Book Reviews & Wine Gadget Reviews
Coravin 95/100
Reviewed: 24 November 2016
Coravin is the revolutionary way of storing wines for long term ageing and being able to take samples from the wines as they age.
The World's Shortest Wine Book by Simon Woods 86/100
Reviewed: 21 November 2014
As the title promises it's a quick and fun read with 21 ways to get more out of a bottle of wine. Some good tips and sensible advice for those who enjoy wine.
Hello Vino 87/100
Reviewed: 20 March 2014
I found Hello Vino's attempts to provide food pairings to be good. The search facility was very limited from a UK point of view and it is American centric.
Tale of Two Valleys By Alan Deutschman
88 out of 100
Reviewed: 15 May 2013
It’s Napa versus Sonoma, and the antics are rampant! A tale which gives insight into the character and fabric of these two important wine regions.
Wine Grapes By Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, Jose Vouillamoz
97 out of 100
Reviewed: 15 November 2012
Wine Grapes sets the benchmark for books on wine grapes. Authoritative and full of information, but best suited to absolutely hard core wine geeks or those taking academics qualifications.
Wine Enthusiast Guide
85 out of 100
Reviewed: 31 May 2012
This Apple only app has a massive database of wine from around the world. An excellent app if you have good internet connection not good when out and about and it's most recent vintages recorded are 2009.
WSET Wine Game
89 out of 100
Reviewed: 30 May 2012
The game is a simple way of testing your wine region knowledge, it is perfect for the casual gaming wine enthusiasts. I recommend you try this free Apple only game yourself.
WSTA Trade Diary
88 out of 100
Reviewed: 08 February 2012
The WSTA trade diary is a simple but useful android app. The trade diary shows all the trade tastings going on in the UK on a particular date.
Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork your Creative Juices
89 out of 100
Reviewed: 02 December 2011
By Michael J. Gelb. As a introduction to wine and the history of wine and art it is very good, but it does not unlock your creative juices.
Natalie MacLean Wine Picks
70 out of 100
Reviewed: 13 October 2011
Natalie MacLean Android App is great if buggy app for those with particular interest in Canadian wines or live the the US, without the expensive subscription the App is hobbled and is buggy.
Swirl Pro v2.6 by Kollifay
87 out of 100
Reviewed: 07 September 2011
Swirl is a multifunction app that allows the entering of wine notes (Ok) look up reviews and notes (very good) store locator (basic) and a wine dictionary (very basic). I have rated this app 87 out of 100.
Android wine app Wine Dictionary by GreenLife Apps
83 out of 100
Reviewed: 11 August 2011
This is a handy Wine Dictionary app for those like me often would like a wine dictionary but don’t want to take the much more thorough but also weighty Oxford Companion out with them.
De Long Wine Maps
90 out of 100
Reviewed: 09 June 2011
Overall De Long's maps are are a good solid investment and a bargain at the price. They are not as aesthetic as I would have liked and the level of detail is inconsistent.
Wine+ by Metosphere
Android App 86 out of 100
Reviewed: 03 March 2011
Simple to use with good back up and data portability let down by slow data entry of around 2-3 minutes per wine, makes for a solid wine ratings app for Android.
Wine Science Principles and Applications 3rd Edition by Ronald Jackson
98 out of 100
Reviewed: 23 September 2010
A fantastic book on viticulture, wine making and almost anything to do with the science of wine. Let down by its academic style, but an invaluable research book for those with a scientific interest, wine maker or Master of Wine student.
How to Choose Wine by Vincent Gasnier
90 out of 100
Reviewed: 28 August 2010
A good introduction to wine from the point of view of a sommelier. Not radically different to many on the shelves, but with different insights it is a book well worth reading and using as a reference book for the enthusiastic amateur.
Biodynamic wine Demystified by Nicolas Joly
86 out of 100
Reviewed: 23 July 2010
Whether you agree or not with Biodynamics, it is certainly true that the book gives a solid start to understanding the topic, without going into too much depth.
Let me tell you about wine by Oz Clarke
90 out of 100
Reviewed: 25 June 2010
This is one of the best "Introduction to Wine" books that I have read. It gets the balance between topical facts and useful information almost perfect and is written in the fun, disarming Oz Clarke style.
What Price Bordeaux? by Benjamin Lewin MW
91 out of 100
Reviewed: 21 May 2010
Benjamin Lewin looks at the history and economics of Bordeaux to try to understand how the price of Bordeaux is determined and whether it accurately reflects the quality in the wine?
Harpers Wine and Spirit Trades Review
87 out of 100
Reviewed: 14 May 2010
Harpers Wine and Spirit Trades Review is a fortnightly magazine designed for the wine and spirits trade. Editorially it features news, events, analysis, interviews and opinion all with a trade focus.
The Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace
95 out of 100
Reviewed: 07 March 2010
This is a brilliant wine book with a fascinating story, well written and highly educational. A must read for all wine lovers.
Red, White and Drunk All Over by Natalie MacLean
92 out of 100
Reviewed: 03 March 2010
What a book! It gives a real feel for the wine industry that you do not get from other books, fun and educational, an excellent read.
Quotable Quotes, The Wine Lover by Magpie Books
78 out of 100
Reviewed: 06 January 2010
A fun romp through wine quotes, filled mostly with old classic quotes.
Grapes and Wines by Oz Clarke and Margaret Rand
94 out of 100
Reviewed: 06 January 2010
An excellent reference or coffee table book. Detailing over 446 varieties including synonyms. 17 classic varieties are examined in extreme detail with another 15 major varieties given a thorough write up.
The Concise World Atlas of Wine
94 out of 100
Reviewed: 30 October 2009
If you are a wine student or travel the world tasting wine, then this is the must have book. It is just two fifths the size of its bigger brother, but with the same great maps and descriptions.
High Johnsons's Wine Companion fully revised and updated by Stephen Brook
93 out of 100
Reviewed: 17 October 2009
Small touches and the number of producers make this an excellent must have reference book for any passionate wine person. It is a great companion to a wine atlas, complementing rather than competing.
Crush it by Gary Vay-ner-chuk
89 out of 100
Reviewed: 14 October 2009
Crush It, is not so much a wine book than a business book about a social media and wine phenomena.
A Guide to the Wines of England & Wales by Philip Williamson & David Moore
84 out of 100
Reviewed: 13 October 2009
An excellent book for those who are planning holidays into the English countryside and want to visit the top UK wineries.
The Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia 4th Edition by Tom Stevenson
90 out of 100
Reviewed: 16 September 2009
Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia is a useful wine atlas with a focus on producers. It lacks high quality maps and the very brief regional descriptions means it should not be your primary source for each region, but it complements other wine atlases very well.
Wine For Dummies 4th Edition by Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan
88 out of 100
Reviewed: 12 August 2009
Wine for Dummies is a very thorough and accessible book for the novice and gives some great tips for the intermediate enthusiast. Whilst it has a big American bias it provides a good starting point for anyone interested in wine.
The Wine Report 2009 by Tom Stevenson
90 out of 100
Reviewed: 18 June 2009
Tom Stevenson's Wine Report is an excellent annual update to the wine regions of the world. Filled with vintage reports and guideince on the top wineries in each wine region it is a must have for hardened wine geeks, and those in the trade.
Understanding Wine Technology by David Bird
90 out of 100
Reviewed: 05 June 2009
Understanding Wine Technology looks at the methods of converting grapes into wine including presses, must adjustment, fermentation, filtering, fining, bottling and all the equipment used to achieve these processes.
The Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson Third Edition
97 out of 100
Reviewed: 07 May 2009
The Oxford Companion to Wine is one of the great wine reference books and a must for any serious wine student or hardened enthusiast.
The Great Wine Swindle by Malcolm Gluck
87 out of 100
Reviewed: 26 April 2009
Malcolm Gluck’s The Great Wine Swindle is a tell all look under the sheets of the wine industry, but reads more as an attack then a exposé. It has some very interesting points and stories but its vitriolic tone makes it less pleasurable to read.
Oz Clarke's Wine Atlas Second Edition
89 out of 100
Reviewed: 03 April 2009
Oz's exuburence for wine bursts through this book, his chatty style is the books biggest asset and flaw. A perfect cofee table book but slow to use for reseaching.
The Wine Diet by Professor Roger Corder
90 out of 100
Reviewed: 10 March 2009
An interesting look into the health benefits of wine and chocolate. Heavy going in places but gives the current scientific picture on the health benefits of moderate wine consumption.
Choosing the right wine, A teach yourself book by Beverley Blanning MW
91 out of 100
Reviewed: 06 February 2009
Choosing the right wine is an excellent book for those looking to learn more about wine. A must read for most people into wine and want to know more than grapes and regions.
Bordeaux by Oz Clarke
89 out of 100
Reviewed: 06 January 2009
Oz Clarke's first wine love is Bordeaux and in this book Oz gives and excellent overview of the region. He covers the region's rules and prominent producers and people.
Chateau Monty by Monty Waldin
85 out of 100
Reviewed: 04 December 2008
Chateau Monty is the true story of wine writer Monty Waldin moving to the South of France and making wine. The narrative is a bit weak in places, but to a wine buff it is a fun read, enjoyable and educational - a great combination!
Heard It Through The Grapevine by Matt Skinner
86 out of 100
Reviewed: 20 October 2008
A drinkers guide to getting the most out of wine. Well rounded, it builds on Matt's earlier book Thirsty Work. The book covers all things that surround wine such as where to buy wine, what to eat with it and how to store it.
The Business of Wine – A Global Perspective
85 out of 100
Reviewed: 30 September 2008
An academic book, it contains some fantastic thought provoking insights and ideas. If you’re a student or a new manager in the wine industry, it is a great starting point.
Michael Schuster Essential Winetasting
91 out of 100
Reviewed: 26 August 2008
Michael Schuster describes this book as a 'how to' and 'why' rather than a 'what' type of book, and it certainly is without doubt the best written book on wine tasting I have read.
UK Vineyards Guide 2008, by Stephen Skelton
83 out of 100
Reviewed: 04 August 2008
An excellent reference book on all things to do with English wine, lacks maps and climate information, but a must-have book for English wine fans.
Grape Britain, A Tour of Britain's Vineyards by David Harvey
80 out of 100
Reviewed: 29 June 2008
In the latest book on Britain's vineyards and grapes, David tries to give a sense of the wineries which he does very well, but it lacks maps and basic information about the vineyards.
Wine Science by Jamie Goode
95 out of 100
Reviewed: 01 May 2008
An excellent book for people into wine and science and want to understand a bit more about wine rather than regions and grape varieties which so many books focus on.
The World Atlas of Wine, 6th Edition, by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson
96 out of 100
Reviewed: 17 April 2008
The World Atlas of Wine 6th Edition is a reference book that is hard to reference, but with some great maps. Rating 96 out of 100