Wine Buying Companion for Dummies

Just as in their other wine guides, Red Wine For Dummies, White Wine For Dummies, and Wine For Dummies, authors and connoisseurs Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan talk about wine in terms that make sense and that really mean something. You'll find complete sentences -- not the poetic but abstract strings of adjectives you may find in many other wine guides.

Take this handy guide with you whether you're purchasing wine from a supermarket, wine shop, tasting room, or even over the Internet. You'll be able to try out new wines and more than likely be pleasantly surprised for a change.

Much of the vintage information is dated. The authors mention in WfD that vintage is much less important, yet they refer to it often, as in this book. This is to be expected, but not quite consistent with their theories. That being said, much of the date related information is old -- 5 years is past prime for many wines that we buy for drinking with our dinners. Hence, I think it is dated and it is much better just to refer to WfD.


Good for Beginners   April 13, 2001
 18 out of 19 found this review helpful

This book is a good companion guide to "Wine for Dummies", with a more precise emphasis (as the title implies) on wine purchase. A wine-food chart is helpful for pairing wine varietals with meals. The book is smaller than "Wine for Dummies," so it can be thought of as a pocket guide that can be brought along on shopping trips. Overall, it is a precise, no-nonsense guide to wine basics. Wonderful for beginners, but probably nothing new to seasoned oenophiles.


Uninformed Senior   July 4, 2000
 2 out of 43 found this review helpful

I was not a dining out person. Never aquired a knowlege of wines. Or how to order them. Have read pamplets in liquor stores. But still can't pronounce many of the names of wines. I am hoping that Dummys will help me.