An inside view of China's quest to become a global wine power and Bordeaux's attempt to master the thirsty dragon it helped create The wine merchants of Bordeaux and the rising entrepreneurs of China would seem to have little in common—old world versus new, tradition versus disruption, loyalty versus efficiency. And yet these two communities have found their destinies intertwined in the conquest of new markets, as Suzanne Mustacich shows in this provocative account of how China is reshaping the French wine business and how Bordeaux is making its mark on China. Thirsty Dragon lays bare the untold story of how an influx of Chinese money rescued France's most venerable wine region from economic collapse, and how the result was a series of misunderstandings and crises that threatened the delicate infrastructure of Bordeaux's insular wine trade. The Bordelais and the Chinese do business according to different and often incompatible sets of rules, and Mustacich uncovers the competing agendas and little-known actors who are transforming the economics and culture of Bordeaux, even as its wines are finding new markets—and ever higher prices—in Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong, with Hong Kong and London traders playing a pivotal role. At once a tale of business skullduggery and fierce cultural clashes, adventure, and ambition, Thirsty Dragon offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges facing the world's most famous and prestigious wines.

"A fresh and authoritative addition to the Bordeaux library." Eric Asimov, The New York Times "This new edition is the ultimate guide to perhaps the greatest wine area in the world. Whether you use the book in your local wine store or tote it on a journey to Bordeaux itself, this book is definitive. And magnificent." Huffington Post The wines of Bordeaux are universally recognized as being among the finest in the world and in this fully revised and updated edition of his classic text, renowned wine expert Stephen Brook provides an unrivalled survey of the region and its wines. The Complete Bordeaux offers detailed information on the many communes and appellations of Bordeaux as well as descriptions and assessments of all its major properties. As well as incisive portraits of the leading properties and their produce, Stephen Brook provides a detailed look at Bordeaux's lesser-known areas and chateaux. There is also an invaluable vintage guide to the last four decades. Bordeaux encapsulates an incredible 13,000 wineries throughout 54 appellations and this book includes a thorough explanation of Bordeaux's history, terroir, and winemaking styles.

Bordeaux Legends traces the 500-year history of the five world-renowned Bordeaux wines known as "First Growths"--four crowned in 1855, and Mouton Rothschild joining them more than a century later. Wine educator and journalist Jane Anson presents the fascinating story of what it means to be a first-growth wine, what makes these wines so extraordinary, and what that means to the legions of merchants, dealers, and wine lovers who hold them in such high esteem. For the first time, this book brings the estate's separate stories together into one sweeping saga, filled with revealing anecdotes and lively historical detail. With a foreword by Academy Award-winning director and winery owner Francis Ford Coppola and stunning new photographs, this book makes it clear why these five wines are considered among the very best in the world. Praise for Bordeaux Legends "The book is full of the romance of these iconic chateaus, but it also offers interesting details about the business of running their global empires. Ultimately, Anson's book is a look at the complexities of producing the wines that many consider to be among the world's best." --The San Jose Mercury News online

Winemaker Banjamin Cooker sets out to discover if a grand cru wine estate has fallen into disrepair from negligence or sabotage.

The last two decades have seen a revolution in Bordeaux. What Price Bordeaux? takes a novel approach in explaining the forces responsible for this change. The top chateaux have been obtaining unprecedented prices for their wines, while at the same time smaller chateau owners are going bankrupt. Enormous changes in the production and style of wine have been accomplished by advances in viticulture and vinification coupled with climatic changes. The battle between modernists and traditionalists plays out through the garage wines, felt by some to be the newest wave, and by others to be a caricature of Bordeaux. Pulling together information from a variety of sources including the market in Bordeaux, changing patterns of ownership, and new possibilities in viticulture and vinification, and this book presents a unique overview of the forces making Bordeaux wine what it is today. The book considers the role of terroir, how events ranging from the phylloxera plague to global warming have changed the fundamental nature of Bordeaux, the mysteries of the en primeur system, the rising influence of oenologues and critics, the changing nature of the wine itself, and the rise and fall of various chateaux. A running theme is the powerful effect that the classification of 1855 continues to have on the chateaux of both Left and Right Banks, and this and the other classification systems are considered before concluding with a new classification of the chateaux based on the existing market. Illustrated

- Bordeaux is the world's most famous and arguably favorite wine region. This book tells its story - Articles and extracts from some of the most loved wine writers of yesterday and today - An essential wine book for every wine lover and wine student - Beautifully designed and illustrated to bring the region to life on the page When things turn out right for Bordeaux, as they frequently do, its wines are sublime. They inspire many thousands of tributes, from Samuel Pepys' succinct reviews to the most rhapsodic of Michael Broadbent's tasting notes - in short, over 300 years of wine writing. On Bordeaux is a collection of the best bits, from our best-loved wine writers, critics and commentators, set around 10 of the themes that make Bordeaux tick. As Jane Anson writes in her introduction: "multi-layered, clear-eyed, moving and often extremely funny [this] collection of stories... celebrates, illuminates and renews our understanding of Bordeaux." * Hugh Johnson, Fiona Beckett and Baron Elie de Rothschild discuss dining out on Bordeaux: how best to serve it, with what and who with. * Mathieu Chadronnier, Christian Seely and Joe Fattorini shed light on the way we see claret today. * Ian Maxwell Campbell extols the virtues of 1871 and 1875, the last great vintages before the phylloxera plague. * Fiona Morrison MW explores Bordeaux's great bounce-back and how the vintage of 1982 changed everything. * John Salvi, Bill Blatch and Peter Vinding-Diers reveal the wines that lead the way to Bordeaux's future. * Joe Fattorini serves up everything you need to know on running the iconic Me ́doc Marathon. * Hugh Johnson pays tribute to Bordeaux master Michael Broadbent.