Any serious hobbying requires some background reading. So does liking wine. Especially nowadays so many wines are made all over the world that it is impossible to follow every wine. For tat reason only one should read extensively about wine. But there is also the fine writing of (mainly) Britih winewriters that gives insight in people who have a tasting experience far outshining that of most winelovers. Below you will find titles of a number of books that I found myself returningto and rereading time after time. Often well written, and with a personal view on the intriguing issue of wine.

Contents:

• Michael Broadbent: Great Vintage Wine Book II - A classic already when the 'part I' of this glorious book was issued in the early eighties.You'll have to like reading nothing but notes on wine, but the perfect, eloquent, exact and beautifully understated style of Michael Broadbent is surely the way to get started! Broadbent is a trifle conservative in his judgements, in my humble opinion, not always giving theopen eye to the roaring young talents of the world, but still...well worth reading.
• Edmund Penning Rowsell: The Wines of Bordeaux - I started learning more about Bordeaux wines with an earlier edition of this fine book. Still a classic one should not miss. Beautifully written and with lots of interesting historic information.
• Remington Norman: The Great Domaines of Burgundy - One of my newer favourites. Written with thorough understanding of this immensely complicated wine region. Beautifully completed with pictures, that by the way stand out for their often very humouristic text-addings.
• Anthony Hanson: Burgundy - Another classic, yet to my opnion not quite in the league of Remington Norman's standard work. Worth reading though.
• Tom Stevenson: The Wines of Alsace - A classic on the Alsace that we have been waiting for for quite some time. With appreciation for the very different terroirs in this region, so a 'must' for terroiristes like me!
• Matt Kramer: Making Sense of Wine, Making Sense of Burgundy - Written with almost 'unamerican' style (sorry to the US-surfers). Well informed, often formulating in very clear examples. As to the Burgundy book: another book written from the terroir perspective.
• Robert Parker: Bordeaux, Burgundy - Although I often find it hard to agree with Parker's style of working, one has to admit these two books are standard works. Lots of information, also on stars rising and falling, although the Burgundy book needs updating badly.
• John Livingstone-Learmonth: The Wines of the Rhone - Another classic in this Faber & Faber series that already brought so many books well worth reading.
• Nicolaas Kleij: Over de Tong (in Dutch) - Such a pity that this fine book is only available in Dutch. A very personal view on the world of wine, from a man that can give his heart to a simple vin de pays as easily as he can to a famous first growth. Many myths find their end in this well written and intelligent book.
• Guy Renvoise: Le Monde du Vin. Art ou Bluff (in French) - A massive book, also very personal in views. Needs good knowledge of French to thoroughly being able to appreciate though.
• Michel Bettane & Thierry Desseauve: Le Classement 98 des vins et domaines de France (in French) - An annual classic, always creating some duststorms when another famous chateau or domaine loses a star. Well informed and very up to date.
• Johnsson & Haliday: The Art and Science of Making Wine - An intruiguing debate between the concept of technology and the concept of terroir. Not solved, but given much more depth than any other book has ever succeeded to do.

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