The Psychology of Wine: Truth and Beauty by the Glass Top Quality

The Psychology of Wine
Truth and Beauty By The Glass
Evan Mitchell and Brian Mitchell
Praeger -ABC-CLIO, LLC 2009

Evan Mitchell and Brian Mitchell bring a wealth of wining and dining experience to life in the pages of The Psychology of Wine. While the title may sound like just another stuffy wine tome, never fear. This book is neither boring nor banal. Indeed, it is a book best enjoyed by popping the cork of a favorite Pinot Noir or Pinot Grigio and indulging in the combined pleasures of a good read and a fine wine.

The Psychology of Wine entertains while it educates. It is filled with marvelous myths, amusing anecdotes and savvy advice. Learn the lore behind the birth of Dionysus and the hypothesis of the world's first "accidental" wine. Follow the life of the life the vine from dormancy through harvest. Get to the bottom of the age-old debate of "nature versus nurture." Find out where those dry, didactic numbers used to score wines come from and how to judge wines with a more "soulful" approach. Discover intriguing idiosyncrasies about wine such as the "pathological" nature of Pinot Grigios and which wine grows "wiser" as it ages.

As a foodie, wine lover and travel writer, I particularly enjoyed polishing my wine-speak in Part II, The Language of Wines and the delightful frivolity of Chapter 20 - Games People Play. No doubt as we swirl, sniff, sip and savor a variety of varietals at our next dinner party, we'll play a bit of "This wine is like..." and describe our wines in terms of music, movies and even moods. The Psychology of Wine is a keeper on my bookshelves.

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