The Wines of New Zealand (Classic wine library) Book

No pretty pictures--just a few maps--but this is as much a wine book as a biography on New Zealand itself. Rosemary George has immersed herself in the whole feel of the country and while the general tone might be towards that of wine, the story it tells is that of the provinces, the people--the evolution of a new generation. The book is useful to a tourist visiting for the first time as it is to a wine buff who wants to train- spot his or her way 'round the vineyards. Wine--grape farming to be precise--has become one of the basic cultures of the islands and, whilst it still takes a back seat to sheep farming and apple harvesting in many areas, it provides the visitor with a great insight into how New Zealanders and their lands have evolved. Information on recent vintages is a little out of date (the book was originally published in 1996) and New Zealand's lust for innovation has probably left the book behind in many ways, but it still provides a brilliant grounding for anyone who is visiting or researching the country and treats its subjects with reverence and a proper degree of seriousness. --Nick TarayanRead More