Written for those who simply enjoy drinking wine and for connoisseurs looking for a deeper knowledge of a fascinating subject, this book is a comprehensive, authoritative and accessible guide that will provide readers with the confidence and enthusiasm to explore in depth for themselves. Country by country, and region by region, the book journeys around the world to drop in on familiar and lesser-known producers, and studies the world's 12 major grape varieties from Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to Gewürztraminer and Gamay, describing their aromas and flavours. It is a major reference on the vast world of wines and wine-making. Explores the principles of tasting wine - identifying dryness, sweetness, acidity, tannin, oak and fruit - plus how to create your own collection in a cellar, a guide to corkscrews and glasses, how to let wine breathe, and which foods go best with which wines. ";Quite a rare find, in having the qualities of being both an entertaining read and a decent reference for wine enthusiasts, all explained in friendly layman's terms."; Wine & Spirit Magazine About the Author: Stuart Walton has been writing about alcoholic drinks since the early 1990s. A prolific writer, he is a contributor to World of Fine Wine and Decanter magazines, and the website www.winepages.

com. Stuart writes for the Guardian Books site, as well as a number of specialist drink publications and websites. Stuart is also the author of The Complete Guide to Cocktails and Drinks and of Gin Cocktails, Whisky Cocktails and Vodka Cocktails.