I got this book right after attending a casual wine tasting party and people were tasting tobacco, oak, leather, and fruits. I was so confused and self-conscious after just five minutes! A friend of mine recommended me this book because it's fun to read and most of all ENCOURAGING. Wine can be intimidating especially with its stigma of high class. This book was great. It had little activities to do and exactly what to think about during the tasting the trial. Jancis Robinson wrote with humor and sometimes acknowledging what wine critiques have become over the years. She's against the trend, funny, and enjoyable to read. I was reading this about her on this form (http://www.snooth.com/talk/topic/jancis-robinson-tells-critics-to-not-be-parasites/) and that's definitely the way Jancis Robinson is most like. I recommend this book! The images are also spectacular. ( )

I like this book's hands-on approach to understanding wine. Much more emphasis on grape varietals than on learning the different chateaus. It's a great guide for wine self-eductation; highly recommended. ( )