The essential wine reference for food and wine aficionados, students, and professionals Written by the experts who train today's leading chefs and sommeliers, this invaluable guide thoroughly demystifies wine, from the basics of wine production to the nuances of wine lists, wine marketing, and wine service. Completely revised and updated, this new edition of the critically acclaimed guide features more comprehensive coverage of the wine regions of the world, grape varietals, winemaking, purchasing, tasting, service, and pairing. The expanded food and wine pairing section doesn't just list good pairings, but explains why particular wines and foods pair well with each other. In addition, the book includes easy-to-use and informative charts, tables, and maps, as well as beautiful full-color photographs.. * Packed with the most comprehensive, up-to-date information on wines of the world from the top professionals in the field * Includes more tasting notes for each region, updated information on the health effects of wine, and an expanded food and wine pairing section * Features excellent study resources for food and wine students Expanded, revised, and better than ever, Exploring Wine is a comprehensive resource and ideal companion for wine lovers and students alike. "Exploring Wine is a grand tour. The writing is lively. The content is rich. It is a wine lover's guidebook, a wine professional's manual. It is highly opinionated, which makes it particularly entertaining. It contains many insights into wine lists, how wines are priced, and alternatives to Chardonnay and Cabernet, which make it extremely helpful for wine professionals and consumers alike. This is a great book. Drink it in." --Joy Sterling, CEO, Iron Horse Vineyards, Green Valley, California "A must-have resource for the weekend novice drinker and the everyday tasting professional." --Joseph Bastianich, Restaurateur: Babbo, Esca, Lupa, Becco, Otto, Mozza, Del Posto, Bar Jamón, Casa Mono, and The Spotted Pig; Proprietor, Italian Wine Merchants; Owner, Bastianich Winery; coauthor, Vino Italiano "A large jewel and a classic. I intend to use it as a reference and forinspiration. SALUTE!" --Piero Selvaggio, Proprietor, Valentino, Los Angeles and Las Vegas "One of the most intelligent, most easily understood books on the subject of wine growing that I have ever used." --Scott McLeod, Winemaker, Rubicon Estate Winery, Napa Valley, California; Wine Enthusiast magazine 2009 Winemaker of the Year "Kolpan, Smith, and Weiss received the 2009 Georges Duboeuf Wine Book of the Year Award for their book, WineWise, an award that is part of our ongoing commitment toward recognizing excellence in all aspects of the wine industry. Their new edition of Exploring Wine is for anyone with an interest in wine, from enthusiastic novices to serious wine lovers." --Georges Duboeuf, wine producer, Beaujolais, France