From the world-renowned sommelier Aldo Sohm, a dynamic, essential wine guide for a new generation. Aldo Sohm is one of the most respected and widely lauded sommeliers in the world. He has worked with chef Eric Ripert as wine director of Le Bernardin for over a decade, yet his philosophy and approach to wine is anything but pretentious. Imbued with Aldo's insatiable passion and eagerness to teach others, Wine Simple is accessible, deeply educational, and lively and fun, both in voice and visuals.
The essential guide begins with the fundamentals of wine in easy-to-absorb hits of information and pragmatic, everyday tips - key varietals and winemaking regions, how to taste, when to save and when to splurge, and how to set up a wine tasting at home. Sohm then teaches you how to take your wine knowledge to the next level and evolve your palate, including techniques on building a "flavor library", a cheat sheet to good (and great) vintages (and why you shouldn't put everything on the line for them), tips on troubleshooting tricky wines (corked? mousy?), and for the daring, even how to saber a bottle of Champagne. This visual, user-friendly approach will inspire readers to have the confidence, curiosity, and enthusiasm to taste smarter, drink boldly, and dive fearlessly headfirst into the exciting world of wine.
ALDO SOHM is the James Beard Award-winning wine director of Le Bernardin and a partner in the eponymous Aldo Sohm Wine Bar. Sohm was named Best Sommelier in the World in 2008 by the Worldwide Sommelier Association, Best Sommelier in America in 2007 by the American Sommelier Association, and Best Sommelier of Austria four times by the Austrian Sommelier Union. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
CHRISTINE MUHLKE is a contributing editor at Bon Appétit, the founder of Bureau X food consultancy, and the creator of the newsletter Xtine. She has authored cookbooks with Eric Ripert, David Kinch, and Eric Werner.