out maps. 

History!

Wine & War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasures, Don Kladstrup, Petie Kladstrup: False walls, daring escapes, collaboration and resistance. This is WWII through the eyes of five prominent French wine families as they struggle to preserve their heritage from the plunder of the Nazi invaders. Essential reading for any history buff with a wine habit. 

Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It, Tilar J. Mazzeo: A perfect read for those who prefer a bit of narrative to a reference manual for wine. Most of us identify Veuve Clicquot champagne with the trademark orange label as the epitome of a glamorous lifestyle. Far from having origins as a party wine, Mazzeo details the fascinating story of a young widow during the French Revolution who single handedly redefined not only how champagne is still made to this day but how it is marketed.

Gold in the Vineyards, Laura Catena: This wonderfully illustrated book by 4th generation vinter Dr. Laura Catena details the histories of 12 famous Old World and New World wine producers.  Somewhat reminiscent of a children’s book, it’s chock full of illustrations, infographics and maps that really bring to life the stories of great wine and the families and personalities behind them. Makes a great gift for a wine lover or yourself.

Armchair Travel

Adventures on the Wine Route, Kermit Lynch: It’s been over 30 years since Lynch first published his memoir of an American wine merchant bringing (mostly French) wine to the philistines of the United States. This memoir stands the test of time both for those in the business (the model is little changed since Lynch started out in the 70’s) and for those who enjoy a bit of armchair travel with a side of good juice. 

The Wet and the Dry: A Drinker’s Journey, Lawrence Osborne: Ever wonder how to get a drink in Oman or where expats sneak a cocktail in Pakistan? With Osborne as our guide, we will know what to do should we ever find ourselves in the same position. His travelogues on the “dry” parts of the mostly Muslim world intersperse with chapters on his own struggle with over-consumption. A daring, entertaining journey, that we’re happy to live through only vicariously. 

Godforsaken Grapes, Jason Wilson: Wilson takes us on the memoir/travel writer’s version of Wine Grapes (a book to which he owes a debt). He relishes the obscure from throwing back chasselas for breakfast in Zurich to helping us understand the whims of sommeliers in shaping our taste for everything from Gruner Vetliner (or groo-vee, as he calls it) to the painfully trendy orange wines of Georgia.