The 5 Best Books About Wine

Discover five of the best guide books about the world of wine – some are serious, others will leave you in fits laughter, all will inspire you to discover new and interesting ways to enjoy wine.

Journey Through Wine

This beautifully illustrated atlas by Jules Gaubert-Turpin and Adrien Grant Smith Bianchi will take you all the way back to 6000 BC and then, sip by exquisite sip, take you on a journey through wine’s extensive history up until present day. The book’s exquisite mix of maps and facts answer questions such as, ‘How did a Pyrenean grape variety end up in Uruguay?’ and ‘By what means did grapevines travel to Japan?’, as well as share incredible growing, making and drinking information spanning the entire globe. Unique and visually stunning, this book is a must-have for any wine drinker, traveller or history buff.

Hardie Grant Books RRP $70

everything happens for a riesling

Grace De Morgan is the approachable wine guru the world has been waiting for. Don’t get stuck ordering the second cheapest wine when you’re at a bar or a pairing good wine with food that isn’t food friendly ever again; Grace and her panel of verifiable experts are here to help. With a mix of down-to-earth tips, wine information that will double as trivia night gold, plus loads of funny insights and anecdotes, this informative gem of a book takes readers global, covering Australia and New Zealand, as well as Iran, Georgia and Armenia, Egypt and Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Germany, Algeria, Portugal, Spain, Chile, Argentina, USA, Canada, South Africa and China.

Viking Australia RRP $29.99

This Is Not a Wine Guide

If you have ever asked yourself, ‘Where do I start?’ when looking at a wine menu or bottle shop shelf, then this is the book for you. More about finding your own sense of taste than following any wine drinking rules, Chris Morrison draws on his years of sommelier knowledge to give readers the confidence to drink wine they way that suits them best, be it at a barbecue with friends, at an up-market restaurant, or curled up on the lounge with their favourite television series. It’s about saying goodbye to jargon and hello to a wine experience that’s perfect for every situation a wine drinking person might find themselves in, glassware and all.

Murdoch Books RRP $39.99

the world atlas of wine: 7th ed

Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson have been described as “the Bordeaux and Burgundy of wine writers” by The Times and so it is not surprising that their book The World Atlas of Wine has become an absolute classic for any serious wine enthusiast or sommelier alike. It truly is the most essential and authoritative wine reference work available, and this latest edition includes adjustments due to shifting climates, the latest winemaking and viticulture techniques, updates to regulations and even the changing popularity of certain varieties.

Hachette Australia RRP $79.95

The new wine rules

The full title of Jon Bonne’s incredible wine book is, ‘The New Wine Rules: A genuinely helpful guide to everything you need to know’ and it is just that – extremely helpful and full of useful information. Just three of the hundreds of bits of advice Jon offers to wine drinkers are: “A wine’s price rarely reflects its quality. You can drink rosé any time of year. Don’t save a great bottle for anything more than a rainy day.” And the book delivers many more gems like these. Discover your style, free yourself from outdated ideas and rules, and just enjoy wine the way it is meant to be enjoyed with this beautifully illustrated, fun and fuss-free book.