From Beginner to Connoisseur by Ophélie Neimann

Packed info refreshingly different – so that enjoyment is even more fun – DK Verlag

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From Beginner to Connoisseur by Ophélie Neimann. Packed info refreshingly different – so that enjoyment is even more fun – DK Verlag' From Beginner to Connoisseur by Ophélie Neimann. Packed info refreshingly different – so that enjoyment is even more fun – DK Verlag
The subject of wine is virtually inexhaustible. No other beverage in the world has had more written about it—sometimes more, sometimes less interesting. So I approached the book: Wine, from Beginner to Connoisseur by Ophélie Neimann with a fair dose of skepticism and several preconceived notions.

before the celebrationbefore the celebration height="259" />Neimann is a wine journalist from France. She became known through her blog Miss GlouGlou, where she approaches the subject of wine in a relaxed and humorous way. She writes for the French daily newspaper Le Monde about her favorite topic and is a welcome guest on the radio. Her book is one of the best-selling books on wine knowledge in France and has already been translated into 11 languages.
 
Yet another guide, I thought. But far from it. Even the cover makes it clear where the journey is heading. Packed with information from the first to the last page. But not the usual, the familiar—rather, refreshingly different. Like a breath of fresh air, Neimann sweeps through the wine landscape. No dusty knowledge, no raised index finger. None of that occasionally elitist attitude of many know-it-alls, but instead on equal footing with the readers.

Refreshingly Different

Not glossy photos of wineries, vineyards, or people, but instead drawings, caricatures like in a good comic. Funny, colorful, wild, and quirky. But with a system. Here it becomes clear which target group this book is aimed at. But after reading, I am sure that older generations will also enjoy it. Let’s get to the content. The structure is simple but brilliant. The author lets a fictional group of friends deal with wine. These six people are also dedicated individual chapters, which cover the entire spectrum of knowledge about wine:

  • Julia organizes a party

  • Elias learns to taste

  • Niklas helps with the grape harvest

  • Caroline visits the vineyards

  • Leonie trains to become a sommelier

  • Paul buys wine

In each of these topics, relevant wine knowledge is included. For example, in chapter 1, you learn not only about the right choice of glasses, the corkscrew, serving temperature, or tasting ideas, but also how to deal with a hangover after various wine consumption or how to remove wine stains. Always well-founded but with a certain wink.

Tasting Wine Made Easy

Aromas in WineAromas in WineWith many examples, Neimann shows in chapter 2 that wine tasting doesn’t have to remain a mystery. Witty and charming, she guides the protagonists through the world of aromas. She explains blind tastings, tannins, “church windows,” and retro-olfaction. Neimann wonderfully conveys her wine knowledge in the form of a fictional conversation to men and women. Often you feel like you’re right there, smelling, sipping, and marveling at all the aromas to be tasted. Especially in this chapter, the sometimes naturalistic drawings of fruits, woods, blossoms, herbs, and spices are more than helpful. They make everything vivid and comprehensible. Even the topic of wine faults is mentioned.

From the Vine to the Finished Wine

What does Terroir mean?!What does Terroir mean?!
Chapter 3 features portraits of various grape varieties. The topic of the vine is explained not only historically but also in a practical manner. Cultivation methods, vine diseases, climatic influences, and vineyard work. The production of white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines and their maturation takes a well-deserved broad space. A small excursion also deals with the increasingly important question of cultivation, from conventional to biodynamic.

The Wines of the World

In over 50 pages, Neimann lets her protagonists roam through the wine regions of the world. She places special emphasis on the countries France, Germany, and Italy. Detailed, with corresponding map material visually illustrated, visitors are informed about the respective areas, such as the wine-growing region Baden in Germany, Champagne in France, or Tuscany in Italy, and about the specific characteristics of these regions: soils, grape varieties, wine law peculiarities, etc. Rarely have I seen this presented in such a compressed and clear form. Chapeau!

Food and Wine

What goes with what ...What goes with what ...Basics of wine pairing, which wine goes with my food and which food goes with my wine are the focuses in chapter 5. Here again, text and image convince throughout. Which wine goes with game, fish, meat, seafood, cheese, and dessert. But also suggestions for vegetarian dishes are offered. A few extravagances like a Sauternes with Roquefort or a mature Bordeaux with fried foie gras or so-called “wine killers” like vinegar, raw vegetable platters, garlic, or the pairing of tannin-rich red wine with fish show how wine and food can attract or repel each other. Conversely, you might have a wine and look for the right food to go with it. Suggestions for this can also be found here.

The end of the book (excluding glossary and index) is dedicated to the topic of buying wine. Whether supermarket, wine shop, or directly from the winemaker. What information is on the label? How to assess the price or how to put together a wine cellar. Again, pure information that helps you not to stand helplessly in front of a wine shelf but to proceed deliberately to approach the product wine in the right way and enjoy it accordingly.

Conclusion:

In France, this book is already a bestseller. Now finally translated into German. And here we come to the only drawback of this otherwise wonderful book. Of course, the “normal” text can be translated one-to-one. However, this does not apply to the French wines, appellations, wineries, etc. mentioned. It is therefore left to the readers to find the suitable counterpart from their own country. This, however, does not detract from the quality of the book or the basic knowledge conveyed in any way. Wine knowledge has never been packaged so casually. Neimann has excellently succeeded in conveying wine knowledge easily and uncomplicatedly. Unfortunately, only the first name (Yannis) of the illustrator is known. Thanks to his contribution, reading is twice as much fun. I pay respect to both for this successful venture to approach wine and everything around it in a completely different way. Young and old alike are warmly recommended this 280-page work with a heartfelt cheers.

Review: Horst Kröber. Layout montage: bonvinitas, illustrations: publisher

Wine, from Beginner to Connoisseur
Ophélie Neimann
Translation: Carla Gröppel-Wegener
288 pages, 189 x 242 mm, hardcover
With color illustrations
DK Verlag
June 2023
ISBN 978-3-8310-4356-9
29.95 €

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