Review of Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France
Posted: 28 Oct 2021, 08:46
[Following is a volunteer review of "Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France" by Michael C. Higgins, PhD.]
The book Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France by Michael C. Higgins, Ph.D. explores the details of various wine vintages throughout the Bordeaux region in France. The author identifies regions and wine vintages of interest such as the quality of the wine produced, the popularity of the brand, and any other unique characteristic that sets the product apart.
As a casual wine drinker, I found the author’s writing style very appealing. It was clearly conveyed that he is an expert in the field, however, the information was relayed in a manner that was simple and easy to grasp. This allowed even the casual wine enthusiast (like me) to be captivated by the subject and interest was kept alive throughout the book. For example, explaining the difference between Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux wines, the former being a single grape and the latter being a blended wine, was very illuminating for the reader with a casual interest.
The book was filled with photography that can only be described as exceptional. This further kept the reader wanting more while successfully capturing all aspects of the experience that is possible from a book. I thought highlighting all-women teams that produce wine was also important, especially since quite a few exist. For example, the Chateau Marquis D’alesme, located in Marguax Village, and Château Moulin-à-Ventm are two of the noteworthy mentions.
Another positive aspect was the general layout of the book. The photographs were large and bold with the writing often on the sides. This kept the reader from getting bored with what easily could have been mundane details with no reference to anchor them to. An expert or a person who visited some of the regions highlighted would be delighted by this layout also.
The author explicitly states that he was not paid or incentivized in any fashion to showcase any wine operation for marketing or promotional purposes. However, the reader can’t help but get a sense that this may have been the case. Even if his explanations and critique were genuinely drawn from his interpretations, stating that they are did caused the reader to at least consider the possibility that some promotional activity was afoot. I consider this to be only mildly negative, but worth a mention, nevertheless.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Even with the hint of marketing and promotion and the one grammatical error I picked up, I felt the book was near perfection and these aspects didn’t deter in any way from the enjoyment of this book and the subject that was covered.
This book is suitable for a wide range of audiences and all age groups. The vivid photography can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Beyond any interest in wine, the photography alone will appeal to amateur and professional photographers alike. Naturally, the main focus of the book is wine, therefore, experts and travelers whether seeking a tour in France or simply wanting to deepen their understanding of the nuances of wine vintages will thoroughly enjoy this work. Cheers!
******
Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
The book Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France by Michael C. Higgins, Ph.D. explores the details of various wine vintages throughout the Bordeaux region in France. The author identifies regions and wine vintages of interest such as the quality of the wine produced, the popularity of the brand, and any other unique characteristic that sets the product apart.
As a casual wine drinker, I found the author’s writing style very appealing. It was clearly conveyed that he is an expert in the field, however, the information was relayed in a manner that was simple and easy to grasp. This allowed even the casual wine enthusiast (like me) to be captivated by the subject and interest was kept alive throughout the book. For example, explaining the difference between Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux wines, the former being a single grape and the latter being a blended wine, was very illuminating for the reader with a casual interest.
The book was filled with photography that can only be described as exceptional. This further kept the reader wanting more while successfully capturing all aspects of the experience that is possible from a book. I thought highlighting all-women teams that produce wine was also important, especially since quite a few exist. For example, the Chateau Marquis D’alesme, located in Marguax Village, and Château Moulin-à-Ventm are two of the noteworthy mentions.
Another positive aspect was the general layout of the book. The photographs were large and bold with the writing often on the sides. This kept the reader from getting bored with what easily could have been mundane details with no reference to anchor them to. An expert or a person who visited some of the regions highlighted would be delighted by this layout also.
The author explicitly states that he was not paid or incentivized in any fashion to showcase any wine operation for marketing or promotional purposes. However, the reader can’t help but get a sense that this may have been the case. Even if his explanations and critique were genuinely drawn from his interpretations, stating that they are did caused the reader to at least consider the possibility that some promotional activity was afoot. I consider this to be only mildly negative, but worth a mention, nevertheless.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Even with the hint of marketing and promotion and the one grammatical error I picked up, I felt the book was near perfection and these aspects didn’t deter in any way from the enjoyment of this book and the subject that was covered.
This book is suitable for a wide range of audiences and all age groups. The vivid photography can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Beyond any interest in wine, the photography alone will appeal to amateur and professional photographers alike. Naturally, the main focus of the book is wine, therefore, experts and travelers whether seeking a tour in France or simply wanting to deepen their understanding of the nuances of wine vintages will thoroughly enjoy this work. Cheers!
******
Exploring Wine Regions – Bordeaux France
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes