Cheap The Accidental Connoisseur: An Irreverent Journey Through the Wine World

I found myself truly enthusiastic about this book from the first chapter. I liked the writing, it was funny, sardonic, tongue-in-cheek, not typical in the world of wine writing. The memoir at the beginning...describing the Beaujolais he believed he was quaffing as our Lord's hemoglobin as a Catholic school boy... I thought it was going be unique...the humor, the "irreverent" tone.

This is a "not bad" book but not truly "irreverent". Despite his attempts at trying to downplay meeting Robert Mondavi and Piero Antinori, getting together with rustic winemakers in Italy and California, it doesn't really work. There are moments of humility here, modesty but not many. After awhile I couldn't relate to Osborne's observations, describing cuisine I've never heard of or tasted. The narrative structure also tires - Osborne goes from winery/winemaker to winery/winemaker describing the buildings, the people, the atmosphere with little real enthusiasm, following through with formulaic efforts, each chapter a variation of the previous.

All in all, the book feels spoiled (should I say "corked"?). After the first few chapters, I started to see the pattern. There is reverence here. It's the ideal "wine snob" book. The title is aimed at everyday people, people not into the "hoopla" of wine. There's hoopla here, just hidden. Osborn really isn't much of an accidental connoisseur, just a journalist who name drops and mopes about criticizing the way wine has changed in the world.

If you're someone just looking to learn about wine, its pleasures and pursuits, check out Natalie Maclean's "Red White and Drunk All Over" If you want something more with a bit more enthusiasm, "Wine: A Life Uncorked" by Hugh Johnson. Johnson writes brilliantly, he is an aristocrat but it feels like he truly appreciates the life he has had and the experience of wine. Get Osborne's book from the library if you're truly curious. Maclean and Johnson's books are treasures.Get more detail about The Accidental Connoisseur: An Irreverent Journey Through the Wine World.