Bacchus and Me: Adventures in the Wine Cellar

excellent treatment of many topics in wine. If only one could have joined Jay in his wine adventures!

I personally have not read the book, I gave it to my father for Christmas because he owns a liquor store. He really enjoyed the book and found it an easy read for someone beginning to learn about wine.

My wife and I found the book so entertaining that we could hardly put it down. We alternately read every chapter to eachother out loud for fear of the other getting to laugh first. We particularly enjoyed the authors wit and amusing parallels.Hopefully the book will also be published in German so we can give it to all our non English speaking friends.

McInerney does not try to pretend to be writing a Wine Encyclopoedia. What he does deliver, in many respects, is far superior. His approach is wonderfully effective (and to toip things off, witty and entertaining) when it comes to translating the whole sensory and intellectual experience into a liverly written format. He goes way beyond the mere dry, descriptive and factual approach of the usual wine guides, and allows the reader to truly immerse himself in the experience. And have fun, and also learn stuff.Thoroughly entertaining.

Sometimes food and wine guides tend to seem detached from the reach or reality of 95% of the population; however, not this one. Not only is it helpful to those without scads of disposable income, it is a great start for the neophyte, and fun reading. McInerney is a definite Francophile (at least in terms of wine) but comes by his opinion honestly, having completed considerable investigation of California wines, to which he gives high points, albeit with some reservations. He addresses his topic in an entertaining and distinctively American fashion, approaching it from the perspective of a yuppie consumer. Despite his admiration for French wine, he is also an admirer of the controversial wine critic (and French bete noire) Robert Parker, Jr. This book provides numerous insights regarding French, Californian, and some Italian wines. However, I was surprised by his scant attention to Alsace, and his overlooking of some currently "hot" wines such as Gigondas, and those of Languedoc. Additionally, though a new release, he almost entirely ignors Washington State, which is currently a major noise in quality American production.McInerney comes across as a hip, high living, but very likeable guy with a self deprecating sense of humor. His enjoyment of the topic, irreverent metaphors, and resistance to taking himself or the subject too seriously make this a distinctive, readable, and fun read. It is clearly a guide for the beginning or intermediate level wine connossieur. "Black belts" would probably find it middle brow, but might still enjoy debating McInerney's observations. However, to his credit, McInerney takes pains to deny any great expertise. All in all a great book for anyone who enjoys wine.