The Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) – founded in 1982 and celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2012 – is an association of South Africa’s top winemakers, committed to maintaining and constantly improving the quality of their wines, thereby serving as role models for the Cape wine industry as a whole to uphold and build on the reputation of South African wine globally. This coffee table book primarily focuses on the winemakers and their thoughts, opinions and philosophies on all things to do with wine, from the growing, making and enjoyment of it, to its integral role – past, present and future – in the culture and lifestyle of the Cape and South Africa. Beautifully written by Wendy Toerien, the text is both lighthearted and entertaining as well as evocative and informative. Each of the 45 Guild members is featured in a profile piece that includes anecdotes, insights and experiences of a life with food and wine. Also included are two of each winemaker’s favourite recipes, matched with one (or more) of his (or her) top wines. Sections dealing with the history of the CWG (interwoven with its role in leading Cape wine industry developments and initiatives); the workings of the CWG and its members (the philosophy of the traditional role of a guild as a touchstone for artisanal excellence); and the activities of the CWG (including the annual, internationally prestigious auction of selected members’ wines and social responsibility programmes such as the Development Trust to mentor new young winemakers from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and school funding) are another feature of this celebration of the Guild and its members.

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 Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) \2013 founded in 1982 and celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2012 \2013 is an association of South Africa\2019s top winemakers, committed to maintaining and constantly improving the quality of their wines, thereby serving as role models for the Cape wine industry as a whole to uphold and build on the reputation of South African wine globally. This coffee table book primarily focuses on the winemakers and their thoughts, opinions and philosophies on all things to do with wine, from the growing, making and enjoyment of it, to its integral role \2013 past, present and future \2013 in the culture and lifestyle of the Cape and South Africa. Beautifully written by Wendy Toerien, the text is both light-hearted and entertaining as well as evocative and informative. Each of the 45 Guild members is featured in a profile piece that includes anecdotes, insights and experiences of a life with food and wine. Also included are two of each winemaker\2019s favourite recipes, matched with one (or more) of his (or her) top wines"--Provided by publisher.

The world of champagne offers a fascinating insight into the complexity of modern business management and marketing. Champagne is at the same time a wine, a luxury product and a regional brand – it is tied to the place from which it comes, and can be made nowhere else. It therefore highlights a range of characteristics which make it interesting to the modern business world. This is the first book to offer a complete overview of the way in which champagne as a product is organized, managed and marketed and what its future prospects are. The book covers the entire range of issues surrounding the management of the champagne industry by reviewing the current context of champagne (structural, economic and legal), the role of ‘place’ (identity and terroir and tourism), marketing the ‘myth’ of champagne (image and competitive advantage) and the management of the industry (accountability, people and the territorial brand). The book brings together leading academics and examines the champagne region from multidisciplinary perspectives. Examining the champagne region provides insight into a range of management, production-management, branding and consumer-related issues and will be of interest to students, researchers and academics interested in Gastronomy, Wine Studies, Tourism, Hospitality, Marketing and Business.