Vintner's Art: How Great Wines Are Made

The skills used in the making of wine are directly relevant to the consumer, for the choices made in the vineyard and in the winery are crucial to the quality of the end product. Here, for the first time, is a book that enlightens the wine lover on the "hows" and "whys" of the winemaker's choices.

Today, winemakers have at their disposal an unprecedented array of opportunities to influence the way their wine will taste: science and technology have granted them creative power undreamt of only twenty years ago. Wine is no longer entirely the product of nature; it is a collaboration, and one in which the winemaker is becoming more and more the dominant partner.

The winemaker's choices begin in the vineyard with the selection of the grape variety and the way it will be farmed. In the winery, every step poses questions, from crushing the grapes to bottling the wine. The sum total of the decisions taken by the winemaker is the taste of the wine in our glass, and this book explains how this taste is achieved.

Hugh Johnson and James Halliday explore this fast-moving new world, looking at the influence of tradition, the effects of modern technology, and the latest thinking of winemakers from every continent.

For everyone for whom a glass of wine is worth a moment's reflection, this is an essential book. Beautiful, absorbing, and entertaining, The Vintner's Art combines the best in wine writing with dramatic modern design, using graphics and superb photography.

Johnson and Halliday assume a basic knowledge of making and tasting wine and proceed to discuss all the options open to the winemaker. Simple charts depicting sequences of events are unique to this book and quite interesting.

I still can't put it down. For a winemaker its a wealth of ideas and possibilities.


Excellent!   February 21, 1999
 10 out of 12 found this review helpful

James Halliday and Hugh Johnson do a fabulous job of explaining different wine styles and the reasons for the differences.

Terrific photos and diagrams. A good read and an outstanding reference for winemakers and wine lovers. One oddity... they managed to write the book without using the word "zinfandel".


Excellent reference   December 15, 1998
 6 out of 9 found this review helpful

Found this book thoroughly delightful. A must for anyone interested in wines. Easy to read. Gives complete explanations about each wine type. Beautiful pictures, too. Keep it on my coffee table and refer to it regularly.