The definitive book on Austrian wine--"the best-kept secret of the wine world," according to the author.

The Wines of Austria provides a complete introduction to the fine wines of Austria, which are beginning to appear on the lists of serious wine merchants. A country that produces several superb varieties, Austria is now becoming known for its wines, which are of a similar quality but are much more affordably priced than comparable wines from France and Germany.

Starting with the history of Austrian wine, going back to the Celts and the Romans and working his way up to the technological advances of the present day, Philipp Blom examines the regions in which top wines are made and focuses on the growers and varieties in each area. From Wachau to Styria, the Kamptal to the Burgenland, this is a book for all wine lovers who want to broaden their scope and tantalize their palates by learning all about the exciting wines now available from Austrian vineyards.

Customer Review: One of the Gems of the Mitchell Beazley Classic Wine Library!

I own almost every serious wine book available in the states, and the Mitchell Beazley selections are a cornerstone. What they lack in flash, they make up in content.

I was astounded at how well written and informative this edition was. Blom is well versed in the Austrian wine industry and gives the reader valuable information without drowning you in statistics (which get outdated quickly and are reliably found online).

Being that the only Austrian wines I was familiar with were Gruner Veltliner, Blaufrankisch, and Zweigelt; I was amazed to find so much devoted to the other quality grapes and regions. I admit that for the amateur this information may be overkill, but as an MW student it is indespesible (they love to trip you up with things like St-Laurent and regions such as Neusiederslee-say that three times fast!).

This is not intended to be the map bible, the publisher wants you to buy their World Atlas of Wine as well (and you should), so pay little attention to the maps.

Purchase this text if you are studying towards a CWE, MW or MS or if you are very interested in Austrian wines, otherwise you can probably pass.

Pros: well written, informative
Cons: maps, hoped for more regional info and less producer bio info

Customer Review: Now to find those wines

I found this book to be very informative, and perhaps even more than that it made me want to find and try the wines from the wineries he writes about. Not easy to do here in the States, but luckily there's the internet and search engines! One great resource I found was an online Austrian wine specialty shop: www.winemonger.com
Perfect complement for this book!

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"Beautiful Weddings & Events ~ California Wine Country" will help you plan perfect weddings, social and special events, wine tasting and getaways in the Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake region of Northern California. Hundreds of event locations for every style budget, plus those unique vineyard venues, experienced professionals and guidance to complete over twenty events and design your leisure time. Noted as an "Exceptional Find" for those planing a destination wedding in the wine country. This is a treasure of a book filled with a lifetime of planning....no matter the city. It offers you step-by-step guidance, beautiful area photographs, ideas, forms, facilities, romantic restaurants and hotels in the region. Whether planning a business, bridal, social or special event, this book will be reached for often and used for a lifetime.

Customer Review: Internet searches are more useful

This book was worthless. I agree with the reviewer who said it was nothing more than a condensed version of the Yellow Pages for wedding vendors in the Sonoma and Napa areas. There were more ads than information and what was there was not organized well. I don't think they used an editor because there were a great deal of mistakes (I know this may not bother many people but when you spend money on a book, you shouldn't feel like you're reading a rough draft). I found many more locations just by using search engines and we ended up using a great resort that wasn't listed in the book. The only thing that I found it useful for was seeing if locations I found on the internet that just so happened to be in the book had in-house catering and how many guests they could accommodate, but I wouldn't trust that that information is accurate.

Customer Review: A bunch of advertisements, not enough information

If this is ANYTHING like the last edition, this book was about as helpful as the yellow pages and a few brief articles on wedding planning. The information was spotty and incomplete for many locations and there weren't that many locations. I believe that sites had to pay to get in the book. If not, the author is just not very thorough. There are many, many great sites not listed.

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Visit the most exclusive and spectacular gardens of the California Napa Valley, where fragrant flowers, enchanting pathways, and astonishing vistas await at every turn. Gardens of the Wine Country transports you to this lovely region's 40 most glorious private gardens. Molly Chappellet and Richard Tracy walk us through the regal grounds of Beaulieu Vineyard and Francis and Eleanor Coppola's Victorian paradise. We tour the secluded gardens of Peter Newton, stroll among hundreds of rose bushes at the home of Maria Minetti Farrow, and call on many other gorgeous estates. Page after page of lush photographs reveal beautiful verandahs and solariums, ponds and boxwood hedges, wild vines and tailored flower beds. Gardens of Wine Country offers abundant evidence of the joyful dedication that such a fertile region can inspire in those who love gardens.

Customer Review: An Absolutely Breathtaking Pictoral of Napa Valley Gardens

What an amazing glimpse into the world of Napa Valley Gardening. The author has brilliantly selected a wide variety of gardens, from the traditional Victorian gardens we expect, to the new age ideas of more modern gardeners.Molly says in the introduction that she fell in love with all of the gardens over and over...you can tell. Adding personality to the gardens, by telling us that each garden has the fingerprint of its owner...makes them really come to life...they seem much more like personal playgrounds than showpieces.A lovely book, perfect for anyone's spring/summer coffee table.

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Since publication of the first edition of Wine Microbiology in 1997, the volume of new information and concepts has dramatically increased. Even with the tremendous increase in available information, a comprehensive understanding regarding the role of individual microorganisms towards wine quality as well as the impact of complicated interactions between microorganisms and processing techniques is lacking.

Wine Microbiology, Second Edition, fills this void. Like the first edition, the book addresses real world problems such as characterization and enumeration of yeast, bacteria and molds common to juice and wine environments and their impact on wine quality and stability. In addition, the potential of solving processing problems through rapid, real-time molecular methods and new applications for using starter cultures of non-Saccharomyces yeast are discussed. The book is a great resource for professionals and students in the field of enology and viticulture.

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In this handsome and engaging book, Clive Coates, one of the world's leading authorities on wine, gives us the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and detailed study of the wines of France ever written. Coates's vast knowledge of his subject together with his natural gift as a storyteller make An Encyclopedia of the Wines and Domaines of France as informative as it is entertaining. He discusses every appellation and explains its character, distinguishes the best growers, and uses a star system to identify the finest estates. With more than forty specially commissioned maps that show the main appellations and wine villages of France in detail and a format that invites browsing as well as in-depth study, this book will be essential reading for anyone, professional or amateur, interested in wine.
Coates gives ample reasons for his belief that France produces the finest wines in the world, in a volume and variety no other country can match. He shows how, despite savage competition from other countries, France holds its own. It not only creates great wines, he says, it also produces affordable wines. The outcome of thirty-five years of traveling around the French vineyards, this book displays a continuing love and respect for French wines and the vignerons of this remarkable country. In discussing each region and its wines in detail, Coates leaves no stone unturned. His encyclopedic knowledge is evident, bringing the places and the people where these great wines are created to life.

Customer Review: A Professional's Guide to the Wines of France

As a working professional in the wine business, this book is my "Bible of French Wines." I keep it at my store and access it at least once a week. (and I consider myself an expert on French Wines."
With an incredible wealth of information on every appellation, and the best full-color maps in any wine book, this is a must own for "sophisticated amateurs" or wine professionals.

Customer Review: Master of Wine, indeed

This is an excellent encyclopedia of knowledge about French wine. It is personal, of course, but after sampling some of Coates' recommendations I can start to believe in the rest of them and feel it would be a very useful accompaniment on visits to the local wine store! The maps are beautifully simple and, taken together with the book "Terroir" these two books alone will provide an excellent basic library for the understanding of why French wines are (a) the best and (b) why some French wines are better than others!

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Complex, unique, and always appreciated, wine may be the perfect gift. Wine Lovers Gift Tags help make every bottle a special occasion with the wisdom–and humor–of famous wine lovers throughout the ages. The set includes three different colors of ribbon for attaching the gift tag to the neck of a good vintage.

50 tags, 3 different sizes and shapes, 3 different ribbon colors, 5-7/8 x 8-1/6 keepsake box

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Hello and Thank-you Revolutionizing Romance is Chef Robert and Barb Catherine's motto. Their cookbook Romantic Dinners For Two is about creating romantic experiences. What is included in the book is a DVD that shows you easy step by step instruction on how to create each recipe. Chef Robert shows you how easy it can be to prepare three four coarse dinners in the comfort of your own home. What is also on the DVD is a segment where Barb shows you how to set up three romantic scenarios, a dining room,fireplace and bedroom. The book and DVD compliment each other, both are set up the same so the user can follow along with the book and DVD at their pace. What is also included in the book is a tear-out invitation to be used if the user wants to surprise their love and plan for the up coming evening. To plan for the evening we have also included a tear-out seven day planner and grocery list to help the user prepare for their evening. Through-out the book there are mood enhancers to give you ideas on what you might want to do. Also we added conversation igniters to help if needed to keep the dinner conversation interesting.

Customer Review: Gourmet Dinners for Two

Chef Robert and his wife Barb have been sharing romantic dinners for over 24 years. In their new book they show you how to create four course dinners. There are three dinners to choose from and there are extremely detailed instructions that anyone can follow. The shopping lists are especially helpful and they also include a section on tools and equipment so you have everything before you start cooking. The tear-out invitations are a nice touch and the romantic ideas throughout the book help to make your evening unforgettable.

The recipes from the third rendezvous include:

Shrimp with Julienne of Vegetables in a Zesty Cream Sauce
Salad Greens with Vegetable Tower
Pork Chops Stuffed with Spinach, Apple and Wild Rice Blend
Raspberry Flan

Now if this seems like a lot to cook all in one night then you will be happy to know that there is a "Seven Day Planner" for each evening. Most of the work occurs one or two days before you serve your dinner. In the first meal the planner says to make the Chocolate Mousse on Day 5 and then the rest of the dinner is made on Day 6. On Day 7 you are mostly concerned with cooking the main course (which is all prepared and in the refrigerator) and serving dishes you have already prepared (like the salad).

If you love to cook with your partner then you will want to skip to the third dinner where you can cook together. Each recipe has a full-color picture and detailed instructions. Overall this is an excellent way to seduce your partner with delicious gourmet foods. The "Conversation Igniters" also make sure you are talking about interesting subjects.

~The Rebecca Review

Customer Review: A unique and enthusiastically recommended addition

As the title implies, "Romantic Dinners For Two" is a compilation of recipes and menus for the creation of three complete dinners for two special people. But not just for courting couples wanting the perfect date! These are dinners that would ably serve to make a special dining occasion for anniversary celebrations, birthdays, Valentine Day, Christmas, special announcements and events (like getting engaged or having a baby), or a simple romantic evening at home. "Romantic Dinners For Two" is more than just another theme cookbook as it also includes an instructional DVD with step-by-step cooking instructions that can turn even the most novice of kitchen cooks into accomplished chefs. There are tear out Invitations; tear out Seven Day Planners and Grocery Lists; advice for creating romantic scenarios and settings; suggestions for Mood Enhancers; questions that will serve to initiate conversation, final preparation and serving schedules for perfect presentation from beginning to end. Superbly illustrated with full color photos of finished dishes, "Romantic Dinners For Two" is a unique and enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal cookbook collection.

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Spirituality and prayer change with age. In this book, author Kristen Johnson Ingram explores these changes and offers a Catholic perspective on the aging process. Ingram analyzes the spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of aging and explains how these issues affect a person's relationship with God.

As a woman in her seventies, Ingram knows firsthand the joy and sadness of getting older. Candid discussions about love and loss, fear and faith, and death and dignity offer profound insight into the changing relationship with faith that occurs in old age. Ingram also provides encouragement that gaining years deepens a person's spirituality and brings peace. This book provides a springboard for reflection on one's own aging and allows those close to the elderly to better understand their problems. Relevant Scripture passages and quotes on aging introduce each chapter.

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There's a lot more to wine and food pairing than memorizing a few simple rules. The true connoisseur knows the subtleties...and in this book, a wine expert shares his secrets.

€ What wines accompany which foods-and how to choose
€ Essays, advice, and comments from award-winning chefs
€ Covers each course-from entree to dessert, from simple meals to exotic favorites
€ Interviews with famous wine connoisseurs on understanding and appreciating wines
€ Information on wine-making and maps of the world's major wine regions
€ Resource guide to finding the best wine-specialty shops
€ Glossary of wine/food terms and advice on how to "read" wine lists
€ A primer on the complete history of wine
€ Making sense of labels, vintage years, and the best regions

Customer Review: Above average book regarding food & wine pairing

This book is excellent if serving as a beginning entree to subject, but if you have already embarked upon this course of adventure you will probably find much of the path traveled to be familiar territory. The examples of dishes paired with several wines is interesting and serves as a useful frame of reference; however, if you are looking for variety of recipes for broad range of wines/varietals you may be disappointed.

Customer Review: The Perfect Guide

I have found this book to be extremely helpful in making my wine choices. It is easy to read so a non-expert (like me) is not put off. In addition, I have given it out as a gift to a number of friends and family. We are all waiting for the second volume!

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