Windows on the World Complete Wine Course is simply the bestselling wine book in North America—it’s a classic. In addition to retaining the expanded 60-page section on “101 Wines You Should Know,” from last year, the 2009 revision will include 16 pages of quizzes (two at the end of every chapter) to test readers on how much they’ve learned—just as if they were in Kevin’s class. Those who use the book as an actual course will find this enormously helpful, and a great challenge for testing their knowledge of wine fundamentals. Of course, all wine lists and labels, vintage charts, and trend reports will receive a complete update, too.
As always, Zraly organizes his wines by region, from simple to complex, beginning with white wines from France, the U.S., and Germany; he moves on to the red wines of Burgundy and the Rhône, Bordeaux, the U.S., Italy, Australia, Argentina, and Chile; and concludes with champagnes and ports. By following Kevin’s order, readers will experience the best wines and the wide diversity of taste, style, region, and country. It’s not only a comprehensive and bargain-priced hands-on wine education, but a superb catalog from which to start a wine cellar or find a bottle appropriate for any occasion at any price.
This unequaled volume retains all the invaluable information, fabulous illustration, and gorgeous styling of the previous editions—presented in Zraly’s inimitable, irreverent style. It’s clearly the wine guide against which all others are judged.
