The Best Wine Books to Read in 2021
I’ve gotten asked quite a few times before, “what is your favorite wine book to read?”. To be honest that’s a tough question because there are so many resources I’ve found helpful over the years. While I’ve learned so much from my wine education courses through the WSET Global program, I’ve also gained a lot of knowledge from online resources and the books I’m about to mention below! Many of these books are fun and easy to read, and they also make a cute addition to your coffee table or desk. 🙂
Wine Folly
If you have to choose just one book on wine to get, this should be it! Especially if you are a beginner to learning about wine, Wine Folly is the perfect introductory resource. I love how colorful and easy this book is to read. It starts out giving you basic knowledge of wine, how it’s made, and how to properly taste it. It then dives deeper into tons of the different grape varieties and the characteristics that go along with them. If you ever have a question about a grape or wine in general, this book will have you covered!
Big Macs & Burgundy
This is my new favorite book! I just bought this a couple of months ago and I’m seriously obsessed. The Author, Vanessa Price, does such a good job of storytelling while also making it super informative. Her wine and food pairings in Big Macs & Burgundy are inspiring but also very realistic for the everyday eater! She includes fast food pairings, salad pairings, candy pairings, movie pairings, and so much more. I’m all about people who make wine fun and approachable for everyone. My favorite pairing in this book is Cheetos and Sancerre, how can you go wrong with that?!
Wine Simple
My brother actually gifted me this book for Christmas one year, and I ended up reading the whole thing! If you really know nothing about wine, Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm will give you good basic knowledge and awesome recommendations for your own taste preferences. It breaks down key varietals and regions in a way that’s super easy to understand and remember. After you read this you’ll be able to impress all your friends with your new wine knowledge 🙂 This book would be the perfect gift for anyone with an interest in wine.
Wine Food
Not only does this wine book make for a beautiful coffee table book, but it’s also filled with some amazing recipes and wine pairings to go with them! This is the book I want displayed on my kitchen counter, but it also gets lots of use. The photography in Wine Food is gorgeous, I could flip through it all day! I also love how each chapter has “Pairing Cheat Sheets” if you want just a little hint at what wine to pair with your meal.
Rosé all Day
At first I got this rosé wine book because of how cute and pink it was! I thought that I would just use it for decor. Well, Rosé all Day by Katherine Cole has a crazy amount of information on rosé. Seriously this book will tell you all you need to know on the famous pink wine. I personally love having this one styled on my bar cart because it’s super sleek looking, but also a crowd pleaser for anyone who’s interested in picking up some rosé facts.
Wine Spectator’s Pocket Guide to Wine
This is a teeny tiny book, but loaded with facts. Like some of the others, the Wine Spectator’s Pocket Guide to Wine also goes through the key grape varietals and regions. It also has great suggestions on wine buying strategies and how to get the most out of your wine. In the very back of the book you’ll find a vintage chart that tells you when it’s best to “drink” or “hold” wines from certain years and regions.
Other Books:
As we all know there are tons of books out there! These are the wine books that are next on my list to order
Wine for Normal People: A Guide for Real People Who Like Wine, but Not the Snobbery That Goes with It (Wine Tasting Book, Gift for Wine Lover)
The Sommelier’s Cookbook: Recipes and Wine Pairings for Discerning Palates
Let me know your favorite wine books or resources that I should check out! Cheers!
