Synopses & Reviews
and#147;Gerald Asher brought to
Gourmet the magazine's most literate, scholarly, and civilized column. For a balanced view, a true feel for wine's values, he has no peer. And he is always a joy to read.and#8221;and#151;Hugh Johnson, author of
A Life Uncorked and
The World Atlas of Wine"Gerald Asher is amongst the most erudite men I know. With an exceptional palate, he appreciates wines of great elegance, subtlety, and finesse, and his writings capture the essence of many fine wines."and#151;Christian Moueix, Etablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix
and#147;Wine can occasionally be silken textured, as can its prose, especially in Gerald Asher's hands. He is the Maestro, the Doyen, and my inspiration since the 1970s.and#8221;and#151;John Livingstone-Learmonth, author of The Wines of the Northern Rhand#244;ne
"Gerald Asher's eye for telling detail makes for addictively readable prose"and#151;Terry Theise, author of Reading between the Wines
and#147;When it comes to style as well as substance, no one writing about wine in the English language comes close to Gerald Asher. These articles from Gourmet magazine are as fresh and informative as they were when initially published. A Vineyard in My Glass deserves a place on every wine loverand#8217;s bookshelf.and#8221;and#151;Steve Heimoff, author of A Wine Journey Along the Russian River
In a wine world that is obsessed with points and descriptors, Gerald Asherand#8217;s writing is utterly refreshing. No matter his topic, he reminds us that the most interesting things about wine are the place it comes from and the people who make it.and#151;Carole Meredith, Professor Emerita of Enology, UC Davis
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and#8220;A chance to revisit the beauty of wine writing in pure form.and#8221;
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and#8220;Amid a flood of mediocre, silly and pretentious wine writers, Asher stands out as a true craftsman and gentleman journalist who knows wine and can tell a story with wit and insight.and#8221;
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"Compelling. . . . A thoughtful, provocative journey."
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"A fascinating read."--Watsonville Register-Pajaronian
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and#8220;A terrific introduction to one of the greatest wine writers of our times. . . . Complexity [thatand#8217;s] easy to savor.and#8221;
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"Compelling. . . . A thoughtful, provocative journey." Napa Valley Register
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“A fascinating read.” Mary Gorman-McAdams - The Kitchn
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“A terrific introduction to one of the greatest wine writers of our times. . . . Complexity [thats] easy to savor.” Bob Walch - Watsonville Register-Pajaronian
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and#8220;A fascinating read.and#8221;
Synopsis
Gerald Asher, who served as Gourmetand#8217;s wine editor for thirty years, has drawn together this selection of his essays, published in Gourmet and elsewhere, for the collective insight they give into why a wine should always be an expression of a place and a time. Guiding the reader through twenty-seven diverse wine regions in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and California, he shows how every wine worth drinking is a reflection of its terroirand#151;in the broadest sense of that untranslatable word. In evocative reminiscences of wines, winemakers, and the meals he has had with them, he weaves together climate, terrain, and local history, sharing his knowledge and experience so skillfully that we learn as we are entertained and come to understand, gradually, that the meaning and pleasure of a wine lie always in the context of its origin and in the concurrence of where, how, and with whom we enjoy it.
About the Author
Gerald Asher is the author of The Pleasures of Wine, Vineyard Tales, Wine Journal, and On Wine. As an international wine merchant, he was decorated by the French Government in 1974 for his contribution to French viticulture, in 2001 was named Outstanding Wine Professional of the Year by the James Beard Foundation, and in 2009 was inducted into the Culinary Institute of Americaand#8217;s Vintnerand#8217;s Hall of Fame.
Table of Contents
List of Maps
Introduction
Part One. France
Fronsac: Chalk and Clay, Legs and Thighs
Vouvray: Tufa and Temperate Summers
Cand#244;te Chalonnaise: Limestone Delicacy
White Wines of the Southern Rhand#244;ne: A Fresh Look at Old Varieties
Muscadet: Ocean Breezes and Estuary Sands
Saint-Emilion: A Jumble of Soils
Chablis: A French Classic from Ancient Seashells
The Other Mand#233;doc: Vines and Windmills
Corton: Burgundyand#8217;s Magic Mountain
Roussillon: Sunlight in a Bottle
Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumand#233;: Terres Blanches, Caillottes, and Silex
Champagne: Location, Location, Location
Chand#226;teau Montrose: The Essential Saint-Estand#232;phe
Part Two. Other European Wine Regions
Soave: Old Lava and New Politics
Saar and Ruwer: Riesling, Slate, and Long Summer Days
Brunello di Montalcino: Elegance from an Untamed Land
Rias Baixasand#150;Albariand#241;o: A Fragrant Wine of the Sea
Vega Sicilia: A Legend at High Altitude
Part Three. California
Dry Creek Valley: An Easy Grace
Clarksburg: The Right Grape in the Right Place
Carneros: Wind, Fog, and Hardpan
Santa Barbara County: A Geological Quirk
Edna Valley: Marine Sediment and Volcanic Debris
Lodi: Where the Pacific Meets the Sierra Nevada
Mount Veeder: Vines among the Redwoods
Anderson Valley: Gravel and Cobblestones in Arcadia
Rutherford: The Heart of Napa Valley
Index