Wine enthusiasts and novices, raise your glasses! The #1 wine book has been extensively updated! If you're a connoisseur, Wine For Dummies, Fourth Edition will get you up to speed on what's in and show you how to take your hobby to the next level. If you're new to the world of wine, it will clue you in on what you've been missing and show you how to get started. It begins with the basic types of wine, how wines are made, and more. Then it gets down to specifics: * How to handle snooty wine clerks, navigate restaurant wine lists, decipher cryptic wine labels, and dislodge stubborn corks * How to sniff and taste wine * How to store and pour wine and pair it with food * Four white wine styles: fresh, unoaked; earthy; aromatic; rich, oaky * Four red wine styles: soft, fruity, and relatively light-bodied; mild-mannered, medium-bodied; spicy; powerful, full-bodied, and tannic * What's happening in the "Old World" of wine, including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, and Greece * What's how (and what's not) in the New World of Wine, including Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa * U.S. wines from California, Oregon, Washington, and New York * Bubbling beauties and medieval sweets: champagne, sparkling wines, sherry, port, and other exotic dessert wines Authors Ed McCarthy, CWE, who is a regular contributor to Wine Enthusiast and The Wine Journal and Mary Ewing-Mulligan, MW, who owns the International Wine Center in New York, have co-authored six wine books in the For Dummies series. In an easy-to-understand, unpretentious style that's as refreshing as a glass of Chardonnay on a summer day, they provide practical information to help you enjoy wine, including: * Real Deal symbols that alert you to good wines that are low in price compared to other wines of similar type, style, or quality * A Vintage Wine Chart with specifics on numerous wines * Info on ordering wine from out of state, collecting wine, and more Wine For Dummies, Fourth Edition is not just a great resource and reference, it's a good read. It's full-bodied, yet light...rich, yet crisp...robust, yet refreshing...

Table of Contents:
Introduction. Part I: Getting to Know Wine. Chapter 1: Wine 101. Chapter 2: These Taste Buds Are for You. Chapter 3: Pinot Envy and Other Secrets about Grape Varieties. Chapter 4: Wine Names and Label Lingo. Chapter 5: Behind the Scenes of Winemaking. Part II: Wine and You: Up Close and Personal. Chapter 6: Navigating a Wine Shop. Chapter 7: Confronting a Restaurant Wine List. Chapter 8: The Insider's Track to Serving and Using Wine. Part III: The "Old World" of Wine. Chapter 9: Doing France. Chapter 10: Italy, the Heartland of Vino. Chapter 11: Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Beyond. Part IV: Discovering the New World of Wine. Chapter 12: The Southern Hemisphere Arises. Chapter 13: America, America. Part V: Wine's Exotic Face. Chapter 14: Champagne and Other Sparklers. Chapter 15: Wine Roads Less Traveled: Fortified and Dessert Wines. Part VI: When You've Caught the Bug. Chapter 16: Buying and Collecting Wine. Chapter 17: Continuing Education for Wine Lovers. Chapter 18: Describing and Rating Wine. Chapter 19: Marrying Wine with Food. Part VII: The Part of Tens. Chapter 20: Answers to Ten Common Questions about Wine. Chapter 21: Ten Wine Myths Demystified. Part VIII: Appendixes. Appendix A: Pronunciation Guide to Wine Terms. Appendix B: Glossary of Wine Terms. Appendix C: Vintage Wine Chart: 1985-2004. Index.