Would-be wine connoisseurs will not only learn how to recognize and enjoy a good vintage from this informative guide, they'll also gain a terrific repertoire of sparkling conversation. They'll understand the difference between aroma and bouquet, and organic and biodynamic. They'll master classic wine recipes, from Coq au Vin to Beef Bourguignon, and find out how to give a toast in 20 different languages. And they'll be able to dazzle their companions with apt wine quotations by famous authors from Omar Khayyam to Oscar Wilde. It's all charmingly illustrated with cartoons, wine labels, and other fascinating wine-related artwork.

Wine is now one of the most popular drinks in the world. Many wine drinkers wish they knew more about it without having to understand every detail or go on a wine course. In The 24-Hour Wine Expert, Jancis Robinson shares her expertise with authority, wit and approachability. From the difference between red and white, to the shape of bottles and their labels, descriptions of taste, colour and smell, to pairing wine with food and the price-quality correlation, Robinson helps us make the most of this mysteriously delicious drink.

This book showcases the best and most humorous quotes from George R.R. Martin's favourite character Tyrion Lannister, the worldly, jaded, funny, highly intelligent, cynical, womanizing star of the books. A perfect stocking-filler for every fan of the books, and of HBO's award-winning television series.

This selection of brief and incisive quotations range from religion and theology, personal and social ethics, service, and international and political affairs, to Gandhi's most original concept, satyagraha — group nonviolent direct action.

"Whether wine is a nourishment, medicine, or poison is a matter of dosage."—Paracelsus For the wine lover on your list, this clever collection entertains and reminds us that it's always time to drink wine. Lift a glass, kick back, and enjoy the wit and wisdom of Frank Sinatra, William Shakespeare, Dorothy Parker, and other jovial imbibers. Now is the time to drink!—Horace A man ought to get drunk at least twice a year . . . so he won't let himself get snotty about it.—Raymond Chandler Keeping one's guests supplied with liquor is the first law of hospitality.—Margaret Way

There are nearly 1,400 known varieties of wine grapes in the world—from altesse to zierfandler—but 80 percent of the wine we drink is made from only 20 grapes. In Godforsaken Grapes, Jason Wilson looks at how that came to be and embarks on a journey to discover what we miss. Stemming from his own growing obsession, Wilson moves far beyond the “noble grapes,” hunting down obscure and underappreciated wines from Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, France, Italy, the United States, and beyond. In the process, he looks at why these wines fell out of favor (or never gained it in the first place), what it means to be obscure, and how geopolitics, economics, and fashion have changed what we drink. A combination of travel memoir and epicurean adventure, Godforsaken Grapes is an entertaining love letter to wine.