Vineyards, Rocks, and Soils (Hardcover)

Alex Maltman

ISBN 10: 0190863285 / ISBN 13: 9780190863289

Published by Oxford University Press Inc, New York, 2018

About this Item

Hardcover. Jurassic, basalt, moraine, flint, alluvial, magma: what are these words and what do they have to do with wine? The answers are here in this book. They are geological terms that reflect a bond between wine and the land. Understanding geology, however, is tricky. Geological concepts are obscure; processes can be imperceptibly slow, invisible, and unimaginably ancient. The terminology is formidable, such that even the names of common rocks carry an air of mystery.Geology is introduced plainly, starting with basic principles, all in the context of wine. The emphasis is on the kinds of processes that shape vineyards, and on the minerals, rocksand soils that host the vines. Geological words now commonly seen in wine writings are systematically explained. You will learn the stories behind some of the names, the human face of geology.The book also explores how the geology-wine connection manifests in the finished product and evaluates its importance, particularly in the contexts of minerality, terroir, and wine taste. The fact is that geology is increasingly being promoted in the world of wine; the aim here is tohelp it be properly understood. This pioneering book explains geology wholly in the context of wine, including how it works in vineyards and its possible effects on wine taste. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780190863289

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Vineyards, Rocks, and Soils (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, New York
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0190863285
• ISBN 13: 9780190863289
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Jurassic, basalt, moraine, flint, alluvial, magma: what are these words and what do they have to do with wine? The answers are here in this book. They are geological terms that reflect a bond between wine and the land. Understanding geology, however, is tricky. Geological concepts are obscure; processes can be imperceptibly slow, invisible, and unimaginably ancient. The terminology is formidable, such that even the names of common rocks carry an air of mystery.

Geology is introduced plainly, starting with basic principles, all in the context of wine. The emphasis is on the kinds of processes that shape vineyards, and on the minerals, rocks and soils that host the vines. Geological words now commonly seen in wine writings are systematically explained. You will learn the stories behind some of the names, the human face of geology.

The book also explores how the geology-wine connection manifests in the finished product and evaluates its importance, particularly in the contexts of minerality, terroir, and wine taste. The fact is that geology is increasingly being promoted in the world of wine; the aim here is to help it be properly understood.

About the Author

Alex Maltman is Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University, in Wales, U.K. Alongside a long and decorated research and teaching career in Geology, for over forty years he has grown vines and made wine as a hobby.