Fear of Wine: An Introductory Guide to the Grape Book

In this friendly introductory guide, food and wine writer Leslie Brenner tells how to:
Pour and taste wine Develop a taste memory Order from a wine list Select a wine at the store Match food with wine

In addition, helpful sidebars illuminate such subjects as:
How—and why—to swirl without sloshing Disarming a snotty waiter Ten great wines to bring to a dinner party Going beyond California Chardonnay Starting your own cellar for under $100

Along the way, Lettie Teague's funny and informative cartoons enhance the text and make great devices for remembering the most important facts. Before long,
your old standby, Chateau Screwtop, will be a distant memory. Accessible and concise, Fear of Wine will appeal to anyone who wants to know a little bit about a subject that can bring great pleasure.

At last, a guide that is as fun to read as wine is to drink!

Library Journal

What sets this title apart is its tone. Brenner (The Art of the Cocktail Party, Dutton, 1994) and Teague understand that every wine connoisseur was once a beginner and never lecture to novices but guide them through the basics of knowledge and enjoyment of wine. There are, of course, discussions of winemaking, producer regions and countries, and the ordering and tasting of wine. Friendly advice is given on corkscrew selection and spotting an overpriced wine list, and main points are summarized at the end of each chapter. Throughout are cartoons, charts, and tables. Resource materials and organizations are suggested in the final chapter. Brenner takes a usually solemn subject and transforms it into an enjoyable crash course. Highly recommended.-Wendy Miller, Lexington P.L., Ky.