New To Wine?

The KCL Fine Wine Society understands that the wine world can be an intimidating place to step into when it feels like everyone else seems to understand the intricacies of flavours. If you are interested in furthering your wine education beyond our resources or if you are seeking some preparation for your next tasting or wine-related lecture then here are some book recommendations to start your journey.

1. Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine in 100 Bottles by Jane Lopes

   Want to learn some more about wine and enjoy a story simultaneously, Jane Lopes offers a fantastic book to jump-start your wine appreciation journey. With the addition of some spirits and beer recommendations, Lopes not only answers the heavy question on the tip of every beginners tongue of what to drink, but weaves her recommendations into a memoir of her life in wine.

2. The World of Natural Wine: What It Is, Who Makes It, and Why It Matters by Aaron Ayscough

   Want to get a little niche? Ayscough’s engaging book about natural wines was named one of the year’s best books on wine by both The New York Times and Bloomberg. This book tackles the wine movement turning back to its roots and embracing wines made from grapes alone. He highlights different winemakers embracing natural wines as well as specific regions where natural winemaking is prevalent. This provides a nice overview and introduction into the world of natural world for those who are wine connoisseurs as well as for those who have never heard of natural wine before this point.

3. The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste: A Field Guide to the Great Wines of Europe by Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay—- a previous recommendation of the society in 2021

   Interested in leveling up your tasting game? Receiving the André Simon Drink Book Award, “The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste” is the book you need. Written as an engaging reference book, readers can extract the intricacies of how the soils and regions may affect the taste of a wine. This is a bit more advanced reading so we recommend this to aspiring sommeliers or those who have an existing foot in the wine world. But we do not discourage those interested as this is a wonderfully detailed and informative book as it is considered by many to be an essential reference for them.

4. Wine Simple: A Totally Approachable Guide From A World-Class Sommelier by Aldo Sohm and Christine Muhlke.

   In a book for all levels, world-class Sommelier Aldo Sohm shares his opinions on how to get wine right. From explaining the relevance of vintages to a tutorial on how to saber a bottle of champagne (our Fine Wine Society team does not necessarily recommend trying this at home), this book is an entertaining and all encompassing education about wine and even encourages you to start forming your own ideas and opinions about the wines you are trying. Aldo Sohm has over a decade of experience as wine director for three-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin (Eric Ripert’s restaurant in New York for those following the culinary world). If you are looking for an expert for your official introduction or are confused on who’s word to trust, you can trust Aldo Sohm.

5. Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me To Live For Taste

   Follow former tech reporter Bianca Bosker on her quest to become a sommelier. Learn alongside someone who’s appreciation of wine went from the alcohol used to wind down after a long day of work to becoming obsessed and joining a community of fellow “cork dorks.” This memoir documents her discoveries and insights into the wine communities as well as her improved tasting and serving skills. Careful though, this might inspire you to look into the Certified Sommelier Examination.

6. Imperial Wine: How the British Empire Made Wine’s New World by Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre

   Want to combine an interest in history with your wine hobby? Regan-Lefebvre shares some shocking narratives of how involved the Britain was in the cultivation of wine industries in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, some of the now hottest regions for global wine production. Well-written and easy to follow, this book will provide you with some fantastic trivia for your next tasting or event with our KCL Fine Wine Society.