French Wine: An Illustrated Miscellany

by Bernard Pivot

Overview

This handsome volume pays homage to the humble grape's revered nectar. This truly exceptional miscellany of anecdotes, facts, quotable quotes, and interesting stories celebrates wine in all its guises: from the origin of the toast (to prevent being poisoned at a dinner, it was customary for guests to tip part of their drink into their companion's glass) to the exact number of references to wine in the Bible (441) to the debate over whether Dom Perignon discovered bubbles, effectively inventing champagne, or simply started the tradition of blending the grapes in the drink he described as "like drinking stars." With references to world-class vineyards and favored grape varieties, the author covers the topic in a fascinating pastiche. Through quotes illustrating how traditions persist, such as Napoleon's "You drink champagne in victory, and you need it in defeat," this exquisitely produced volume is the perfect gift for the wine aficionado or bon vivant.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780594094135
Publisher:	Rizzoli
Publication date:	04/22/2014
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	622,519
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 9.70(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Bernard Pivot is a celebrated French television, radio, and newspaper journalist who has contributed to cultural programs for over thirty years.

Table of Contents

Preface: Bread and Wine 7

To Your (Very Good) Health! 13

Wines of Alsace 16

Wine and Love 20

Aromas and Bouquets 25

Divinities and the Vine 28

Beaujolais 36

Bordeaux 48

Corked 55

Burgundy 56

Charles Bukowski 65

Down in the Cellar 68

Champagne 76

Chardonnay 85

Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89

The Classification of 1855 90

Blind Tasting 96

God and Wine 105

Dom Pérignon 109

Label Art 112

Haut-Brion 118

Persian Bards 123

Drunkenness 127

Krug 134

Languedoc-Roussillon 139

The Loire Valley 140

Red Wines of the Médoc 149

Communion Wine 149

Vintages 154

Monks and Winemaking 158

Enologists 166

Pétrus 171

Pinot Noir 172

Provence1 175

Crapes 179

Winegrower's' Rivalry 180

Romanée-Conti 187

Saint Vincent 196

Wine and Sex 202

Sommeliers 211

Brotherhood of the Knights of the Tasting Cup 214

Corkscrews 219

Barrels 223

Crape-picking 228

Veuve Clicquot 237

Château d'Yquem 240

Zinc 246

Editorial Reviews

This book is guaranteed to bring long hours of reading enjoyment. This isn’t the type of book that picks your wines for you and tells you how to match food and wine. The illustrations are gorgeous. It will take you about five minutes of reading before you want to rush out to buy a nice bottle of French wine. Very highly recommended to anyone who loves vin Francais.” –The Austin Chronicle
 
“A charming and eccentric mélange of wine information...” –France Magazine

From the Publisher