Provided by Trevor Stirling for exclusive use on 11-Dec-2020. Do not re-distribute. LIGHTER SIDE 11 December 2020 11 December 2020 THE LIGHTER SIDE OF BERNSTEIN Stirling Wines: Gift ideas for the Wine-Lover and the Wine- Lover's Lover Trevor Stirling +44-207-170-5087 [email protected] Some of you already know that one of the things I did before joining Bernstein was to run my own private-client wine merchant (Stirling Wines) and that I have a WSET Diploma (the pre-cursor qualification to Master of Wine). This is the latest in a very sporadic series of e-mails, musing on the world of wine, which I hope will be of interest, as well as some thoughts on wines to buy. It’s that time of year again. Gift ideas which might be helpful to One that I have not read yet, but it's getting great reviews is the wine lover – or indeed the wine lover’s lover. As the author Noble Rot. According to Tim Hayward of the FT: "An entirely new sat down, it became clear the biggest challenge in writing this is sort of wine book, devoid of stuffiness and presented in what I that the classics are timeless. So apologies if there are repeats can only describe as 'haute fanzine' style. Incredibly informative, from last year. slays quite a few holy cows and, in the very best way, will drive you to drink" Books Books are a safe bet for the drinks nerd. But this year, let me EXHIBIT 2: Noble Rot start with the new books before highlighting the evergreens. Strictly speaking, the first book is a new edition. Don't be fooled by the Knackered Mother title. Helen McGinn used to be the Wine Buyer for Tesco and really knows her stuff. This is a fantastic unpretentious guide to the world of wine, whatever your gender. EXHIBIT 1: The Knackered Mother's Wine Guide Source: Amazon Another one I have not read but on my wish list this Christmas is Oz Clarke's English Wine (Exhibit 3). Oz is a prolific, entertaining and easy-to-read wine educator but no light-weight. The subject matter is likely of local UK interest. But for anyone who is interested in the 'world's newest fine wine region' (at least for sparkling wines, see below) , it promises to be an informative read. Source: Amazon Analyst Page Bernstein Events Disclaimer – Not a Research Report www.bernsteinresearch.com Published 11-Dec-2020 00:01 UTC Provided by Trevor Stirling for exclusive use on 11-Dec-2020. Do not re-distribute. Trevor Stirling +44-207-170-5087 [email protected] 11 December 2020 EXHIBIT 3: Oz Clarke's English Wine EXHIBIT 5: The Sommelier's Atlas of Taste Source: Amazon Source: Amazon My next book is a little dry (no pun intended), if you sit down to Sticking to the theme of Atlases, if like me you have fallen in love read it cover-to-cover; but it's a cracking refence book. The with German wine, the Wine Atlas of Germany (Exhibit 6) is a Wines of Northern Spain (Exhibit 4) by Sarah Jane Evans. If you must buy. As you would expect, lots of detailed maps, lovely want to know the difference between Garnacha and Graciano or scenic photography and list of the major vineyards in each sub- delve into a catalogue of the greatest wines of Ribera del Duero, region, critical to understanding fine German wine. this one's for you. EXHIBIT 6: Wine Atlas of Germany EXHIBIT 4: The Wines of Northern Spain Source: Amazon Source: Amazon A book with a more North American slant at least in terms of Final one of the new books, another one for the nerds. Jamie authorship is The Sommelier's Atlas of Taste (Exhibit 5). This is a Goode is probably the best wine 'scientist' writer. A few years book I have bought but not yet got round to reading. Here's ago, I featured his Wine Science: The Application of Science in hoping for a few hours break between Christmas and New Year. Winemaking. This year, Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine Rajat Parr is a famous US sommelier and Jordan Mackay a noted (Exhibit 7) is dedicated to exploring the main causes of faults in food and wine writer. They set out to describe, region-by-region, wine. This was a New York Times Best Wine Book of 2018. how the great wines of Europe should taste (a big ask). It should be fascinating reading for any prospective MWs. EUROPEAN BEVERAGES BERNSTEIN 2 Provided by Trevor Stirling for exclusive use on 11-Dec-2020. Do not re-distribute. Trevor Stirling +44-207-170-5087 [email protected] 11 December 2020 EXHIBIT 7: Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine EXHIBIT 9: Wine Grapes Source: Amazon Source: Amazon And now the classics. The mother of all wine atlases is the 8th edition of the World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Jancis The gold standard reference book remains The Oxford Robinson. With over 400 pages and 200 maps, it has sold Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson, now in its 4th edition. almost 5 million copies since the first edition was published in Don’t be put off by the rather English title ‘Companion’, this is the 1971 (Exhibit 8). closest the wine world gets to an encyclopaedia (Exhibit 10). EXHIBIT 8: World Atlas of Wine EXHIBIT 10: The Oxford Companion to Wine Source: Amazon Source: Amazon There is also Hugh Johnson’s invaluable Pocket Wine Book, a For the uber-nerdy would-be ampelographer, there is also Jancis wealth of useful detail packed into a really convenient format, Robinson's massive 1,220 page tome called "Wine Grapes: A one I buy every year, and a snip at £9 (Exhibit 11). complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours" (Exhibit 9). Be warned, it is very heavy in every sense. EUROPEAN BEVERAGES BERNSTEIN 3 Provided by Trevor Stirling for exclusive use on 11-Dec-2020. Do not re-distribute. Trevor Stirling +44-207-170-5087 [email protected] 11 December 2020 EXHIBIT 11: Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book EXHIBIT 13: The Drunken Botanist Source: Amazon Source: Amazon Continuing the theme of nerdy wine reads, one of my favourites is Uncorked by Gérard Liger-Belair (Exhibit 12). Ever wondered why a flute is better for champagne than a coupe (though Decanters, glasses, cork-removers and other gadgets according to some a glass is better, see below), or why do the I have a particular weakness for decanters. Not everyone agrees; bubbles get finer and smaller the more the champagne ages? but I think that virtually all wines (except very delicate old flowers) This is the book for you. The science is impeccable but the book benefit from some decanting; and for most high-class reds, it’s is still very readable almost criminal not to. There are loads of pretty decanters which are functionally useless. My personal favourites come from the EXHIBIT 12: Uncorked - the Science of Champagne firm of Riedel (www.riedel.com ) who for me get the mix of aesthetics and functionality just right. I haven't tried their Tyrol but it gets great reviews (Exhibit 14). EXHIBIT 14: Riedel's Tyrol Source: Riedel However, they are very expensive. For those who have access, Source: Amazon Riedel glassware is much cheaper in Germany. A great German on-line store with frequent discounts is www.porzellantreff.de Finally, the UK may be on the edge of peak gin but The Drunken who ship worldwide (e.g. €22 to the UK). For example, the Riedel Botanist remains a cracking good read. This quirky guide Tyrol above costs £495 at list price in the UK but is only €275 on explains the chemistry and botanical history of over 150 plants, Porzellantreff, almost half price. trees, flowers and fruits, showing how they form the bases of our For even better value-for-money, I found this on Amazon. The favourite cocktails (Exhibit 13). 'Smaier decanter' (Exhibit 15), a look alike of Riedel's Vinum EUROPEAN BEVERAGES BERNSTEIN 4 Provided by Trevor Stirling for exclusive use on 11-Dec-2020. Do not re-distribute. Trevor Stirling +44-207-170-5087 [email protected] 11 December 2020 Amadeo (which has a list price of £396) for only £33! Too good type. The original lever action models are now branded Le to be true? Maybe. But at that price, it has to be worth a punt. Creuset; they are not cheap but they are efficient and easy to use (Exhibit 17). On the other hand, the John Lewis lookalike is less EXHIBIT 15: A look alike of Riedel's Vinum Amadeo for £33 than half the price and every bit as good! EXHIBIT 17: Lever action corkscrew Source: Company images Another useful contraption is the Butler's Friend (so called because it reputedly allowed the staff to remove a cork, have a Source: Amazon swig from the bottle and then replace the cork), known in the USA as an Ah-So. It works by inserting two prongs on either side of the cork and then removing it with a combined twist and pull. Say champagne glass, and people tend to either think of a flute or It takes a bit of practice to master the technique but is invaluable a saucer (allegedly modelled on the left breast of the French for old crumbly cork (Exhibit 18). Queen Marie Antoinette).