The wine lovers bookshelf

Our favorite wine books

Educational wine books & great reference wine books

The Winemakers of Paso Robles  New! The ultimate coffee table book for wine enthusiasts. The book details 50 vintners and describes how they fell in love with wine and became winemakers. Julia Pérez’s photographs are fantastic.

Kevin Zraly’s 30th Anniversary Windows on the World Wine Course. Kevin Zraly began teaching his wine class at the Windows on the World restaurant in 1976. One of the best self-teaching wine guides around.

Karen MacNeil’s Wine Bible 2nd edition is out! I purchased the original Wine Bible in 2002, and since then it has been one of my “go to” reference wine books. I often refer to the Wine Bible when I need clarification on a wine question or topic.

From one of the great master sommeliers, Evan Goldstein, comes Perfect Pairings.  Clear and understandable suggestions on pairing food and wine. The book also includes some gourmet recipes from chef Joyce Goldstein.

The 25th anniversary of Kermit Lynch’s Adventures on the Wine Route. Learn about the wine country of France through the travels of wine buyer Kermit Lynch. There some wonderful stories in this book with winemakers, growers and winery owners.

This is one of my favorite wine books. It is all about the early years of the Napa Valley and up to the Robert Mondavi and Francis Ford Coppola era. It reads like a novel but it will give you a clear understanding of the great pioneers of the Napa Valley and how the big wine companies impacted the Valley.

The legendary wine critic and writer Jancis Robinson’s Oxford Companion to Wine. This a great comprehensive wine reference and certainly belongs in the wine library of any wine lover. A classic!

Wonderful works of fiction based on the subject of wine

The Vintner’s Daughter. Do you like wine, wine history, the Loire Valley, the Napa Valley, and a love story? This is an easy-reading book that is sure to please anyone who has a strong interest in wine. Sequel coming soon, The California Wife

The Dark Vineyard: This mystery takes place in the small French village of Saint-Denis. The town’s only policemen, Bruno, is a wine and food buff. Bruno finds himself investigating a wine-related murder.

Vintage: A Novel: The tale of a has wine writer in search of a mystery wine. Rumor has it that the wine is from a legendary Burgundy producer. Can the wine writer resurrect his career if he finds this mystery wine?  A quick, fun read centered around wine and food.

An Unholy Alliance by Judy Nedry. First in a series which includes The Difficult Sister and The Man Who Wasn’t There. A cool mystery that takes place the Oregon’s Pinot Noir wine country.