Wine Books That Are Insanely Useful (for Beginners, Tasters, and Advanced Wine Lovers)
I've spent a decade+ in the wine business, but before getting into it as a full-time gig I was an avid wine lover who went waaaaaay down the rabbit hole of wine geekiness. After having read just about every book imaginable having to do with wine (and...
For Beginners
Each of these books provides an excellent start for those just beginning to get into wine.
Legendary Master of Wine Jancis Robinson distills a lot of helpful info on how to appreciate wine in this short read.
Wine educator Karen MacNeil created an instant classic with this easy to use reference guide, now in its 3rd (and best) edition.
Wine Folly's award-winning, uber-popular book is a feast for anyone who prefers to learn visually.
The late, great wine scribe Ed McCarthy and his wife, Master of Wine Mary Ewing-Mulligan, created the BEST ever “For Dummies” guide, and the appeal of this popular set remains strong for good reason: it's a fantastic resource for those new to wine.
This portable book packs an almost impossible amount of information into a small package!
For Tasting
The best part about wine is drinking it. These books will help you learn as you sip.
Enjoy cooking and want to learn how to pair wines with your tasty meals? This book should be your first read.
If grilling is your thing, this fantastic book written by two friends of mine provides incredible tasting recipes served with sides of wine knowledge.
A bit of self-promo here: I designed this beginner's wine book from the ground up to learn about wine specifically through tasting it (which is the most fun part, after all).
What's *not* to love about Food & Wine's Ray Isle sharing his favorite wines with you from around the globe??
You WILL forget what you drank, and why you liked it (or didn't). That's why I created this journal: so you can record all the details about your wine tasting adventures before you forget them!
For Advanced Wine Lovers
If you've graduated beyond Wine 101, these books will help you start a deep dive into wine geekdom
A classic wine reference for all you geography buffs out there
A comprehensive look at the entire history of wine from a revered history professor (who is also a huge wine buff)
Anyone studying for a major wine certification exam is expected to own this definitive A-Z encyclopedia of wine knowledge.
A fascinating read about the chemistry behind your favorite adult beverage, as told by a scientist.
Ready for super geekiness? This enormous and gorgeous book takes you deep into pretty much every (yes, EVERY) variety of grape that makes wine.