This pocket guide to Jamie Goode’s philosophy divulges what you need to know (and what you don’t) about the world of wine.
Who will have the last word on wine, if not Jamie Goode? Over the last decade, Goode has embarked on almost nonstop travel through the world’s vineyards in an effort to understand the beautifully diverse and complicated world of wine. His hard-nosed pursuit of the most interesting stories to tell about wine has led us here, to The Goode Guide to Wine.
This book—a sort of manifesto—distills many of the observations, lessons, and opinions that have made Jamie Goode a renowned voice within the wine world. In a series of short, pithy, and often rather blunt chapters, he celebrates what is exciting and interesting about wine, asks how we could do things better, and points out some of the absurdities of wine culture. Jamie Goode has a distinct philosophy when it comes to wine, and he knows you may disagree; if you do, that means it’s working. The Goode Guide to Wine is a book designed to provoke and inspire in equal measure, encouraging the reader to be critical and to see the world of wine through fresh eyes.
Jamie Goode is a wine writer and lecturer. He has a national newspaper column, writes for many publications, and authors wineanorak.com, one of the top wine websites. His previous books include The Science of Wine, Flawless, and I Taste Red. He is based in London, UK.
Table of Contents
preface
1. the heart of authenticity 2. the skill of winegrowing 3. soils matter 4. the art of interpretation 5. some wines are just wine 6. the wine is a whole 7. wine resists the proud 8. the taste is not in the wine 9. buildings, people, fabrics 10. framing: how words can get in the way 11. mouthfeel matters 12. just because I’m learning doesn’t mean I’m stupid 13 wine as an aesthetic system 14. beauty is not the absence of flaws 15. we drink wine for many reasons: flavor is just one of them 16. a virtuous intoxicant 17. there is always another wine 18. tasting transforms us 19. we are not programmed to like certain wines 20. scores can be useful, but mostly they are stupid 21. wine, be yourself 22. the sadness of spoofulation 23. too many commercial palates 24. monsters aren’t serious 25. the evil of overripeness 26. express the vintage 27. stay critical, but remember: there is room for everyone 28. a mystical transformation 29. don’t expect others to pick up your tab 30. true to origins 31. no new clothes 32. bright side story 33. no one drinks wine blind 34. you don’t drink the same wine at home 35. beer is better than wine 36. escape the small oak rut 37. segment or be damned 38. balance is not always in the middle 39. we are on a journey; this is mine 40. don’t expect the fish to come to you 41. lead with your best 42. beware the wine consumer champions 43. winemaking is not chemistry. it is biology 44. stop trying so hard and just be yourself 45. don’t be an all-rounder; be a specialist 46. beware the time lag 47. first impressions matter 48. play the long game 49. for most wines, glass bottles make no sense 50. fewer follies 51. celebrity wines, no thanks 52. all can play 53. how to succeed at wine writing by writing boring articles 54. the importance of stories 55. why it matters
