The Wine-Tasting Class: Expertise in 12 Tastings

Looking for an introduction to wine? Looking for some ideas for get togethers with friends? Then this book and record binder are for you. Ridgeway provides a great overview to the different types of wine, and breaks down the lessons into 12 easy to follow installments that can benefit the beginner or the aficianado.The only downside that I have experienced is that some of the lessons require a large number of different wines, and unless you have a relatively large number of people at your tasting, you may have a lot of leftover wine.

A group of friends used this book as a way to renew old acquaintances ... and we had a ball doing it! The lessons are non-threatening and very well compiled. You can get as fussy as you choose to be (although we started out with the best of "pretentions" we just had too much fun to keep it up. We're now on the 11th tasting and we can smell an oaked Chardonnay from a block away! The session on fruit flavors was especially interesting as was tasting the difference between French and California wines. Very informative, without the snobbery ... have fun with it!