This is a perfect gift for a young man who wants to get into wine. Tips are sorted into bite sized chunks, making this a good bedside read or something to keep in the briefcase on a business trip to take up that 15 minutes of dead time in your schedule.

It is really accessible for all newcomers in the world of wine, but is quite annoying for those who already have a basic knowledge of the subject. In addition, I think that the book is not addressing the issue of wine tasting with the proper detail, and this is a great flaw for a book that is expected to guide casual drinkers into the secrets and the pleasures of wine.

Saw Mark Oldman lecture at the Aspen Food and Wine Magazine Classic last month, so I purchased this killer book. He did a fabulous job connecting with the Aspen audience, which included many festival old-timers like myself,and Oldman's Guide connects with you in the much the same way. Mark's way of teaching with down to earth smarts, gusto, and whit is simply infectious and the most original I've seen in any wine guide.

This is a wine guide for the person who doesn't want to be talked down to or weighed down with loads of unnecessary detail. His descriptions are clear, concise, informative and entertaining. Though it's a little big to carry to the wine shop, I'd still recommend doing so because it will help the buyer find the right wine to suit their palate.

This is the book to buy if you are just starting to appreciate wine. It is a plain language guide to every varietal and grape. I've purchased several more copies to give as gifts!