The Accidental Connoisseur: An Irreverent Journey Through the Wine World

by Lawrence Osborne

Book Overview

What is taste? Is it individual or imposed on us from the outside? Why are so many of us so intimidated when presented with the wine list at a restaurant? In The Accidental Connoisseur, journalist... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0865476330
• ISBN13: 9780865476332
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: North Point Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Nicely done

An interesting, well written book that eliminates bias that most wine writers tend to place into their books. There is little pretension, and a genuine desire to learn that shows through these pages.

Smart, witty look at the world of wine

This was recommended to me by a former sommelier, and with good reason--this is a book about the way wine should be in the larger scheme of things. Think beyond Kendell-Jackson Chardonnay and Yellow Tail Shiraz. Wine reflects a time and place, not sugar craving. Osborne is a terrific writer, but not a wine expert, and that's exactly what makes this book so engaging. Highly recommended.

An irreverent and humorous approach to wine

This book is easy to read--a common-sense book that looks at the puffery of the wine scene. I bought additional copies and gave them to a couple of wine-loving friends. Wish I could read a book of this caliber each month.

A gem of a book

Under the quixotic travelogue disguise lurks a gently insightful, open minded and intelligent assessment of how we think about wine. For those who care about wine, this is a gem of a book.

Subtle and gentle odyssey

The exceptional reviews "The Accidental Connoisseur" has gotten are easy to understand. This is not really a wine book : it's more like a protracted mulling over the nature of the tourist economy, on capilalist fetich and on the nature of place. Thorouhgly recommended for its intelligence and insights.