Breathtaking landscapes filled with castles and churches, picturesque hilltop villages and, best of all, vineyards. This is the Langhe, an area in the Piedmont region of northern Italy that produces some of the world's greatest wines. A "Wine Atlas of the Langhe is a beautiful and highly informative book, produced by the international Slow Food movement, headquartered in Piedmont. For over ten years Slow Food researched the vineyards, the wines, and the history of this fascinating part of the world, including the men and women who have made the wines of the Langhe famous. The book explores the unique features of topography, soils, and climate that have enabled Barolo and Barbaresco to become recognized as two of the world's most exclusive and highly prized wines. Spectacular aerial photography shows the beauty of the 15 municipalities profiled in the book. "Eyewitness Reports" sprinkled throughout the book give readers a privileged insight into the rural culture and social life of the Langhe, through the words of the area's oldest residents. Chapters on The Greats of Barolo and Barbaresco detail the lives of pioneer winemakers, including growers, scholars, oenologists, cellarmen, and aristocratic entrepreneurs. More wine is currently imported to the U.S. from Italy than from any other country. Lovers of Italy or its classic wines will treasure this beautiful book. Travelers to Piedmont will find many recommendations for the best vineyards to visit, as well as the best places to stay and eat while in the region.

Following on the success of her books on Brunello di Montalcino, renowned author and wine critic Kerin OÕKeefe takes readers on a historic and in-depth journey to discover Barolo and Barbaresco, two of ItalyÕs most fascinating and storied wines. In this groundbreaking new book, OÕKeefe gives a comprehensive overview of the stunning side-by-side growing areas of these two world-class wines that are separated only by the city of Alba and profiles a number of the fiercely individualistic winemakers who create structured yet elegant and complex wines of remarkable depth from ItalyÕs most noble grape, Nebbiolo. A masterful narrator of the aristocratic origins of winemaking in this region, OÕKeefe gives readers a clear picture of why Barolo is called both the King of Wines and the Wine of Kings. Profiles of key Barolo and Barbaresco villages include fascinating stories of the families, wine producers, and idiosyncratic personalities that have shaped the area and its wines and helped ignite the Quality Wine Revolution that eventually swept through all of Italy. The book also considers practical factors impacting winemaking in this region, including climate change, destructive use of harsh chemicals in the vineyards versus the gentler treatments used for centuries, the various schools of thought regarding vinification and aging, and expansion and zoning of vineyard areas. Readers will also appreciate a helpful vintage guide to Barolo and Barbaresco and a glossary of useful Italian wine terms.

"A hip, new guide to wine for the new generation of wine drinkers, from the sommelier creators of the award-wining site WineFolly.com"--Provided by publisher.

Through its unique cartography--more than 75 spectacular, hand-painted panoramic maps--and Clarke's lively and opinionated prose, this revolutionary atlas illustrates and explains the vital connections between the land, the winemaker, and the wine. Full color. Maps & photos.

Piedmont is home to the indisputably great wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, made from the Nebbiolo grape variety. It also has a fascinating range of red, white and sparkling wines, nearly all made from local or long-domiciled varieties. The wines of Piemonte evaluates the current state of the Nebbiolo wines and gives a substantial introduction to the region's other vinous treasures, often overlooked by wine lovers. Following chapters on the history, geography, soils and climate of the region, Way turns to the main theme of his book: the relationship between each place and a single grape variety, and how this defines the region's wines. Exploration of this crucial relationship is accompanied by profiles of the producers who grow and interpret the grapes in their location to create their wines, and assessment of the challenges affecting the industry.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND A NEW YORK TIMES CRITICS' PICK “Thrilling . . . [told] with gonzo élan . . . When the sommelier and blogger Madeline Puckette writes that this book is the Kitchen Confidential of the wine world, she’s not wrong, though Bill Buford’s Heat is probably a shade closer.” —Jennifer Senior, The New York Times Professional journalist and amateur drinker Bianca Bosker didn’t know much about wine—until she discovered an alternate universe where taste reigns supreme, a world of elite sommeliers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of flavor. Astounded by their fervor and seemingly superhuman sensory powers, she set out to uncover what drove their obsession, and whether she, too, could become a “cork dork.” With boundless curiosity, humor, and a healthy dose of skepticism, Bosker takes the reader inside underground tasting groups, exclusive New York City restaurants, California mass-market wine factories, and even a neuroscientist’s fMRI machine as she attempts to answer the most nagging question of all: what’s the big deal about wine? What she learns will change the way you drink wine—and, perhaps, the way you live—forever. “Think: Eat, Pray, Love meets Somm.” —theSkimm “As informative as it is, well, intoxicating.” —Fortune

The experts at America's Test Kitchen and National Geographic combine Italy's magnificent cuisine, culture, and landscapes, bringing the captivating journey and rich history of Italian cuisine to your kitchen. Region by region, you'll discover the origins of celebrated cheeses, the nuances of different wine growing regions, the best farmer's markets in Venice, and more. -- adapted from publisher info.