WINE: Putting grape to barrelMAKING wine — especially for those who come to the activity from another career — is seductive and addictive and everything about it can swiftly become an obsession. No matter how many people work with you, no matter how much advice you seek (or is Study: Warming could make Montana wine [...]
WINE: Putting grape to barrel
MAKING wine — especially for those who come to the activity from another career — is seductive and addictive and everything about it can swiftly become an obsession. No matter how many people work with you, no matter how much advice you seek (or is
Study: Warming could make Montana wine region
MISSOULA — Climate change warnings tend to focus on the losers, but western Montana would come up a winery winner, according to a new scientific analysis of temperature trends. “Winter temperatures have been a limit to vineyard growth in our state
Wine and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure
Liberty, equality, and fraternity are all well and good, a champion of French culture once remarked. But, he continued, what made France truly superior to its neighbors was the French passion for wine, which “contributed to the French race by giving it wit, gaiety, and good taste, qualities which set it profoundly apart from people who drink a lot of beer.”
The commentator may have had a point; after all, write Don and Petie Kladstrup, it was a well-known fact that Adolf Hitler did not like wine. Still, their leader’s teetotalism notwithstanding, the Germans showed no distaste for French wine when they invaded France in 1940. Indeed, among the first acts of the occupying army was to seize great stores of wine, sending tens of thousands of barrels to the Third Reich and ordering the conversion of thousands of hectares of vineyards into war production.
Some French vintners, the Kladstrups write in this enjoyable study, went along with orders. Many others, however, including the heads of distinguished houses like Moët et Chandon, engaged in daring and dangerous acts of resistance wherever they could. Some lied about their yields; others built false walls to hide precious vintages; and still others concocted elaborate ruses, such as sprinkling carpet dust into inferior grades of new wine to give it a musty, distinguished flavor. Not every German was fooled, and some partisans of the grape died for their troubles. But some Germans, at considerable risk to themselves, also looked the other way. The Kladstrups fill their pages with memories of the wine war from both sides of the struggle, stories sometimes somber, sometimes amusing, that commemorate those “whose love of the grape and devotion to a way of life helped them survive and triumph over one of the darkest and most difficult chapters in French history.” –Gregory McNamee
Customer Review: Community power in the face of political might
One of the best ‘war’ books I have ever read, as it is not about agression, but of collaboration and a love of something which bonds so many together. The repercussions of the strength of these wine families and communities is felt still today.
I have actually just started to re read this boook, and am fascinated again to read about Berchesgarten in the first few pages – a place I have seen, but at the time had NO idea what lay behind those walls. I love books which give you a new perspective on a well written about series of events.
Customer Review: Alternative History
A great book that is very entertaining in a serious way. If you like the history of Europe and of WWII and especially if you are a wine drinker and appreciator this book is for you. Get it here since the price is a lot less than at book stores.
Matt Kramer's Making Sense Of Italian Wine
Customer Review: Great Primer to Italian Wines
There are some great reviews here of this book. The only thing I can add as someone who loves Italian wine is Matt Kramer does a great job with the big job he has given himself and tells you as much in his introduction. I thought the first 3 chapters were excellent with the philosophy of being Italian. Each chapter simply covers the basics of Northern Italy's wine giving you producers who are good at that particuliar wine. I would recommend this book as a primer for the real beginner. God read.
Customer Review: Wonderful book.
This is a wonderful book.
I was already familiar with many Italian wines, but my knowledge and experience with them was scattered.
This book put so many things into perspective for me.
I went to Italy for the first time last September and now reading this book, I can look back and better understand and appreciate what I saw then.
The organization of the book is outstanding. The book has identified several wines of interest which I have now tried with great enjoyment.
Kramer's writing style is not only informative, but he can turn a phrase and I found my self smiling at several points and then found myself looking for the next clever piece of writing.
This book has also triggered a desire to learn more about Italian wines and I have started reading the Joe Bastianich book as a follow up.
This book is a home run.
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