I actually put this book at about a 4.5 rating. This is a great little handbook that helps educate the reader about blind tasting and tasting terms. As far as learning about critical evaluation of wine this is a must unless you have access to the WSET Advanced Handbook (you have to be a WSET student). Bravo Jancis on another great read.

Pros: has great tasting games and tips, great terms, well written
Cons: limited scope, some non-pertinant info

Janice Robinson's books are wine gospels. This book is for anyone who wants to taste and enjoy more wine. Don't be intimidated. She is not a wine snob and writes her books for everyone. I threw a wine party after reading this book and passed along some of my new knowledge with my friends. I feel much more confident giving wine as a host/hostess gift now.

I am using the book as a reference guide because I am already reasonably proficient in tasting wine, however from what I have read so far it is very informative and an excellent learning medium for the novice and the experienced wine taster alike.

There are dozens upon dozens of reference books that explain wine in very technical terms. The Oxford Companion to wine has in depth entries on everything from the making of sparkling wines to polyphenols such as resveratrol. The World Atlas of Wine contains remarkable maps and explanations of all of the mapped regions. These are, of course, essential to anyone wanting to learn about wine.

But this transcends all reference guides. This book tells you how to truly enjoy this enchanting beverage *and* teaches you about wine along the way.

If you go through this book, and not only read but actually work with the practical tastings, you can not help but come out of it comfortable enough in your own understanding and convictions to "rap" with experienced oenophiles.

I bought the book a year or so ago so this review benefits from the added perspective of time. At about that time, I was becoming more and more interested in wine, but at wine festivals and the like I found that I knew what I liked, but not why I liked it, and where I could go to explore the favored elements in more detail. I remember going through this book doing some of the exercises like trying different glass shapes, trying wines blindfolded, tasting wines made from the same grape but from different regions, etc. I occasionally had friends over to do some of the exercises in a party environment, and the exercises proved to be a great date idea as well! I remember her exercises were quite flexible as well suggesting cheaper alternatives to the classic examples. Other reviewers have pointed to the omissions of their favorite wine regions or varietals, but this book is very much focused on exciting the novice, and might be overstepping its goal by presenting the limited reference section at all. Not everything can be covered here, but it's a fun springboard into the world of wine by one of the true experts in the field.