Recently in Books Category

I am so buying these flashcards - all the great wine grapes!





How can you go wrong?

I came across an interesting book today when I was grocery shopping.





It looks to be an interesting read, and the author takes from her experience representing various stakeholders in the wine industry. I know that the laws are far more complex than she discusses in her book, but it's an interesting read nevertheless. Maybe I'll write one on all of the wine sales, transport, and growth laws around the country - may as well take advantage of the law degree somehow!

The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia will likely be my next wine book purchase. It's recommended by the Court of Master Sommeliers as the reference to be familiar with, and it appears to be more comprehensive than the Windows on the World wine course reference book.


I'm looking at other options as well - anyone have any thoughts?

My wife received the book, What to Drink with what you Eat as a birthday gift at the beginning of our wine tasting classes. It's both an outstanding reference and an entertaining read. It has sections that list various foods and then recommend wines, both varietals and in some case specific wines, and then the complementary section that lists wines and suggests food pairings. It's visual style is intuitive, much like Web 2.0 tags - larger print selections pair better with the food or wine, and smaller print pair less well. Those foods that are absent are presumably not good pairings. There are notes throughout from chefs, wine enthusiasts, sommeliers, and others. They discuss their favorite pairings, reasons for matches, and how to make your own judgments. They cover a huge range of foods and wines. It's an excellent book for someone just learning to pair wines and food (and it includes some other beverages as well, primarily beers). It's quick to grab when deciding what to serve for an impromptu meal, or when planning meals and shopping. Highly recommended.

 

Ansel Adams is of course the best known photographer in the world. His Murals project was incredible, and was perhaps responsible for much of his fame.

There is a great retrospective of his work from 2001 available, Ansel Adams at 100.


I'm also a big fan of Stieglitz, and of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Stieglitz worked in New York quite a lot, and had great galleries, such as An American Place. His Lake George photos, particularly Equivalents, were works that I enjoyed a lot. When I vacationed in Lake George in late Summer of 2008 I had a chance to take some photos on the lake, of the clouds and of the landscapes. He inspired me to take the time to take the photos in that setting, and I'm quite happy with them.