Published by: Bloomsbury USA
Who is Natalie MacLean?
Natalie MacLean is a sommelier and a wine writer who has won numerous prestigious awards for her writing, including four James Beard Journalism awards. In addition, her work has appeared in magazines such as Bon Appetite, Food & Wine and Wine Enthusiast. She also publishes a free newsletter, cleverly named Nat Decants and has a very informative web site www.nataliemaclean.com , which is how we became aware of her work.
Natalie MacLean offered to send us her book and before I started reading it, I was a little apprehensive that the book would be out of my league. After all, she is an accredited sommelier and I’m simply a foodie and wine lover who lives near Napa. Would it relate to Spanish food at all, my main focus? Would it be too technical and dry? Would I be able to recommend it to friends, family or readers?
I should not have worried at all! The book is written in a very friendly, down-to-earth style. It is informative without being preachy or snobby. In fact, after reading the book, readers will feel like they know the author. Her writing is very easy to read and although she provides the reader with a large amount of information about grapes, wine-making and wine-tasting, this is not a technical manual about wine, but rather an informative and entertaining book.
What's the "Wine-Soaked Journey" all About?
The book has an introduction and nine sections. Each deals with a wine-related topic – from the growing and harvesting of grapes and the marketing of wine, to a description of the world of wine critics and how their ratings can dramatically affect the sales of a single brand or an entire wine-growing region. Another section is devoted to wine glasses and how their shape affects the taste.Natalie MacLean begins by explaining how she became interested in wine, which reassures the reader that she is not so different from them. Then she starts the “wine-soaked journey,” by taking the reader to several famous wine-producing regions, including Burgundy, Champagne and Napa Valley. She entertains the reader with the descriptions of her travels, candid interviews with wine-makers and tours of ancient wine cellars. She is allowed to try her hand at pruning grape vines and spends a long, hard day harvesting grapes. At the same time as she is describing the travels, she gives the reader a glimpse of what goes on “behind-the-scenes” at centuries-old wineries and paints personal pictures of their owners. She offers the reader some wine history, as well as information on the science and techniques of wine-making.
In each subsequent section Natalie MacLean writes about another aspect of wine and how people relate to it. For example, one chapter is about two wine stores on opposite coasts of the U.S. and how they differ in their approaches to selling. Another chapter focuses on she chooses wines for a holiday dinner and suggests how you can put together your own tasting with friends.
The Bottom Line - Should You Read it?
If you…
- Enjoy drinking wine
- Know a lot about wine
- Know very little about wine
- Ever wanted to know more about European wines
- Wondered how Napa Valley got its' start
- Enjoy cooking or eating great food
- Felt intimidated in a wine store or restaurant
- Wondered if the expensive glasses are worth buying
