CLASSIC WINE LIBRARY Infinite Ideas
INTRODUCTION by series editor Richard Mayson There is something uniquely satisfying about a good wine book, preferably read with a glass of the said wine in hand. A book contributes immeasurably to the understanding and appreciation of the growing and increasingly complex world of wine. Terroir, that nebulous term which seems to shape and encapsulate the character of so many fine wines, is best explained by a specialist writer who has walked the vineyards, interviewed the wine makers and tasted the wines that together make up a wine region. The Classic Wine Library published by Infinite Ideas is a new series of wine books written by authors who are both knowledgeable and passionate about their subject matter. Each of the titles in the Classic Wine Library covers a wine region or country and is very much the work of an individual author. Together the series is intended to be a comprehensive guide and enjoyable read, appealing to wine drinkers, tourists, armchair travellers and wine trade students alike. If you would like to request a review copy of the books, or arrange an interview with the authors, please contact Catherine on catherine@infideas.com or call 01865 514888. A man will be eloquent if you give him good wine. Ralph Waldo Emerson
PORT AND THE DOURO (THIRD EDITION) Richard Mayson This completely updated edition of Richard Mayson s Port and the Douro offers a comprehensive history of this popular wine from its Phoenician origins, detailed descriptions of the process from vineyard to bottle and a chapter on vintage varieties. This edition includes maps of the Douro and the north of Portugal as well as a full listing for each of the current producers. Richard Mayson is an expert on port and Portuguese wines. He is the author of Portugal s Wine and Winemakers and The Wines and Vineyards of Portugal and is a contributor to the Oxford Companion to Wine and Larousse Encyclopaedia of Wine as well as to Decanter and Wine International. In 2014 Richard won the Louis Roederer award for International Wine Feature Writer of the Year.... a fantastic read from the get-go. Jancis Robinson What to Read Before You Go: Port and the Douro by port wine expert Richard Mayson. National Geographic Richard s tone remains down-to-earth despite his obvious authority and knowledge when it comes to this wine region. This is a book that offers much that is new and I m delighted that I will be able to have it to hand when I next open a bottle. winedoctor.com The new edition is far superior to all editions that have gone before beyond any doubt The Bible of Port Wine. No port library is complete without this book! BooksAboutPort.com if you need to know anything at all about port this is the book to have at hand. Spittoon.biz No port library is complete without this book!
COGNAC THE STORY OF THE WORLD S GREATEST BRANDY (THIRD EDITION) Nicholas Faith This fully revised third edition of Cognac: The story of the world s greatest brandy provides an authoritative account of how the much-loved spirit is produced and matured. Nicholas Faith, the world s leading authority on cognac, explores the reasons for the spirit s complex character, and reveals its fascinating history. Two new sections give tips on the appreciation and mixing of cognac, including a selection of cocktail recipes, and suggestions on the best foods to enjoy with cognac. This new edition also includes a fully updated directory of the producers and their brandies including the author s tasting notes. Nicholas Faith is best known, for the books and hundreds of articles he has written on wines and spirits over the past thirty years. His first book on wine, The Winemasters, won the André Simon award. He also edited the prestigious magazine L Amateur de Bordeaux. In 1996 he founded the International Spirits Challenge, now recognised as the world s leading competition devoted to alcoholic spirits of every description. In September 2010 Nicholas Faith was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Bureau National Interprofessional de Cognac.... a well-written, informative page-turner that s definitely worth the investment. Jancis Robinson This book is the most up to date literature that can be found about cognac; the drink and the region, and certainly makes for a must read for anyone who pays homage to the wonder that is eaux-de-vie. CognacExpert.com If you re looking to understand the world of Cognac this is one book worth investing in. diffordsguide.com a thorough and engaging resource the essential companion for every cognac enthusiast not a mere guide, it is the standard to which we should all aspire. Brandy Classics Here, one feels, is a wine journalist who is prepared to probe beneath the surface. Wine & Spirit the essential companion for every cognac enthusiast.
SHERRY (SIXTH EDITION) Julian Jeffs In 1956 Julian Jeffs got a job (by chance) in the sherry bodega of Williams & Humbert. Having decided he needed to learn all there was to know about sherry he read everything he could lay his hands on regarding the subject. It quickly became evident to him that there was no single accurate, reliable book on the subject and so he decided to write his own. Since then fashions in sherry-drinking have changed dramatically but Jeffs book has remained the standard work, published in every decade over the last fifty years. This sixth edition of Sherry brings the story right up to date. Much has changed since the first edition. Technological advances have transformed the way the wines are made, market forces have seen many great names in the trade disappear and changing fashions have ensured that we are drinking different types of sherry than we were fifty years ago. Sherry covers everything the sherry enthusiast might want to know and is also a comprehensive guide for anybody involved in the sherry trade. After leaving Cambridge, Julian Jeffs worked in a bodega in Jerez de la Frontera, where he saw every stage in the production of wine. He was then called to the Bar but took two years off to write the first edition of this book, and to pay other visits to Jerez before practising. A successful career in law did not prevent him from writing two further books on wine. Jeffs is a former President of the Circle of Wine Writers and General Editor of Faber Wine Books. The classic book since 1961 when it first came out this has been rightly regarded as the standard work. The Times As a combination of history, description and appreciation it is difficult to believe that it will be supplanted. Financial Times 6th edition Completely revised and updated SHERRY SHERRY JULIAN JEFFS The classic book rightly regarded as the standard work.
THE GUIDES FACTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS To accompany each new title in the Classic Wine Library, Infinite Ideas also publishes directories. Each directory is available to download as a free ebook on all ebook platforms or as a free PDF from our web site, and makes an excellent quick reference. Currently available Nicholas Faith s Guide to Cognac Contains Nicholas Faith s tasting notes on nearly 200 cognacs, a comprehensive list of shippers and producers and even some cognac recipes for those who want to get a bit more adventurous with their brandy. NICHOLAS FAITH S GUIDE TO COGNAC Richard Mayson s Guide to Vintage Port A guide to all the vintages back to 1960 plus tasting notes on other years as far back as 1844. Also includes a full directory of port producers and shippers. Coming in March 2015 Julian Jeffs s Guide to Sherry This is a comprehensive guide to the world of sherry, including Julian Jeffs tips on tasting sherry and details of current shippers and their best wines. RICHARD MAYSON S GUIDE TO vintage port For those without an e-reader, or who would prefer to own the print copy, printed books can be purchased from Amazon for 20.
GIFT SET THE INFINITE IDEAS CLASSIC WINE LIBRARY COLLECTION 2014 The ideal Christmas gift for the wine connoisseur: buy all three of the current titles for 70 (rrp 95). The collection contains: Port and the Douro, Richard Mayson (rrp 30) Cognac, Nicholas Faith (rrp 30) Sherry, Julian Jeffs (rrp 35) Email Catherine Holdsworth at catherine@infideas.com or call 01865 514888 and quote CWL14. Available for a limited time only. SAVE 25
COMING IN 2015... Madeira: the islands and their wines Richard Mayson Madeira is without doubt one of the most difficult wines to describe but it is certainly the most uplifting. There is a short section on the language of tasting madeira as well as information on buying, keeping and serving the wines. The book concludes with a travel guide for anyone visiting the islands. Available: 15th May 2015 The wines of Austria Stephen Brook Stephen Brook s The wines of Austria introduces Austrian terroir and grape varieties and the rules and regulations that govern the production of Austrian wine before supplying a comprehensive guide to the 12 wine regions. A final chapter assesses vintages, with a star rating for each, and a separate rating for Niederoesterreich whites, Burgenland reds, and sweet wines. The most recent ten vintages are considered in detail. Available: 30th September 2015 THE WINES OF AUSTRIA STEPHEN BROOK ALSO AVAILABLE Spirits distilled Mark Ridgwell Lovers of spirits will find this book an invaluable resource for understanding and appreciating spirits from a qualitative rather than quantitative perspective. Professionals too will find the quizzes in Spirits Distilled a particularly useful tool for understanding better the spirits they sell. An essential book that belongs on the reference shelf of everyone who works with or enjoys spirits, Spirits Distilled is a classic in the making. Available: 15th January 2015