French Wine For Dummies
by Ed McCarthy, Mary Ewing-Mulligan

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Book Reviews of French Wine For Dummies

Book Review: French Wine, Class by Glass
Summary: 5 Stars

That because almost all French wines are named for places (regions, towns, chateaus) instead of the grapes they're made from, which is the practice in most other countries. Thus your Bordeaux could be made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and most often is--but one of the most famous and most expensive Bordeaux, Petrus, is made almost entirely from Merlot. Not that you'd know from the label. You want Chardonnay? The French make it by the long ton but rarely label it as such, preferring instead something like Puligny-Montrachet. Then there is the collection of "cru" classifications for individual estates. This apparent perversity actually reflects the French belief that "where" means more than "what"; that the native heath marks wine and other foods just as a local accent marks you and me.

That's why this book is the test: Can the authors penetrate and even elucidate this maze? To their credit and my amazement they can and do. They are wine experts but primarily wine educators. They know this stuff cold but as <teachers> want you to learn and love this stuff as much as they do.

In fewer than 300 pages they achieve a great deal--they encourage, instruct, dispel myths, point toward good buys, discuss changing wine-making styles, celebrate new discoveries and pretty much everything else except feed the hungry and clothe the poor.

So if you're interested in French wine or know someone who is, you'll be better of buying this book than almost any other. The price is great and the authors are good company--they can <write> as well as />Bill Marsano is a contributing editor of Hemispheres, United Airlines' in-flight magazine, for which he frequently writes on wine. In 1999 he won a James Beard medal for writing on wine and spirits.

Summary of French Wine For Dummies

?This book is an invitation to discover the bountiful wine regions, each different from one another, and is an homage to the beauty and uniqueness of the delicious wines they produced.?
?Georges Duboeuf, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf

?The diversity of French wine is one of its attractions, but it can seem perplexing...until you pick up this marvelous guide. The route is well -marked, easy-to-follow, and the destinations are delicious.?
?Kermit Lynch, Wine Merchant and author, Adventures on the Wine Route

?...Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan lead us by the hand down the road of adventure to discover the wines of France that they know so well.... In their relaxed, wise, and mischievous way, they show us the joy and pleasure of drinking French wine.?
?Prince Alain de Polignac, Winemaker, Champagne Pommery

You no longer need to be confused or intimidated by French wine. Authored by certified wine educators and authors Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan, French Wine For Dummies introduces you to the delicious world of fine French wine. Among other things, you?ll discover how to:

• Translate wine labels
• Identify great wine bargains
• Develop your own wine tastes
• Match French wines with foods

Here?s everything you need to know to sip and savor the best?and the best-value?Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Alsace, and other delicious wines. This lighthearted and informative guide covers:

• The story of French wine and how it came to dominate the wine world
• How the French name and label their wines and why
• France?s most important wine regions?including a region-by-region survey of the best vineyards and their products
• France?s other wine regions, including Champagne, Alsace, the Loire Valley, and others

So pour yourself a big glass of Beaujolais Nouveau, sit back, and enjoy the ride as Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan take you on an intoxicating journey through the wonderful world of French wine.

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