Even before I started in the wine industry, I would pick up various wine books of interest. Since I’m not currently studying for an exam, I am using this opportunity to read these interesting books. I’ve owned Andrew Jefford’s The New France: A Complete Guide to Contemporary French Wine (Mitchell Beazley Wine Guides) for several years. I have read various sections based on need, but had never sat down and read the book cover to cover.

The best brief summary of this book is WOW!

The passion Andrew Jefford has for French wine, especially the improvements taking place in each region is clearly felt by the reader. This is a great book to get a comprehensive understanding of the current issues taking place in France. He is critical when he needs to be, but also has great respect and understanding for tradition, and realizes the changes in the world wide wine industry.

Even if you are not interested in French wine, I would encourage anyone interested in wine to read the chapter on terroir. This is the best explanation of terroir I have ever read and his comparison of wine to music is extraordinary.

I have read a lot of wine books. Most are very dry and technical in nature, which is appropriate with certain books, but this one has emotion and draws in the reader, creating a new passion in the reader for French wine.