This new collection by the acclaimed novelist—and, according to Salon, “the best wine writer in America”—is generous and far-reaching, deeply knowledgeable and often hilarious. For more than a decade, Jay McInerney’s vinous essays, now featured in The Wall Street Journal, have been praised by restaurateurs (“Filled with small courses and surprising and exotic flavors, educational and delicious at the same time” —Mario Batali), by esteemed critics (“Brilliant, witty, comical, and often shamelessly candid and provocative” —Robert M. Parker Jr.), and by the media (“His wine judgments are sound, his anecdotes witty, and his literary references impeccable” —The New York Times). Here McInerney provides a master class in the almost infinite varieties of wine and the people and places that produce it all the world over, from the historic past to the often confusing present. From such legendary châteaus as Margaux and Latour and Palmer to Australia and New Zealand and South Africa, to new contenders in Santa Rita Hills and Paso Robles, we learn about terroir and biodynamic viticulture, what Champagnes are affordable (or decidedly not), even what to drink over thirty-seven courses at Ferran Adrià's El Bulli—in all, an array of grapes and wine styles that is comprehensive and thirst inducing. And conspicuous throughout is McInerney’s trademark flair and expertise, which in 2006 prompted the James Beard Foundation to grant him the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award.
Review
“A master wine writer at the top of his class…. ’Is Jay McInerney the world’s best wine writer?’ The Guardian asked recently. After reading his last collection of wine essays, I would have to argue that he is certainly the most entertaining.” —Corrie Perkin, *The Weekly Review *
"Superlative...McInerney writes with a charismatic flair throughout [and] his enthusiasm and eloquence is a heady mix that will inspire even non-"grape nuts" to order a case or two." —Carl Wilkinson, Financial Times
"America's leading literary oenographer, a non-snob whose prose benefits from an insouciant skepticism about the conventional wisdom....And it says something about his taste that while he is sober-minded on the matter of drinking itself, he is intemperate, sometimes delightfully so, about the other elements of his hobby—about the pursuit, the possession, the scent of the soil, the myth of the grape, the search for lost time." —Troy Patterson, The Slate Book Review
"McInerney's Everyman with a humongous wine cellar [and] he also makes you want to drink good wine—not always bottles beyond your means—and to take great pleasure in it." —Steven Shapin, The Guardian [UK]
Review
"America's leading literary oenographer, a non-snob whose prose benefits from an insouciant skepticism about the conventional wisdom....And it says something about his taste that while he is sober-minded on the matter of drinking itself, he is intemperate, sometimes delightfully so, about the other elements of his hobby—about the pursuit, the possession, the scent of the soil, the myth of the grape, the search for lost time." —Troy Patterson, The Slate Book Review
"McInerney's Everyman with a humongous wine cellar [and] he also makes you want to drink good wine—not always bottles beyond your means—and to take great pleasure in it." —Steven Shapin, The Guardian [UK]
Description:
This new collection by the acclaimed novelist—and, according to Salon, “the best wine writer in America”—is generous and far-reaching, deeply knowledgeable and often hilarious.
For more than a decade, Jay McInerney’s vinous essays, now featured in The Wall Street Journal, have been praised by restaurateurs (“Filled with small courses and surprising and exotic flavors, educational and delicious at the same time” —Mario Batali), by esteemed critics (“Brilliant, witty, comical, and often shamelessly candid and provocative” —Robert M. Parker Jr.), and by the media (“His wine judgments are sound, his anecdotes witty, and his literary references impeccable” —The New York Times).
Here McInerney provides a master class in the almost infinite varieties of wine and the people and places that produce it all the world over, from the historic past to the often confusing present. From such legendary châteaus as Margaux and Latour and Palmer to Australia and New Zealand and South Africa, to new contenders in Santa Rita Hills and Paso Robles, we learn about terroir and biodynamic viticulture, what Champagnes are affordable (or decidedly not), even what to drink over thirty-seven courses at Ferran Adrià's El Bulli—in all, an array of grapes and wine styles that is comprehensive and thirst inducing. And conspicuous throughout is McInerney’s trademark flair and expertise, which in 2006 prompted the James Beard Foundation to grant him the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award.
Review
“A master wine writer at the top of his class…. ’Is Jay McInerney the world’s best wine writer?’ The Guardian asked recently. After reading his last collection of wine essays, I would have to argue that he is certainly the most entertaining.” —Corrie Perkin, *The Weekly Review *
"Superlative...McInerney writes with a charismatic flair throughout [and] his enthusiasm and eloquence is a heady mix that will inspire even non-"grape nuts" to order a case or two." —Carl Wilkinson, Financial Times
"America's leading literary oenographer, a non-snob whose prose benefits from an insouciant skepticism about the conventional wisdom....And it says something about his taste that while he is sober-minded on the matter of drinking itself, he is intemperate, sometimes delightfully so, about the other elements of his hobby—about the pursuit, the possession, the scent of the soil, the myth of the grape, the search for lost time." —Troy Patterson, The Slate Book Review
"McInerney's Everyman with a humongous wine cellar [and] he also makes you want to drink good wine—not always bottles beyond your means—and to take great pleasure in it." —Steven Shapin, The Guardian [UK]
Review
"America's leading literary oenographer, a non-snob whose prose benefits from an insouciant skepticism about the conventional wisdom....And it says something about his taste that while he is sober-minded on the matter of drinking itself, he is intemperate, sometimes delightfully so, about the other elements of his hobby—about the pursuit, the possession, the scent of the soil, the myth of the grape, the search for lost time." —Troy Patterson, The Slate Book Review
"McInerney's Everyman with a humongous wine cellar [and] he also makes you want to drink good wine—not always bottles beyond your means—and to take great pleasure in it." —Steven Shapin, The Guardian [UK]