Synopses & Reviews
An excellent bottle of wine can be the spark that inspires a brainstorming session. Such was the case for Ian Tattersall and Rob DeSalle, scientists who frequently collaborate on book and museum exhibition projects. When the conversation turned to wine one evening, it almost inevitably led the twoandmdash;one a palaeoanthropologist, the other a molecular biologistandmdash;to begin exploring the many intersections between science and wine. This book presents their fascinating, freewheeling answers to the question andldquo;What can science tell us about wine?andrdquo; And vice versa.
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Conversational and accessible to everyone, this colorfully illustrated book embraces almost every imaginable area of the sciences, from microbiology and ecology (for an understanding of what creates this complex beverage) to physiology and neurobiology (for insight into the effects of wine on the mind and body). The authors draw on physics, chemistry, biochemistry, evolution, and climatology, and they expand the discussion to include insights from anthropology, primatology, entomology, Neolithic archaeology, and even classical history. The resulting volume is indispensible for anyone who wishes to appreciate wine to its fullest.
Review
andldquo;A Natural History of Wine fills an important gap in our understanding of how the Eurasian grapevine evolved over millions of years to become the wine grape par excellence.andrdquo;andmdash;Patrick E. McGovern, author of Ancient Wine and Uncorking the Past
Review
andldquo;An afflatus of the freshest air amid the smog of todayand#39;s wine blather. Cuts through the unctuous astrology of so much oeno-sophism with, thank Dionysos, the balm of fact. A Lucretius for wine epicures.andrdquo;andmdash;William Fitch, Wine Director, Vinegar Hill House
Review
andldquo;In this unique and most enjoyable work, the enthusiasm of these two wine-loving scholars is compelling as they examine in depth one of lifeand#39;s greatest pleasures.andrdquo;andmdash;Brian Flanagan, Director of Wine Education at Burgundy Wine Company
Review
andldquo;Wine is art. Wine is ritual. Wine is culture. Wine is romance. But in the hands of Tattersall and DeSalle, who are boundlessly curious naturalists, we learn that wine is also science. And that enhanced awareness serves only to magnify your appreciation of this timeless beverage.andrdquo;andmdash;Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist (and Wine Lover), American Museum of Natural History
Review
andldquo;Tattersall and DeSalle have given us an original, in-depth yet accessible book which will excite wine lovers and wine professionals alike with new perspectives on the subject . . . A great addition to the literature.andrdquo;andmdash;Pascaline Lepeltier, Master Sommelier, Rouge Tomate Chelsea
Review
andldquo;Ian Tattersall and Rob DeSalle have written one of the most fascinating wine books ever. Consummate scientist-storytellers, they take us into andlsquo;universesandrsquo; of wine that have rarely been explored before. I loved reading this book!andrdquo;andmdash;Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible
Review
andldquo;Now here is a text that should be required reading for any serious sommelier. Each chapter is an engaging entity on its own, which reminds me we never stop learning something new.andrdquo;andmdash;Roger Dagorn, Master Sommelier, One Five Hospitality Management
Synopsis
A captivating survey of the science of wine and winemaking for anyone who has ever wondered about the magic of the fermented grape
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 205) and index.
About the Author
What inspired you to investigate the natural history of wine?
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We were inspired to do this book when we found ourselves drinking wine as an inspirational aid while writing our last book together, on the evolution of the brain. It occurred to us that wine is a wonderful perspective through which to view almost every area of natural science.
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Why are humans so enamored of wine?
There are plenty of evolutionary scenarios to explain both our ability to metabolize alcohol and our propensity to seek it out. Quite honestly, though, wine itself transcends purely reductionist explanations. It appeals comprehensively to our senses, but it is much more than simply a sensory stimulus.and#160;It is a wonderful metaphor for some fundamental aspects of human experience.
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Do you have a andldquo;favorite factandrdquo; about any particular wine or vintage?
This book is about wine itself, rather than about particular wines, or styles of wine. However, a particular favorite is the andldquo;Prephylloxeraandrdquo; bottling from Mount Etna, made from ancient gnarled vines that somehow survived the epidemic that almost destroyed the wine industry in the late nineteenth century.
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Where is wine going?
The chemistry of wine wonandrsquo;t change in the future, and more than likely the genetics of wine wonandrsquo;t either. But as an extension of the human spirit, wine will continue to challenge human creativity in exactly the same way it first did seven or eight thousand years ago.