What books to read to learn about wine?
Quick answer
The must-reads: 'Wine Folly' for visual learners, 'The World Atlas of Wine' (Jancis Robinson & Hugh Johnson) for geography, and 'Wine Simple' (Aldo Sohm) for a sommelier's perspective. Add 'Le Vin pour les Nuls' if you read French.
Detailed answer
Wine literature is vast, but a few books stand out for their educational quality. Here is a selection by level.
For beginners: 'Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine' by Madeline Puckette uses brilliant infographics to simplify concepts. 'Wine Simple' by Aldo Sohm (sommelier at Le Bernardin, New York) offers an accessible professional perspective. 'Le Vin pour les Nuls' by Éric Beaumard is the go-to French-language starter.
For intermediates: 'The World Atlas of Wine' by Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson is THE geographic reference, with detailed maps of every wine region on earth. Regularly updated (9th edition, 2022). 'Invincible Summer' by Alice Feiring explores the natural wine world with passion.
For advanced learners: 'The Oxford Companion to Wine' (Jancis Robinson) is the definitive encyclopedia (4,000+ entries). 'Viticulture' by Stephen Skelton MW is the technical reference for understanding the vine. Annual guides (Parker, Bettane & Desseauve, Gault & Millau) supplement your learning with current tasting notes.
Beyond books, podcasts (GuildSomm, Wine for Normal People) and YouTube channels (Wine Folly, The Wine King) offer free supplementary learning.