Could cow horns, vortexes, and the words of a prophet named Rudolf Steiner hold the key to producing the most alluring wines in the world--and to saving the planet? InVoodoo Vintnerswine writer Katherine Cole reveals the mysteries of biodynamic winegrowing and explores its practice on Oregon vineyards. Cole's story of biodynamic winegrowing starts on the back of a motorcycle in Persia and ends on a farm where the work is done by draft horses, chickens, and goats. It is a tradition that can be traced from Paleolithic times to the finestdomainesin Burgundy today. At the epicenter of the American biodynamic revolution are the Oregon vintners who believe that this spiritual style of farming results in the truest translations ofterroirand the purest pinot noirs possible. Cole introduces these "voodoo vintners" of Oregon, revealing why the need to farm biodynamically courses through their blood and examining their motivations and rationalizations." Voodoo Vintnersanswers the call of oenophiles everywhere for more information about this "beyond organic" style of farming. Cole's engaging narrative is a must-read for anyone interested in wine, sustainable agriculture, or the food movement.

Naturalness is a hot topic in the wine world. But what exactly is a natural wine? For this book, best-selling wine writer Jamie Goode has teamed up with winemaker and Master of Wine Sam Harrop to explore the wide range of issues surrounding authenticity in wine. Sam Harrop initially trained as a winemaker in New Zealand.

Oregon Viticulture is a comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to successful strategies and methods for commercial vineyards in Oregon that will be extremely valuable both for current winegrape growers and for prospective growers. It is unique in its approach of combining the expertise and experience of university researchers with that of professional grape growers and winemakers -- most chapters were written by at least two authors with different perspectives. Oregon Viticulture is the successor to the popular Oregon Winegrape Growers Guide, with both broader coverage of more topics and greater depth of coverage than the earlier book. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the characteristics of a vineyard site, matching grape varieties to the site, and selecting and adjusting the most appropriate management practices for each unique site. The structure and physiology of grapevines is concisely summarized, and viticulture principles are introduced throughout the book. Standard production practices are described, and separate chapters discuss sustainable viticulture practices and organic grape growing. In addition, Oregon Viticulture addresses important business management topics not usually found in similar books, including economics, marketing and contracts, compliance with government regulations, and labor management. Commercial winegrape growers, students, researchers, serious home viticulturists, and individuals with a strong interest in Northwest wines and the wine industry will find Oregon Viticulture to be a valuable reference and easy-to-use textbook and guide.

In Rosé All Day, wine writer Katherine Cole takes us on an entertaining survey of the history of the wine, moving from the goblets of King Louis XIV to the vineyards of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Cole explains in detail how rosé is created and then tells us where to find the good stuff. The book invites readers to journey from the sunny vineyards of southern France to the idyllic hillsides of Italy and beyond. Organized by region, each chapter includes an overview of the general characteristics of the area’s wine, profiles of exciting producers, and tasting notes, along with specific recommendations for wines to taste. With atmospheric regional descriptions, savvy advice on wines to buy, creative food pairing suggestions, and pretty-in-pink illustrations, Rosé All Day is a colorful, spirited, essential resource that is sure to quench any wine lover’s thirst.

A new and remarkably easy way to choose and enjoy wine.

Food and Wine Pairing: A Sensory Experience provides a series of discussion and exercises ranging from identifying basic wine characteristics, including visual, aroma, taste (acid, sweetness, oak, tannin, body, etc.), palate mapping (acid, sweet, sour, bitter, and tannin), basic food characteristics and anchors of each (sweet, sour, bitter, saltiness, fattiness, body, etc). It presents how these characteristics contrast and complement each other. By helping culinary professionals develop the skills necessary to identifying the key elements in food or wine that will directly impact its matching based on contrast or similarities, they will then be able to predict excellent food and wine pairings.

A raucous and surprising novel filled with wonderful details about wine, Rex Pickett's Sideways is also a thought-provoking and funny book about men, women, and human relationships. The basis for the 2004 comedy-drama road movie of the same name starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. Sideways is the story of two friends-Miles and Jack-going away together for the last time to steep themselves in everything that makes it good to be young and single: pinot, putting, and prowling bars. In the week before Jack plans to marry, the pair heads out from Los Angeles to the Santa Ynez wine country. For Jack, the tasting tour is Seven Days to D-Day, his final stretch of freedom. For Miles--who has divorced his wife, is facing an uncertain career and has lost his passion for living-the trip is a week long opportunity to evaluate his past, his future and himself.