**Choose the right bottle for any occasion, whether you''re out to eat or staying in, by learning to think like a sommelier—from the world-renowned wine expert and author of Aldo Sohm is the James Beard Award-winning wine director of Le Bernardin and a partner in the eponymous Aldo Sohm Wine Bar. Sohm was named Best Sommelier in the World by the Worldwide Sommelier Association, Best Sommelier in America by the American Sommelier Association, and Best Sommelier of Austria four times by the Austrian Sommelier Union. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Christine Muhlke is a culinary consultant and the creator of the xtine newsletter. The co-author of Wine Simple, she has authored cookbooks with Eric Ripert, David Kinch, and Eric Werner.

Klappentext

"From the world-renowned sommelier Aldo Sohm, a dynamic, essential wine guide for a new generation Aldo Sohm is one of the most respected and widely lauded sommeliers in the world. He's worked with celebrated chef Eric Ripert as wine director of three-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin for over a decade, yet his philosophy and approach to wine is much more casual. Imbued with Aldo's insatiable passion and eagerness to teach others, Wine Simple: perfect pairings is accessible, deeply educational, and lively and fun, both in voice and visuals. This essential guide begins with the fundamentals of wine in easy-to-absorb hits of information and pragmatic, everyday tips--key varietals and winemaking regions, how to taste, when to save and when to splurge, and how to set up a wine tasting at home. Aldo then teaches you how to take your wine knowledge to the next level and evolve your palate, including techniques on building a "flavor library," a cheat sheet to good (and great) vintages (and why you shouldn't put everything on the line for them), tips on troubleshooting tricky wines (corked? mousy?), and, for the daring, even how to saber a bottle of champagne. This visual, user-friendly approach will inspire readers to have the confidence, curiosity, and enthusiasm to taste smarter, drink boldly, and dive headfirst fearlessly into the exciting world of wine"-- Provided by publisher.

Leseprobe
Introduction

Wine is magic. How is it that crushed grapes can become something so delicious and transportive? Part of that magic is in how it brings us together. We rarely drink wine alone, in both senses: While we may enjoy a solo glass at home or while waiting for friends at the bar before a meal begins, we inevitably share wine with others. And when we pair it with food, the combination can create a new kind of magic.

Of course, you can drink whatever you want with your meal, or eat whatever you want with that special bottle you picked up at the wine store. But this book was written and designed to open your mind to the experiences you can have when you put some extra thought into either of those choices. Because when food and wine align or contrast in just the right way on your palate—and everyone’s palate is different—little bells go off in your head. You close your eyes for a few seconds. Suddenly, you’re fully present in a pleasurable new dimension. And when you’re really lucky, the people you’re sharing the meal with are transported there, too. It can change your whole night. Watching people experience this exact moment was one of the inspirations for dedicating myself to learning about wine several decades ago. Today, I think of myself as part sommelier, part travel agent.

Fortunately, you don’t have to train as a sommelier to know all there is to know about wine. That was the idea behind my first book, Wine Simple, an easy-to-use handbook for navigating the very complex world of wine. Taking it a step further, this book is for those who want to learn about wine and how to pair it with whatever they’re eating.