To Cork or Not To Cork: Tradition, Romance, Science, and the Battle for the Wine Bottle
by George M. Taber
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Description
Explores the controversy about corking and wine-bottle sealing that has spawned a heated debate throughout the oenological community, tracing the history of the cork while evaluating the merits and shortcomings of other seal contenders.Tags
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Member Reviews
Finally getting around to reading this. First, I had no idea that corks came from Cork Tree bark & that there were different varieties. I also didn't know that there were different non-cork types of bottle fasteners.
This did spur some good debated with my Uncle who considers himself somewhat of a wine expert.
I learned a lot, but now this one is ready to travel again
This did spur some good debated with my Uncle who considers himself somewhat of a wine expert.
I learned a lot, but now this one is ready to travel again
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Taber takes you through a mostly-chronological tour of the history of wine closures. He doesn't come across as preferring cork over any other closures (screw-top, glass etc.) and reveals the pros and cons of all closures. If you enjoyed his first book ("The Judgement of Paris") you might enjoy this!
"To the wine consuming public," Taber writes, "a cork is a cork is a cork," but Taber goes on to explain the wide variation in the methods and history of cork production. His narrative explores the dreaded cork taint causes as well as the alternatives.
An interesting, but scattered review of the history of wine closures.
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ThingScore 75
To Cork or Not To Cork again demonstrates Taber's skills as an investigative journalist and beautifully showcases his clear and cogent writing. There aren't many page turners in the world of wine books, but this definitive history of wine closures comes awfully close.
Taber manages to coax a dramatic narrative out of an incredible array of research sources, starting from the historical and show more scientific background of corks, through the method of their production, the history of the industry, and the remarkable array of alternative closures that have arisen in the past few decades. show less
Taber manages to coax a dramatic narrative out of an incredible array of research sources, starting from the historical and show more scientific background of corks, through the method of their production, the history of the industry, and the remarkable array of alternative closures that have arisen in the past few decades. show less
added by bongiovi
Author Information
7 Works 589 Members
George M. Taber is the author of the bestselling Judgment of Paris, which recounts the story of the famous 1976 event when unknown California wines defeated top French vintages. Taber's second book, To Cork or Not to Cork, won the Jane Grigson Award and was a finalist for the James Beard Award. Before turning to writing books, Taber was a reporter show more and editor with TIME magazine for twenty-one years, based in Bonn, Paris, Houston, and New York. show less
Awards and Honors
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Food & Cooking, General Nonfiction, History, Science & Nature
- DDC/MDS
- 641.22 — Applied Science & Technology Home economics & family management Food, Cooking & Recipes / Meals, Picnics Drinks Wine
- LCC
- TP548.5 .C67 .T33 — Technology Chemical technology Chemical technology Fermentation industries. Beverages. Alcohol
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 74
- Popularity
- 424,652
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (3.91)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 2
