New World Wines: The Complete Guide

New world wines (defined as the wines of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the USA, Canada, Chile and Argentina) have taken the wine industry by storm. In this manual, wine expert Julie Arkell explains what makes the new world wines different, how their production and viticulture affects the flavours and quality achieved and how each country has distinctive characteristics that make its wines different from those of the old world. The buyer's guide offers advice on drinkers and keepers in all price ranges. Julie Arkell discusses the wines country by country, adding comprehensive information about leading and innovative vineyards, the characteristics to look out for and the individual wines to buy. Illustrated with colour photography as well as with maps of the wine-growing areas, this should be a useful guide to wines of the new world.

This latest offering on wines from North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa is most valuable as a "select overview" rather than a "complete guide." The author's research abilities and credentials--she is a wine writer with experience in the trade--are evident in the book's lively tone, entertaining trivia, excellent historical perspective, tight organization, and coverage of winemaking techniques. Kudos, too, for an update on the South African wine industry. Yet there are some curious editorial decisions: Why, for example, is virtually equal space given to the wines of Brazil and to those of Washington State? And although personal admiration was the worthy criterion used in choosing winemakers to interview, that decision reaffirms the impression that this work is "select" rather than "complete." Recommended for general collections.
-Wendy Miller, Lexington P.L, KY
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