Postmodern Winemaking
Rethinking the Modern Science of an Ancient Craft
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4.7 • 3 Ratings
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- $23.99
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- $23.99
Publisher Description
In Postmodern Winemaking, Clark Smith shares the extensive knowledge he has accumulated in engaging, humorous, and erudite essays that convey a new vision of the winemaker's craft--one that credits the crucial roles played by both science and art in the winemaking process. Smith, a leading innovator in red wine production techniques, explains how traditional enological education has led many winemakers astray--enabling them to create competent, consistent wines while putting exceptional wines of structure and mystery beyond their grasp. Great wines, he claims, demand a personal and creative engagement with many elements of the process. His lively exploration of the facets of postmodern winemaking, together with profiles of some of its practitioners, is both entertaining and enlightening.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Winemaker Smith releases a heady bouquet of earthy tones and varietal flavors as he guides us carefully through the art of making, drinking, and enjoying the fruits of the vine. Wine, for him, is "like liquid music, for it has the capacity to embody a spectrum of emotional modalities, to exhibit harmony or dissonance, and it has the power to transport us from care and circumstance." Smith delineates the principles of postmodern winemaking: "Vine balance is the economic meeting place for winemakers and growers"; "The rebirth of a simple, inexpensive method shows promise for categorizing a wine's fragility or robustness. Sensory methods remain our best piloting tools." Along the way, Smith profiles "winemaking's lunatic heroes," including Gideon Beinstock, Randall Grahm, and Bob Wample. Enjoying wine, the author points out, is a sensory experience, and he suggests that "music pairing can greatly improve your chances of enjoying a wine."
Customer Reviews
Perfect for the Wine Geek
A friend and hobby wine maker gave me a copy of this book. For the past 8 years, I'd helped him with picking and crushing grapes and bottling the finished wine. Yet what happens in between has always a bit of a mystery to me.
This book explains the 'behind the scenes' science and magic of wine making- and the chemistry that occurs in that process. Yet it's definitely not a 'how-to' book for novices like me.
It's more geared to wine geeks and industry pros... debating the merits or 'natural' -vs- technical wine making, and the trade offs made in pursuing consistent mass market, wines. In fact, it calls on all wineries to provide 'full disclosure' of exactly how their wines were made.
It is an engaging read that bends facts, philosophy, and humor. It will leave you a better understanding of the global wine business and if you are like me a deeper appreciation for how complex wine is.