Informative and beautifully made too.

TITLE: Passion for Pinot
SUBTITLE: A Journey Through America’s Pinot Noir Country
AUTHOR: Jordan MacKay
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Andrea Johnson and Robert Holmes
PUBLISHER: Ten Speed Press
TYPE: Reference / Wine
STATS : 160 Pages, 150 Full Color Photos
COST: $30.00 U.S.
REVIEWED BY: Chris Carlsson, SpiritsReview.com

 

 

Overview: A journey of pictures and information laid out very nicely in a coffee table format book.

General Review: An almost seed-to-bottle narrative of Pinot Noir in the western United States (New York State is ignored entirely and perhaps rightly so). Covering the basics through the advanced about every aspect of Pinot Noir with a fair amount about the personalities involved in some of the best pinot vineyards. A wonderful blend of entertaining but informative writing and photography that is subtle yet breathtaking in subject , composition and execution.

While not the exhaustive examination of every possible point that some wine references go in for, it has a well-thought out organization and balance of information along with illustrations. It starts with the basics of the grape and the area in all its aspects (terrioir) , a year in the vineyard, which is a good explanation of all the steps and labors that actually goe into the production of grapes (much more labor intensive than most people think). This is followed by chapters on the harvest, preparation and actual making of the wine, cellaring, bottling and all the other activities, including of course enjoyment of said wine. At the end the reader is left wih a good understanding of what it actually takes to produce a Pinot Noir (and then should not complain about the price either).

As usual with Ten Speed they have given birth to another beautifully bound and produced book, great bindings, paper, type, etc., they always put together a book worthy of a gift or possession for a lifetime.

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