Harvey Steiman, the Wine Spectator’s editor-at-large, has released the Wine Spectator’s Essentials of Wine, a bright and breezy small hardback of 240 colour pages as a first step towards wine appreciation. Like all good wine primers it’s written in a down-to-earth style, uses illustrations well to make a point, is well organised and easy to navigate. It answers good questions like what happens to expensive wine that doesn’t sell, how the wine trade really works and why wine prices outstrip inflation in most countries. World wines are well covered and there’s no reason whatsoever to think that just because it’s an American book it won’t work really well in Australia, or anywhere else. Highly recommended at $US24.95. Buy through the Wine Spectator’s website at www.winespectator.com.
