Have you ever wondered what the term pre-phylloxera means? Or perhaps pondered what role genetic modification plays in viticulture or oenology? Or maybe been searching for a thorough description of powdery midlew, its symptoms and how to control its growth for years? Well, with the latest edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine you can find the answers to these questions and many more.
Many, many more.
Published in 1994 to worldwide acclaim, the first edition of Jancis Robinson MW’s seminal volume quickly became a must-have for any wine lover or connoisseur, winning every major wine book award, as well as writer and woman of the year accolades for Jancis on both sides of the Atlantic.
Now, this new fourth edition culminates nearly a decade’s worth of new developments. With over 300 new entries and extensive revision of the majority of existing articles, this is the most thorough revision of the book so far. Containing a total of 4,104 entries, this essential text truly covers the whole world of wine, from geology to history; regions and grape varieties; disease, cellar storage and smoke taint, and everything in between.
Following many complaints about the third edition’s size and weight, the publisher placed a restriction on the total length of the new edition. As such, a few outdated entries have been removed but, more importantly, Jancis describes her strategy with this edition as “a much more disciplined approach to existing entries than for any previous edition.” However, this wine bible is still not a pocket-sized read. With over 800 pages of intensive text, this is quite a long and heavy encyclopedia. Thankfully, a digital version of this fourth edition has also been published.
Whether you opt for the printed version or the digital, there is no denying the incredible achievement the publication of this book represents. With its charts, diagrams and stunning colour photographs, The Oxford Companion to Wine is the only one of its kind.
“The third edition is as cheeky and irreverent as ever, and even more informative. It’s valuable reference book and great fun just to pick up and read” – Washington Post
“The Oxford Companion to Wine is still the pre-eminent basic resource for wine lovers” — Wine Enthusiast Magazine
The Finest Bubble have included a copy of The Oxford Companion to Wine Fourth Edition in the ticket price of our Bottle vs. Magnum tasting on 8th October, which Jancis is presenting and will be happy to sign guests’ copies at the event.
