Book Report: January 2013

WINDOWS ON THE WORLD WINE CLASS FOR THE MODERN AGE

For the first time in two decades, Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Complete Wine Course (Sterling Epicure) is available in paperback. The book has been a consistent seller since 1985; this latest edition incorporates mobile smart tags throughout to enhance the learning experience. $19.95

sterlingepicure.com

AROUND THE WORLD IN A BEER GLASS

For anyone wanting to learn more about the oldest of alcoholic beverages, The World Atlas of Beer (Sterling Epicure, $30) is a comprehensive volume tapping beers from over 35 countries and hundreds of craft breweries. Authors Stephen Beaumont and Tim Webb cover history, brewing methods, trends, technology, pairing suggestions and more.

STORIES FROM BOURBON COUNTRY

Beam, Straight Up: The Bold Story of the First Family of Bourbon (Wiley, $22.95 ) takes readers on a journey with seventh generation Master Distiller Fred Noe, from his bucolic childhood through his years as a roadie for Hank Williams Jr. to his stint on the Jim Beam bottling line and his ascension to Beam’s Master Distiller.
wiley.com

For the more visually inclined, The Ambassador of Bourbon: Maker’s Mark and the Rebirth of America’s Native Spirit showcases photographer David Toczko’s stunning photography of the distillery at Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky. The book features more than 250 of Toczko’s favorite images, including shots from the Samuels family archives. $39.95
makersmarkshop.com

LATEST INSTALLMENT OF THE DROPS OF GOD

The Drops of God graphic novel debuted stateside last year to much acclaim and fanfare from both wine enthusiasts and casual fans. In the latest installment, The Drops of God: New World, the two brothers in competition to find 13 sublime bottles of wine in order to inherit their father’s legacy travel to Australia and California. $14.95

randomhouse.com

AN EXPERT BRINGS WINE DOWN TO EARTH

Even amid America’s steady wine boom, many people still feel a great deal of anxiety when choosing a wine. New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov has written How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto with a refreshingly earth-bound appreciation for wine. Enjoying wine should be easy, and Asimov takes readers through some of his favorites while enchanting with the story of his own love affair with grapes. (William Morrow, $16.95).

harpercollins.com