The Literary Future of Wine (Coming Soon)

Posted by Tom Wark on Feb 3, 2012

Every now and again I like to take account of what wine books will be coming our way in the next few months. It's a way of glimpsing what I'll be thinking about in the near term where wine is concerned. Following are a selection of wine books scheduled to be released along with their publication date and the level of "anticipation" I have for their release.

A Carafe of Red — By Gerald Asher (HIGHLY Anticipated)
This will be the esteemed Mr. Asher's second compilation of essays to appear in book form in a short period of time. Considered by many the best prose writer on wine in the past 50 years, and a Gourmet Magazine mainstay, this new issue will appeal to those who simply want to enjoy a best read on wine.
Publication Date: February 7, 2012

A Travellers Wine Guide To California — By Robert Holmes (SOMEWHAT Anticipated)
I'm always fascinated, being a citizen of rather than a visitor to wine country, how my back yard is described to he passer-through. This new issue by a well-received travel writer will offer suggestions on how the traveller ought to approach wine countries across California. I'll be curious if they get off the beaten path.
Publication Date: February 27, 2012

How To Talk About Wine: Discover The Secrets of Wine Ten Minutes at a Time — By Bernard Klem (VERY SLIGHTLY Anticipated)
Annually probably 10 or so new guides-to-wine-for-the-uninitiated are published. The secret is making each new one different from the others when in fact it isn't. From what I can tell, the difference here is that the info is digestible in 10 minutes segments. Also, here the uninitiated will learn how to talk about wine, making this part of the sub-category of wine books I like to call the  "Read This Or Look Foolish" genre. It's a little manipulative.
Publication Date: March 12, 2012

Musings On Wine & Other Libations — By MFK Fisher (HIGHLY Anticipated)
Ms. Fisher is the most engaging writer on food and eating. Having died many years ago, she left behind a set of works that are both informative and personal, all wrapped in beautiful prose. I would have loved to have met her. This new collection of her essays is dedicated to her writings on wine and other drinks and I can't wait for it to appear as I want to drinking it in slowly and repeatedly.
Publication Date: May 1, 2012

Beyond Jefferson's Vines: The Evolution in Quality Wine in Virginia — By Richard Leahy (SOMEWHAT Anticipated)
Of late, Virginia wines have been garnering excellent reviews and its industry has been counted as having gotten over the the "up and coming" hump and has arrived. We see a great deal of talk about Virginia wines today. This volume, by well respected wine writer Leahy, should explain what the Virginians have done to bring the quality of VA wines up to modern standards. If I know Leahy, the book will be both technical and historical as well as analytical.
Publication Date: May 1, 2012

The Makers of American Wine: A Record of Two Hundred Years — By Thomas Pinney (ANTICIPATED)
Thomas Pinney is an historian more than a writer of general interest. And this is a very good thing as it means this new volume is likely to be thorough. What's interesting is that Pinney will look at two hundred years of American wine history by profiling 13 people who played a key role in its development. I hope this book gets lots of coverage.
Publication Date: May 14, 2012

Glass Half Full: A Cellarmaster's Journey Through Wine & Life — By Kevin Zraly
I suspect this memoir by Mr. Zraly, one of America's most celebrated wine educators, is highly anticipated by many people in and around the wine world. I hope it gets a wider reading. The master of the Windows on the World wine school in the World Trade Center, Zraly has likely seen a great deal that will both interest and intrigue. I suspect this book will be one of the best received books in 2012. HIGHLY Anticipated
Publication Date: September 4. 2012