Hugh Johnson's Pocket Encyclopedia of Wine 1990

Honestly, this is a great reference. Take the time to learn how to read the symbols and abbreviations used throughout the text, or you will fail to benefit from the author's scholarship. Take the time, too, to read the brief pages on grape varieties. The section titled "Wine & Food," makes brief suggestions for wines with specific foods. Why would you want a different wine for beef stew and for beef stroganoff? For the variety! Why would you need Hugh Johnson to tell you? For his creative suggestions! Then take his journey through wine country, starting with France. Along the road you will re-discover your old familiar wine friends, and you will no doubt be introduced to some new ones. Do read the author's editorial on sulfites on page 198 for the author's contribution to the confusion. And use the vintage charts at the end to find why that '66 costs so much more than that '68. Better still, try them both and find out for yourself. Thanks Mr. Johnson.

This is my secret weapon. It's saved my skin many times when I've been asked to recommend a wine for that special occasion. It's also a great help when perusing wines in the grocery store, or, if you're slick enough, to secretly review your favorite restaurant's wine list. Any way you cut it, it's the best pocket reference I've seen. No, it doesn't cover every wine in the world, and no book can (boutique wines pop up too fast) but it'll get you through 95% of your wine hunt. I've been buying them for 12+ years. Very, very good stuff.

Being a recent inductee into the wine lover's hall of study, there haven't been many books on wine I haven't studied or browsed. Most of them regurgitate unoriginal thought. I found Johnson's encyclopedia both very entertaining and extensive in it's coverage. I also found his recommendations to be spot on! When was the last time you could say that about a reference book author? Needless to say, this excellent piece of work will be a constant companion in my wine store excursions!

I think the above title pretty much summarizes how I feel abut Mr. Johnson's pocket wine encyclopedia. I carry it with me everywhere as my handy reference. He's helped me to recognize some good bargains in wine even if a particular vintage wasn't rated that well.