In Wine for Dummies, Mary Ewing-Mulligan teams up with hubby and fellow wine educator Ed McCarthy to guide us on an exhaustive, entertaining trip around the enological--that's right, enological--world. Though clearly experts themselves (Ewing-Mulligan is one of a handful of Americans holding the rare title Master of Wine), the authors assure us that even the most basic knowledge will undermine the very notion of wine pretension. It's as simple as this: "This wine is named for a grape variety. This wine is named for a geographical region. When they make this kind of wine, it goes into this kind of bottle." And so on.

By providing the context in which to begin exploring wine, Wine for Dummies can easily become the send-off for a lifelong education. McCarthy and Mulligan deflate many of the wine snob's attitudes; they assure us that most wine sold today is "good wine," and that any further distinctions made about wine are ultimately subjective. The practical, jovial mentoring the authors provide encourages readers to chart their own course toward drinking great wine (although the authors naturally recommend dozens of their own favorites along the way). In later chapters, McCarthy and Mulligan delve into more serious topics such as investing in and cellaring wine. Even these discussions seem appropriate, given that you'll probably find the allure of wine growing as its mystery subsides to the force of this superb introductory text. --Todd Gehman


Review
“…friendly un-intimidating guide to all there is to know about wine…” (Irish News, 14th August 2004)

“…the no-nonsense guide to buying, storing serving and talking about wine…” (Choice Magazine, May 2004)


Review
“…friendly un-intimidating guide to all there is to know about wine…” (Irish News, 14th August 2004)

“…the no-nonsense guide to buying, storing serving and talking about wine…” (Choice Magazine, May 2004)


Book Description
The bestselling guide that demystifies wine-now revised and updated

Winner of the George Duboeuf Wine Book of the Year

"Smart and totally readable." -Newsday

"Crammed with useful, accurate information." -Wine Enthusiast

"Complete...and agreeably relaxed." -New York Times

The nation's most popular wine primer is now even better. Wine experts Mary Ewing-Mulligan and Ed McCarthy have revised this friendly, unintimidating guide to cover all the latest developments in the wine world: which wine regions are now hot (and which are not), information on new rules for shipping wine and the new vogue for screw-caps, and, of course, updates on vintages, producers, and wine resources on the Web.

As always, the authors deliver just what ordinary mortals need to navigate the wine list at a restaurant or the wine aisle at a store, select a great bottle, and truly enjoy it. They provide an easy-to-understand overview of wine grapes and wine production, a detailed survey of wine regions and producers around the world, tips on tasting wine and pairing wine with food, pointers on wine storage units, and unbeatable guidance on how to choose a decent bottle at an affordable price.

Ed McCarthy (New York, NY) writes for the Wine Enthusiast. His wife, Mary Ewing-Mulligan (New York, NY), one of only fourteen certified Masters of Wine in America, is a wine columnist for the New York Daily News. Both also teach classes at New York's International Wine Center, where Mary is a co-owner and director. They are also the authors of For Dummies guides to red wine, white wine, champagne, French wine, and Italian wine.


From the Publisher
This edition has been completely revised and updated based on responses from among the first edition's hundreds of thousands of readers. Features wine reviews of the latest vintages and new coverage on pairing food with the right wine.


From the Back Cover
"This book is . . . for everyone who loves wine or wants to know more about it." —Robert Mondavi, Chairman Emeritus, Robert Mondavi Winery Georges Duboeuf Wine Book of the Year Award Winner Choose good, affordable wines from the U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, and elsewhere If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by a wine list, here’s your guide. From selecting, storing, and serving a great bottle to matching wine with food, this revised and updated For Dummies classic is overflowing with wine tips that’ll give you the confidence to buy and enjoy wine like a true connoisseur. Praise for Wine For Dummies "Crammed with useful, accurate information." – Wine Enthusiast "Complete . . . and agreeably relaxed." – New York Times "Mary and Ed help people to trust their own tastes and enjoyment of wine." – Jess Jackson, Proprietor, Kendall-Jackson; Jackson Family Farms "Enjoyable to read, straightforward, and full of common sense." – Larry S. Maguire, President and CEO, Far Niente


About the Author
Ed McCarthy, CWE, is a regular contributor to Wine Enthusiast and The Wine Journal.

Mary Ewing-Mulligan, MW, owns the International Wine Center in New York.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

If you've ever been overwhelmed by a wine list, here's your guide. From selecting, storing, and serving a great bottle to matching wine with food, this revised and updated For Dummies classic is overflowing with wine tips that'll give you the confidence to buy and enjoy wine like a true connoisseur.

SYNOPSIS

Does a wine list make you want to whine? Having a hard time describing the difference between a Bordeaux and wine in a box? Don't be a dummy! Wine For Dummies ®, the award-winning, entertaining, unpretentious, and enormously popular guide to wine, has been completely updated by renowned authors and wine experts Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan. Wine For Dummies ®, Second Edition provides readers with a new and expanded version of what has been called the "wine lover's bible." Favored by both wine novices and connoisseurs for its accessible teaching style and fun approach to the complex world of wine, Wine For Dummies ® has become the recommended book on wine. Winner of the Georges Duboeuf Wine Book of the Year Award in 1995, Wine For Dummies ® has been hailed by critics as "the grand cru of wine books" and "a delightfully formatted compendium of everything you need to know about wine."

Why a new edition? "wine is a living, dynamic substance. New vintages and wines appear each year, and new wineries open up, while others close down," explain McCarthy and Ewing-Mulligan. Based on readers' responses to the first edition, Wine For Dummies ®, Second Edition now includes: A newly restructured and better organized text Highlights of new wineries, current wine prices, and new bargains The scoop on new vintages -- including an updated vintage chart Two brand-new appendixes: a pronunciation guide to major wine terms and a wine glossary Entire chapters devoted to regions of Italy and the USA Wine For Dummies ®, Second Edition is brimming with all the authoritative information on wine that the first edition had, including how to: Open and pour wine properly Taste wine Tell good wine from bad wine Read wine labels Speak the language of wine Navigate restaurant wine lists Select and buy wine With the holidays approaching, readers shouldn't miss Chapter 20, "Marrying Wine with Food," and Chapter 15, "Bubbling Beauties," on the mysteries and delights of champagne and other bubblies. Wine connoisseurs will be interested in Part Four, "When You've Caught the Bug," including sections on wine buying and collecting, recommended publications for further reading, and special wine sites on the Internet.

In short, Wine For Dummies ®, Second Edition offers wine lovers at every level a completely up-to-date reference book, wine textbook, and user's manual, all in one volume. The book is the perfect gift for fans of the first edition, those who may want to buy a new edition as a gift, and anyone looking for a definitive source of information on wine.