One of the best things about wine is that there is endless learning involved. As such, I am always interested to see what new books have come out on the topic and what may be of quality and interest. I say quality, because it's hard to find a well written book - one that captivates; draws you in and keeps you there. For instance, as much as I want to get through "First Big Crush" by Eric Arnold, I'm having a difficult time because I think the book is written very poorly.
So, I was in the bookstore the other day, undoubtedly one of my favorite places to spend time, and naturally headed straight for the wine section. I came across a great book called Hip Tastes, by Courtney Cochran. She's a certified sommelier and founder of Your Personal Sommelier and HIP TASTES Events in San Francisco. I was immediately drawn to the book for its "fresh" image. Cochran does a great job of touching upon all facets of the wine industry in a clear, concise way that doesn't confuse, or bore the reader. The book is very well written (most likely because she's an English major from UCLA) and is fun to read. She adds a personal element into her writing that really makes her book unique.
She begins by briefing the reader on the history of wine, talking a little bit about viticulture and viniculture and what can affect the variety of wine styles. Cochran calls this "Your CliffsNotes to the Wine World." Next, the author explains the dynamics of how to taste and analyze wine and then discusses specifics about white, red, sparkling and sweet wines. Other topics addressed in her book are wine and food pairing, how to store wine at home, how to tackle a restaurant wine list, how to shop for wine at home, and tips on planning travel to the wine regions of the world.
Another great feature of HIP TASTES is the appendix. Cochran offers charts listing wines named for places, wine word pronunciation, and regions and their specific producers and quality vintages. She also has an extensive listing of U.S. retailers (brick-and-mortar and online), wine festivals and events, wine tourism resources and wine schools/classes. I'd have to say that this book is one of the best new encyclopedic-style wine books on the market today. Quite frankly, I wish it had been available to me when I was first learning wine. Even with the knowledge I have today, I find it to be a good little companion. It's definitely a book that can serve useful to both the beginner and the expert.
Check out the links above to Courtney Cochran's websites if you're interested in her HIP TASTES events, or booking her as your personal sommelier! Please note she works primarily in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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