Wine Simple: A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier

"Wine Simple” has been my entry point into the world of wine, and honestly, I’m glad I started here. The book breaks down what can feel like a complicated topic and makes it feel approachable, even fun. There’s no snobbery or jargon, just clear explanations, colorful visuals, and a layout that makes it easy to flip to what you need.One thing I love is how the author uses real-life scenarios. For example, there are sections on pairing wine with takeout, or what to bring to a dinner party when you have no idea what’s being served. I found myself actually remembering grape names and regions, which never stuck before. There are charts and sidebars that help you spot the difference between, say, a Pinot Noir and a Cabernet, without making your eyes glaze over.The book is sturdy and looks great on a coffee table, but it’s also practical. I’ve highlighted pages and stuck tabs in my favorite sections. I’ve even brought it along to the wine shop a couple times. It’s about 250 pages, but the chapters are short—easy to read in small bursts.I’ve gifted this to a friend who wanted to get into wine but felt intimidated. He told me it made him feel more confident ordering at restaurants or picking a bottle for a night in. That’s probably the best thing about this book: it makes wine feel accessible, not exclusive.If there’s a drawback, it’s that some of the food pairing suggestions lean toward the adventurous side. If you mostly eat simple meals, you might skip a few pages. But overall, it’s a book I keep coming back to whenever I want to brush up or try something new.If you want to start learning about wine without feeling overwhelmed, this is the book I’d hand you first. It’s taught me a lot, and made wine a lot more fun in the process.

Love this book, all info simply delivered and very informative

This book rekindled my love of wine. I bought it on the recommendation of a coworker who worked in the wine industry for many years, who knows a lot about wine but isn't obnoxious about it. The author, too, knows a lot about wine but isn't obnoxious about it.The book is practical; it teaches you the basics that you need to know in order to enjoy wine to its fullest. As it turns out, this is a pretty manageable amount of stuff to learn. For those who want to go deeper, he points you in the right direction and offers suggestions without forcing his tastes on you.It's a fun read, and I find myself referring back to it often. If you're interested in learning more about wine but aren't sure where to start, I couldn't recommend this book more highly.

A basic primer for the neophyte wine enthusiast. Almost too basic, in parts. Lots of fluff. But well worth reading, and using as a reference guide from time to time. This book is just a start for those wine lovers looking to improve their knowledge and experiences with wine. It's like learning arithmetic. If you want to know more about math, you study algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and so on. Thus, like mathematics, you advance your knowledge. books by wine experts. And, more importantly, taste, taste, taste.

Well organized, very nicely presented and illustrated. Clearly written, informative, helpful, and even entertaining. I gave it as a gift to someone just getting interested in wines and it was a hit. I would buy it again to give as a gift.

Fun, approachable introduction to learning more about your favorite varietals! Very informative, great graphics, and wonderfully written. Aldo Sohm has such a wealth of knowledge, personality and experience, this book is an enjoyable read! Would make a great gift for the wine lovers in your life!

I have enjoyed wine for quite some time and was eager to learn systematically. I chose Aldo Sohm’s book based on his credentials and reviews. I have to say I felt overwhelmed, even if Aldo claims this is a “simple” guide. The facts, terms, and trivia are wealthy. It is by no means Aldo’s fault, but instead a testament to how dedicated he is to creating things as complex as wine to be as straightforward as possible.On a side note, this book was released in North America and Canada, so some information might be irrelevant to readers on other continents (I live in Indonesia). The appellations mentioned, for instance, are nowhere to be found in my country.An excellent book for wine enthusiasts!

My husband and I love this book. So creative, beautifully done, and easy to understand for wine beginners.