George Taber's third book, "In Search of Bacchus" is a well-researched and well-traveled overview of 12 wine regions around the world, from Napa, which invented wine tourism, to the fledgling Republic of Georgia. In his groundbreaking "Judgment of Paris," Taber detailed the Napa pioneers of the 1960s. He doesn't recross that river here, but looks instead at those who got wine tourism started, people like Robert Mondavi, John Wright, and Nicolas Catena, who realized there was a business opportunity in selling more than just wine. It helps their cause that many wine-growing regions are in stunningly beautiful places that you'd visit just for the view.
At times "In Search of Bacchus" reads a bit dryly, but Taber has a keen eye for history and filtering in the things that matter most. Most fascinating to read was how South Africa has emerged in the post-apartheid world. Wine has a role in helping racial reconciliation in a nation with a difficult, painful, and often violent past. His description of the Rioja region was breathtaking for its food, architecture, scenery, and oh yeah, the wine. And I found myself laughing as Taber described bumbling through blending his own wine in Duoro, Portugal. The book makes me thirst to visit South Africa, New Zealand, and Spain.
Taber includes informal lessons and traveler's tips, though the book isn't a tourist guide like Fodor's or Rick Steves'. His five-page conclusion is worth the price of the book alone. He wrote, "So where in the world is the best wine tourism? Your next destination." Spain will definitely be on my destination list.
The audience for this book are people who drink wine already and want to explore wine regions. While obviously a wine enthusiast, Taber never claims expertise or promotes highfalutin tasting notes. He's a journalist, and he's best just recording the experience of visiting a place. His narrative appeals to many of us who are curious, rather than pretentious, about wine, and who want to travel the world to drink it. Get more detail about In Search of Bacchus: Wanderings in the Wonderful World of Wine Tourism.
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