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Hugh Johnson's the Story of Wine

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Author: Hugh Johnson
Publisher: Mitchell Beazley
Category: Book

List Price: ~~$40.00~~
Buy New: $2.84
You Save: $37.16 (93%)

New (35) Used (19) from $0.29

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

5 reviews
Sales Rank: 282724

Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.5
Dimensions (in): 11.5 x 9.1 x 1.2

ISBN: 1840009721
Dewey Decimal Number: 641.22
EAN: 9781840009729
ASIN: 1840009721

Publication Date: November 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! NEW Book! May have remainder mark. Most orders ship within 1 BUSINESS DAY with ORDER CONFIRMATION.

Also Available In:

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description

Written by the world’s bestselling wine author, this new illustrated edition is an enthralling read, tracing the story of wine from the dawn of civilization through the bacchanalian splendor of the ancient world to the present day. Updated to include the latest developments in wine, this edition features never before seen archival photographs.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars

great! May 1, 2008
a comprehensive guide to the history of wine. grape wine that is, they don't go much into sake or wines made from other products, though some are mentioned. it goes through many countries and time periods and was overall very readable for a history text.

5 out of 5 stars

The most delicious wine book August 26, 2006
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

Hugh Johnson's marvelous book in a partial answer to a question that few of us have had the sense to ask. While many of us will spend valuable hours wondering: `which wine?' we rarely ask `why wine?'

What's the big deal? Why so many books, why such intense feeling? Wine is just the fermented juice of grapes. Yes, and music is just organized noise and sex is merely one of the ways in which organisms ensure perpetuation of their type.

The reason for the passion isn't to be found in alcohol alone. Almost any sugary solution will support fermentation, and it seems that just about every possible sweet liquid has been fermented from time to time. An amateur winemakers' guide in my library lists recipes for the production of wines from almonds, apples, bananas, barley, beetroot, birch sap, cloves, clover, eggplant, guava, lemons, oak leaves, orange juice, parsley, parsnips, peapods, squash, tea, tomatoes, wallflowers, yarrow and yes, to complete the alphabet, zinnias.

These 'wines'are all possible, but none of them exist. In fact, we restrict our winemaking to just a few varieties of grape. Why?
Aside from the many economic advantages, the fermented juice of grapes is delicious. At its most common, it's a fresh and fruity drink that quenches the thirst and gladdens the heart. At its most exalted, the basic flavors of the grape are transformed by fermentation and aging into a symphony of aromas and tastes and lingering associations. Both the bountiful nature of grape vines and the enormous appeal of their fermented fruit's juice has led civilized man to attach a lot of meaning to wine.

Johnson's book, a slimmed down version of the earlier Vintage , not only reminds us that the question of wine's importance needs to be asked, it goes a long way to providing an answer. His range of reference is impressive and his writing-witting and incisive-is impeccable. When you're ready to try to understand how wine attained its place in the modern world, there's no better place to start than this book.

Lynn Hoffman, author of The New Short Course in Wine

5 out of 5 stars

Vintage Writing December 27, 2002
6 out of 10 found this review helpful

This is one of the most comprehensive and certainly one of the most enjoyable books on wine in any language. Combining excellent prose with impressive scholarship, Mr. Johnson offers a scintillating and often enlightening history of the world's best beverage. Strongly recommended for the historian or wine enthusiast.

5 out of 5 stars

Normally I dislike Hugh Johnson's work August 24, 1999
20 out of 25 found this review helpful

However, I must say that I did enjoy this book. While one reviewer here didn't seem to be too interested in the history of wine, I found it very interesting, so interesting in fact that I am giving my paperback version to a friend and purchasing the hardback version for myself.

What I enjoy about the historical approach is that it helps me understand just how modern wine styles evolved. For example, seeing the influence of the Napoleanic wars on British purchasing and subsequent development of new wines (like Port) was interesting.

2 out of 5 stars Lots of historic information, tedious presentation February 20, 1999
6 out of 22 found this review helpful

It's a history book! If you love Hugh Johnson and love history, you'll love this. Well I love WINE and really like Hugh Johnson and I can't seem to finish this book!

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